Zoroastrian mural at Uhuburg; painted by Josef Mahler

History and Overview

Zoroastrianism, founded around 3,500 years ago by the prophet Zoroaster in Persia (modern-day Iran), is one of the oldest monotheistic religions in the world. It worships Ahura Mazda and advocates for choosing good over evil, emphasizing purity, kindness, charity, and moral conduct. Zoroastrianism may have had millions of followers during its peak in the ancient world, but it now has between 100,000 and 200,000 followers globally, mainly in India and Iran. In the 7th century CE, Zoroastrians began migrating to India primarily due to religious persecution in Persia following the Muslim conquest of the region.

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Blood lineage tradition

Generally speaking, one must be born into Zoroastrianism rather than convert, and only those of Zoroastrian lineage are typically allowed to enter the temples. While some reformist movements advocate for accepting converts in the spirit of making the teachings accessible to all, the community at large still recognizes members primarily by bloodline.

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Interesting Connections

Cars: The Mazda car company was named after Zoroastrianism (from Ahura Mazda). An automotive enthusiast, Rob Dahm named one of his beloved Mazda RX-7s “Ahura” out of appreciation for the philosophy and it’s historical significance.

Rock and Roll: The family of Freddy Mercury (lead singer of the band Queen) practiced Zoroastrianism.

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Eschatology

Zoroastrian eschatology (study of the end times) predicts the world's end with a final judgment, preceded by chaos. During this time, the savior Saoshyant defeats Evil, ushering in the final judgement. The virtuous will be led to Paradise, known as the House of Song, as opposed to punishment in the abyss for the wicked.

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The end of the world in Zoroastrianism is not viewed as an apocalyptic event, but rather a natural conclusion to the cycle of creation. It is believed that the world will be destroyed and then recreated, with perfection being achieved in the new creation. Overall, the eschatology of Zoroastrianism presents a hopeful message of salvation and justice, emphasizing the importance of living a righteous life to attain happiness in the afterlife.

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