What are the central ideas of Zoroastrianism?

Answer 1

Zoroastrianism is possibly the oldest continuing monotheistic religion. Like all religions, it underwent change over time, but an essential feature is the worship of one supreme god, Ahura Mazda. In ancient practice, Zoroastrians placed great store on honesty and commitment. As we find in The Bible, when the Jews told King Darius of a promise once made by his predecessor Cyrus, Darius unquestioningly fulfilled that promise. It would be hard to find evidence of any ruler, past or present, placing such store on keeping an assumed commitment. There are many striking similarities and many differences in beliefs and practice between Judaism and Zoroastrianism. Some of the ancient beliefs of Zoroastrianism that are found in post-Exilic Judaism include angels and Satan. However, the Jews seem to have baulked at Satan being an autonomous adversary to God, as he is in Zoroastrianism, instead seeing him as a loyal servant of God, whose role is to tempt and test the faithful. The modern Christian concept of Satan more closely reflects the Zoroastrian 'Hostile Spirit' Angra Mainyu. The four sacred elements of earth, wind fire and water are found in Zoroastrianism. Zoroastrian temples kept an eternal flame, and would protect it from invaders. Traditionally, Zoroastrians could neither burn nor bury the dead, because the soil and fire are both sacred; instead, they exposed the bodies of the dead, so that vultures could dispose of them without defiling the elements. The Jews went through a phase when the dead were exposed, but this was only to allow the flesh to rot, after which the bones were stored in an ossuary - once again to avoid defiling the elements. Judaism looks forward to the arrival of the Messiah, but Zoroastrianism teaches that the coming saviour, the Saoshyant, will be born of a virgin and lead humanity in the last battle against evil. The duality of heaven and hell are also found in Zoroastrianism.

Answer 2

Followers of Zoroasterism believe that the moment Zarathustra (Zoroaster) was born, the earth bloomed with flowers and the first thing that Zarathustra did when he was born was laugh. They believe in God, Ahura Mazda, the Lord of Wisdom or Light. They believe in an evil spirit and satanic figure, Angra Mainyu. They believe in seven heavenly spirits and seven evil spirits. They believe in free will. They place reverence and emphasis on the elements water, fire, wind and earth. They believe that fire was the son of Ahura Mazda. Fire is their main symbol and purifies. They believe that at the end of the world, there will be a battle between good and evil. In this battle, good eventually triumphs but evil wins for seven years. They believe that at the end of a person's life, everyone must cross the Bridge of Recompense which serves as an individual judgement day.