Zoroastrianism: Precursor to Western and Eastern faiths

ZoroastrianismZoroastrianism is often credited as the father of both Western and Eastern religions, or at least as one of the major influencers on what modern religion would become. By the time it had run its course Zoroastrianism had spread to India, China and the Middle East. Based on the teachings of the Prophet Zoroaster, the religion focuses on the worship of a supreme creator named Ahura Mazda. Familiar tenets that preceded Christianity include a final battle between good and evil, doing good and the existence of a counter deity who represents chaos and evil named Angra Mainyu. Familiar to Eastern religions is the concept of reincarnation and rituals of exposing the dead to natural decomposition.

Zoroastrianism first appears in Western history in the 5th century BCE in the Greek historian Herodotus’ The Histories, by then it was already a major religion. The religion flourished in the Persian Empire under Cyrus II and Darius I. Eventually the religion began to conflict with the new Christian faith and others, including Islam, which ultimately brought an end to mainstream Zoroastrian beliefs by the Caliphs. Muslims often taunted Zoroastrians by abusing dogs, sacred to the Zoroastrians, and other psychological methods. A symbolic event in the degradation of Zoroastrianism was the cutting down of a sacred tree, supposedly planted by Zoroaster himself, for a royal palace 2000 miles away in Baghdad. As Islam spread and became the dominant religion, Zoroastrians were forced to spread out around the world to ensure the survival of their beliefs. Today there are an estimated 200,000 people still worshipping forms of Zoroastrianism all over the world. The largest group are the Parsi of Coastal India, and the United States hosts the second most Zoroastrians, mostly immigrants from the Middle East.