The 5 W’s of Zoroastrianism
By Shannon MacColl
Who?
Zoroastrianism is based on the life and teachings of Zarathustra (or his Greek name Zoroaster), a Persian priest. While much is still unknown about Zarathustra, it is believed that he lived and created the faith known as Zoroastrianism sometime between 1500-1000 BCE. Zarathustra originally served as a priest to the Persian polytheistic faith with Ahura Mazda as the central deity.
The oral traditions of Zoroastrianism have left a deep knowledge gap in the life and work of Zarathustra during his actual lifetime. While eventually a written tradition known as the Avesta was created and attributed to Zarathustra, the writings were not completed until well over 500 years after Zarathustra’s time between 224-651 BCE. Given this, thees writings are not necessarily a reliable source for information regarding Zoraster but are considered the main text of the faith.
What?
Zoroastrianism is considered the oldest monotheistic religion in the world. As previously noted its founder, Zarathustra, was a Persian priest for the initially polytheistic faith. When Zarathustra received a vision, it became clear to him that Ahura Mazda was the only true God and he was to proselytize others in the way of this new faith.
The principles of Zoroastrianism would not seem at all foreign to a modern practitioner of any major monotheistic faith. God (Ahura Mazda in this case) is an all-good deity in opposition to an all-evil deity (Angra Mainyu in this case), good thoughts, words, and deeds are how someone shows their goodness. The faith is rooted in the ideal that humans have the free will to choose between good and evil.
When?
Zarathustra’s birth is placed anywhere from 600 to 6000 BCE but generally, the faith known as Zoroastrianism is agreed to have come about sometime between 1500-1000 BCE. At the height of Zoroastrianism in the 6th century BCE, it was the state religion of the Achaemenid and Sassanid Persian Empires. Today, worldwide estimates approximately 110,000-120,000 Zoroastrian followers.
Where?
Zoroastrianism's birthplace was in Persia or modern-day Iran; specifically the regions of Sistan and the Helmand basin. Today, most Zoroastrians still live in Iran, but because of a legacy of suppression and persecution under multiple Muslim empires, a large diaspora of Zoroastrians also reside in the Gujarat state of India and are known as Parsis.
Why?
Similar to many faiths that follow the example of Zoroastrianism, the Zoroastrianism faith is founded on the idea that a man received a vision that forced him to reexamine his long-held beliefs. He then found a way that he believed would bring about a better world and began preaching that to those around him. It is, indeed, a tale as old as time– and it is easy to see how other faiths would copy this structure in their own formations. Its spread can also be in large part attributed to the Silk Road, as the major network included the exchange of both goods and faiths– such as Zoroastrianism. Lastly, Cyrus the Great was a devout Zoroastrian but also a conqueror of many people and shared his faith with those he conquered. These factors created the blueprint of necessary elements for the successful spread of a faith including Islam and Christianity. As is the case with many faiths, Zoroastriansim and its followers would be subject to oppression and persecution, but through human will, has survived and continues to this day.
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