What effect has Zoroastrianism had on the other major religions in the world?
Zoroastrian ideas have played a big part in the development of religious thought in the world. These are some of the Zoroastrian beliefs that are shared with Judaism and Christianity:
- Belief in one great and loving God
- Heaven and hell, and judgement of every person
- Final triumph of good over evil
- Strict rules over what is right and wrong
- Messiah coming for the final day
- Resurrection (or rising from the dead), final judgement and everlasting life
- Satan, paradise and amen are words which have come from Zoroastrian words.
The 3 Wise Men (or Magi) who told others about Christ being born, were Zoroastrians. Even now, frankincense and myrrh are offered at the altars of Zoroastrian temples.
What religious practices (called rituals) do Zoroastrians do after someone dies?
Zoroastrians believe death is the victory of evil over good. Because of this, they get rid of corpses very quickly. In India and Pakistan, the tradition is to lay the body in a dokma or ‘tower of silence’ (which is a small, sacred building). The dead bodies are eaten by vultures, and the bones are destroyed in a deep pit.
Do Zoroastrians believe in not eating (called fasting) or not having sex (called celibacy) for religious reasons?
No, Zoroastrians believe going without things like this makes people weaker, which makes it hard for them to battle evil. They also believe that the good life is a gift from Ahura Mazda (God). People should live life to the full, also keep things in their life balanced.
