Zoroastrianism

[Keeper of the Keys]

I wasn't sure so I thought I would ask is Zoroastrianism
muslim or pagan.

[Saturn]

It wouldn't call it "muslim or pagan." It's a monotheistic religion.

[Keeper of the Keys]

Thanks I wasn't sure.

[ivan_the_terrible]

From what I know it is among the oldest monotheistic religions. Traditionally, you could only be born into it (couldnt convert no matter how badly you wanted to). I think this may have changed now, but Im not sure.

I just know there arent many practicioners today because of the above-mentioned exclusivity, and severe prosecution when Persia became predominantly muslim. Ive read that many fled to India, where there are still sizable communities.

[Lord Anubis]

How the hell do you relate Zoroastrianism to Islam?

[Serious Spamurai]

Muslim or Pagan? Lol.

[Manco]

It's a monotheistic religion strongly dualistic, and was quite the competition for Christianity especially in the Persian cultural sphere.

It has nothing to do with Islam, except for the monotheism and the geographical location later on.
And paganism is too vague a term these days, since hardly anyone uses the original meaning anymore.

[Theseus1234]

the only zoroastrians left in the world are in north-west india and south-east pakistan i think. last i heard, there was less than 100,000 remaining.
zoroastriansim is what i consider the 4th major (or one that i've heard of) monotheistic religion, with judaism, christianity, and islam being the other 3

[IronBlood]

zoroastriansim is what i consider the 4th major (or one that i've heard of) monotheistic religion, with judaism, christianity, and islam being the other 3

You forget the Bahá'í Faith which has five or six million followers. Oh and Sikhism which has around 25 million followers

[Pallantides]

the only zoroastrians left in the world are in north-west india and south-east pakistan i think. last i heard, there was less than 100,000 remaining.
zoroastriansim is what i consider the 4th major (or one that i've heard of) monotheistic religion, with judaism, christianity, and islam being the other 3

There are some Zoroastrians in Scandinavia!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Bard

[Miraj]

Both Islam and Christianity has influences from Zoroastrianism. Of course Zoroastrianism came long before either and it also has nothing to do with "paganism".

This belongs in the ethos btw.

[saneel]

Both Islam and Christianity has influences from Zoroastrianism. Of course Zoroastrianism came long before either and it also has nothing to do with "paganism".

This belongs in the ethos btw.

Islam doesnt have influence from Zoroastrianism. Maybe just a few thing are similiar.

[IronBlood]

Islam doesnt have influence from Zoroastrianism. Maybe just a few thing are similiar.

Zoroastrianism transmitted the concepts of free will, of heaven, hell, personal and final judgement, and the popular image of an "angel" plus the concept of different kinds of angels (Guardian, Arc, Messengers) to Judaism. Then these concepts/ideas worked their way into Christianity and Islam.

[Axeman]

Evidently if a religion is in Persia it must have been muslim , even thousands of years before the brith of islam , anyway as mentioned above its another old monotheistic religion which after the collapse of Sassinad Empire became illegal resulting in heavy persecution , most fled to Armenia , the Don-Kuban Steppe , and India

[Chaigidel]

I like its imagery.

[Axeman]

I like its imagery.

I concure , we studied many of its features in my architechtural class and one of my assignments was to make a Zoroastar Temple , quite interesting that assignement was .

Great break from Greek , Roman , Greek , Roman , Greek

[Chaigidel]

the burning river of purifying iron and the winged demons is what I like

[Axeman]

Well I have managed to derail this thread with a simple statement , lets not go too much into my awesome designing skills :whistles:

[Otsman]

most muslims considers those who practice Zoroastrianism people of the book, as they believe in one god in the form of Ahura Mazda, a heaven/hell and a devil figure who is out to destroy humanity.

however, unlike christianity or islam, they completly reject monastisism (rejection of worldly materials, and when Jesus was preaching on earth, the first way to become one of his disciples was sell all your worldly possesions, etc, etc.) they also believe that all souls in 'hell' will be reunited with Ahura Mazda, where as in christianity they will remain in hell for all eternity, and the same goes for islam but i'm not sure.

Zoroastrianism is far from a pagan religion, but it's still not quite like islam

[saneel]

In your dreams. Kuran is the book where is no suspicion,only the truth.