Dear Zoroastrianism For Beginners Editor,
I live in Kingston, Ontario, and I am 12 years old. I am a Zoroastrian and am about to have my Navjote, and I want to have a party afterwards with all my friends, but none of them know what it is! So, I told them to go on this site and find out more about it, but they're still a little bit confused. I was hoping that maybe you could point out the differences between western religions and Zoroastrianism, since two of them are Christian and one is Jewish? I would be so grateful if you could!
Thanks a billion!
- Anonymous
I live in Kingston, Ontario, and I am 12 years old. I am a Zoroastrian and am about to have my Navjote, and I want to have a party afterwards with all my friends, but none of them know what it is! So, I told them to go on this site and find out more about it, but they're still a little bit confused. I was hoping that maybe you could point out the differences between western religions and Zoroastrianism, since two of them are Christian and one is Jewish? I would be so grateful if you could!
Thanks a billion!
- Anonymous
Dear Anonymous,
I would first like to thank you for reaching out to us and asking us your questions, thanks for the email! Now as for the differences between Zoroastrianism and the western religions, there are actually less than you might think! Zoroastrianism itself is a kind of blend between the eastern religions as well as the western religions.
The western religions all believe in one almighty God (whether they call him Allah, or G*d, or God), as well as a saviour, a messiah, and a prophet who came to inform us of a revelation, that ended up founding the religions. In Christianity that saviour is Jesus, in Judaism the saviour is yet to come, and in Islam the prophet is Muhammad. Zoroastrianism is very similar, we believe in a prophet (Zoroaster) as well as a final judgment, just like the other religions. As well, Zoroastrianism believes in an afterlife very similar to that of the Jews and the Christians -- if you are good you will go to heaven, and if you are bad you will go to hell. Now, this may actually be due to the fact that during the Babylonian exile, Jewish people were sent to live in many of the same areas as Zoroastrians, and may have borrowed the theological belief and adopted it as their own, then passing it on to the Christians.
It is easy to see how your friends may be confused, as the way that Zoroastrians celebrate is very different from the way the western religions celebrate, and extremely different from the way North Americans celebrate religion. As well, the age of the religion can sometimes make it hard to understand, as there are very ancient symbols such as the Faravahar. The rituals practiced in Zoroastrianism are often seen as very different from those practiced in the western religions, but are actually very similar. As you may know, the Navjote ritual is very similar to the Jewish tradition of Bar/Bat Mitzvah or the Catholicisms Confirmation, it is a ceremony to symbolize you devotion to the faith, no matter how it may be carried out the purpose is the same. Catholics and Jews may also find it strange that we keep our sacred fires burning for all of time, however, it is not that much different than keeping a prayer candle or light burning to symbolize the presence of Jesus or our loved ones. Our sacred fires burn to symbolize the presence of Ahura Mazda as well as for a symbol of purity.
The final difference between the western religions and Zoroastrianism however, is the fact that while we are considered a monotheistic religion, because we believe in two supreme beings we are considered dualistic as well. Ahura Mazda is our "main" god, the one we worship and strive to be like and Angra Mainyu is the secondary god whom we try to abstain from -- this may seem like an abstract idea to most religions around the world, "Two gods?! That's CRAZY!!!" but actually it is not all that different than the relationship between God and the devil, in other religions. God, or Allah, or whatever you wish to call him is the supreme "good" being that we all strive to please and become more like, but the devil on the other hand is the ultimate"bad" being whom we should all avoid at all costs --- sound familiar? All religions have this kind of relationship between good and evil in them, whether its Vishnu vs Shiva in Hinduism, God vs the Devil in Catholicism, Allah vs Shaitan in Islam, Ahura Mazda vs Angra Mainyu in Zoroastrianism, the list goes on and on, and each of these religions symbolize the infinite internal and external struggles between good and evil around the world. When you look at the "bare bones" of any religion and compare it to those of another religion from another side of the world, it is easier to see how they are all connected.
