Asked by
Silvia
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Puja & Rituals
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10:59 AM on January 03, 2009
Vipan Thapar's Answer
Zoroastrianism(IPA: /ˌzɔroʊˈæstriəˌnɪzəm/) is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings ascribed to the prophet Zoroaster, after whom the religion is named. The term 'Zoroastrianism' is in general usage essentially synonymous with Mazdaism, i.e. the worship of Ahura Mazda, exalted by Zoroaster as the supreme divine authority.
Zoroastrianism was once the dominant religion of much of Greater Iran, and was a formative influence on that region's history and traditions. The religion was marginalized following the Islamic conquests of the mid-7th century, after which the number of adherents dwindled significantly, and there are less than 20,000 Zoroastrians left in that region today. Today, the largest indigenous population of Zoroastrians is in India, where they number about 70,000. Eight of the nine principal religious centers are located on the west coast of that country (the ninth is in central Iran).
Zoroastrianism is uniquely important in the history of religion because of its possible formative links to both Western and Eastern religious traditions.[1] As "the oldest of the revealed credal religions", Zoroastrianism "probably had more influence on mankind directly or indirectly than any other faith".[2][3]
Contents [hide]
1 Terminology
2 Distinguishing characteristics
2.1 Basic beliefs
2.2 Other characteristics
3 History
3.1 Classical antiquity
3.2 Late antiquity
3.3 Middle Ages
3.4 Modern era
4 Persecution
5 Relation to other religions and cultures
6 Religious texts
6.1 Scripture
6.2 Other texts
7 Principal beliefs
8 Adherents
8.1 Iran and Central Asia
8.2 In South Asia
8.2.1 Demographics
8.2.2 Noted Zoroastrians
9 References and Bibliography
10 Further reading
11 External links
Answered at
11:17 AM on January 03, 2009
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