The eastern religions can even be connected to Zoroastrianism. The dualism can be traced back to Hinduism and the conflict between Lord Vishnu and Shiva being very similar to that of Ahura Mazda and Angra Mainyu. Ethics and Morality between Zoroastrianism and Buddhism are very similar considering the Zoroastrian creed ("Good thoughts, good words, good deeds") and the eightfold path in Buddhism.
I hope this helps you and your friends recognize how while it is true that all religions are different and may seem strange, they are also very similar.
Sincerely,
Julia Lumini
I would first like to thank you for reaching out to us and asking us your questions, thanks for the email! Now as for the differences between Zoroastrianism and the western religions, there are actually less than you might think! Zoroastrianism itself is a kind of blend between the eastern religions as well as the western religions.
The western religions all believe in one almighty God (whether they call him Allah, or G*d, or God), as well as a saviour, a messiah, and a prophet who came to inform us of a revelation, that ended up founding the religions. In Christianity that saviour is Jesus, in Judaism the saviour is yet to come, and in Islam the prophet is Muhammad. Zoroastrianism is very similar, we believe in a prophet (Zoroaster) as well as a final judgment, just like the other religions. As well, Zoroastrianism believes in an afterlife very similar to that of the Jews and the Christians -- if you are good you will go to heaven, and if you are bad you will go to hell. Now, this may actually be due to the fact that during the Babylonian exile, Jewish people were sent to live in many of the same areas as Zoroastrians, and may have borrowed the theological belief and adopted it as their own, then passing it on to the Christians.
It is easy to see how your friends may be confused, as the way that Zoroastrians celebrate is very different from the way the western religions celebrate, and extremely different from the way North Americans celebrate religion. As well, the age of the religion can sometimes make it hard to understand, as there are very ancient symbols such as the Faravahar. The rituals practiced in Zoroastrianism are often seen as very different from those practiced in the western religions, but are actually very similar. As you may know, the Navjote ritual is very similar to the Jewish tradition of Bar/Bat Mitzvah or the Catholicisms Confirmation, it is a ceremony to symbolize you devotion to the faith, no matter how it may be carried out the purpose is the same. Catholics and Jews may also find it strange that we keep our sacred fires burning for all of time, however, it is not that much different than keeping a prayer candle or light burning to symbolize the presence of Jesus or our loved ones. Our sacred fires burn to symbolize the presence of Ahura Mazda as well as for a symbol of purity.
The final difference between the western religions and Zoroastrianism however, is the fact that while we are considered a monotheistic religion, because we believe in two supreme beings we are considered dualistic as well. Ahura Mazda is our "main" god, the one we worship and strive to be like and Angra Mainyu is the secondary god whom we try to abstain from -- this may seem like an abstract idea to most religions around the world, "Two gods?! That's CRAZY!!!" but actually it is not all that different than the relationship between God and the devil, in other religions. God, or Allah, or whatever you wish to call him is the supreme "good" being that we all strive to please and become more like, but the devil on the other hand is the ultimate"bad" being whom we should all avoid at all costs --- sound familiar? All religions have this kind of relationship between good and evil in them, whether its Vishnu vs Shiva in Hinduism, God vs the Devil in Catholicism, Allah vs Shaitan in Islam, Ahura Mazda vs Angra Mainyu in Zoroastrianism, the list goes on and on, and each of these religions symbolize the infinite internal and external struggles between good and evil around the world. When you look at the "bare bones" of any religion and compare it to those of another religion from another side of the world, it is easier to see how they are all connected.
The eastern religions can even be connected to Zoroastrianism. The dualism can be traced back to Hinduism and the conflict between Lord Vishnu and Shiva being very similar to that of Ahura Mazda and Angra Mainyu. Ethics and Morality between Zoroastrianism and Buddhism are very similar considering the Zoroastrian creed ("Good thoughts, good words, good deeds") and the eightfold path in Buddhism.
I hope this helps you and your friends recognize how while it is true that all religions are different and may seem strange, they are also very similar.
Sincerely,
Julia Lumini
