Expert: Rohinton Irani - 7/28/2009

Question
Dear Hirbad Rohinton Irani
     From your response it seems that I may have said somthing to offend you. I apologise, that was not my intent. To anwser your question, I ask these questions because I have heard a lot said about your religon and have heard of comparisons have been made between our two religons; I wanted to know what was actually acurate. I have also been reading the books of Esther and Daniel in my Bible recently, these books deal with what would have been Zoroastrian Kings, giving rather high praise to the Israelite, (and therefore Christian), God.  This is why I have such an interest and I ask questions like, "Was your Religon ever Duelistic?" and "Do you believe that people of other Religons will go to Heaven?" Because these are major things to say about a Monothiestic Religon. And they have implications as to why King Darius and Cyrus did what they did.
I find it hard to believe that Zoroastrianism does not have any views on what will happen to the souls of other faiths,one way or the other and,to say that Zoroastrianism simply dosen't care seems rather odd and against, "Good thoughts, Good Words and Good Deeds." Are you absolutely sure that there is no Zoroastrian teaching or theology about it? With regard to the survival of zoroastrianism, I wouldn't worry if I were you. If Ashura Mazda is God, Zoroastrianism is indestructable. Trust in God at one point my Religon was down to only one follower and our God was dead, the next day my Religon teaches that Hell was destroied and Death enslaved! The situation is not nearly as bad in Zoroastrianism.
With Regard to changes in the faith, Christianity hasn't changed that much. In the Catholic Church, which is one of the oldest churchs, Sunday Mass is still a must, (failure to attend out of your own fault is a mortal sin). Neither does any Church founded before the 1500s support same sex marriage, (which is heresy). But for a Religon to go from Duelism to Monothieism is a huge change, greater than same sex marriage, (which would be an illigitimate development in any Church and if it is ever supported in a parish, a good christian ought to leave.)

So, to my questions:
Yes or No, was Zoroastrianism originally a Monothiestic faith or did Duelism ever creep in?
Does Zoroastrianism Really not care what will happen to the Soul of a Christian, Hindu or Jew who does not follow Ashura Mazada?

Thanks for the anwser
Henery  

Answer
Dear Henry, Ushta

I must admit that now I am feeling bad that you found my tone offended. That is a negative point for me. Sorry. It means I must improve in my communication skills.

Now, there is a vast difference between reading from a text and seeing in reality what the society's perspective is as of today. I am not denying the part about what is mentioned in the book, like the Bible or Geetha. They won't change. But the society's attitude towards the religion changes. This leads to minor changes in the text when it has a new edition or a new author of a new era explaining his view point from the Gatha or the Geetha. If you compare two books of the same religion over a period of time written by different authors of different era, you will find the changes. This change is inevitable. There is absolutely no way that the religion won't change with the society. Or else, there wouldn't have been a subject called as Anthropology.

As for Zoroastrianism, it is different. In your last question you had written, 'What do Zoroastrians believe?" Zoroastrians are people. Zoroastrianism is the complete package of religion, sociology, philosophy and ceremonies of Zoroastrians. Zoroastrianism came about during the Sassanians era. Since this, yes, there is veneration to the nature or creations. However, they are venerated as the angels of Ahura Mazda, who have been given the duties and responsibilities by Ahura Mazda himself. For instance, we have the water angel as Anahita. Now, I don't know if you call this dualism. Before that, we had the Zarathushtrianism.

The original Aryan religion was Mazdayasnian. They, before Zarathushtra, followed polytheistic religion. During this period, the Aryans would worship every creation as Gods and Goddesses. Here, Anahita was the Water God.

Zarathushtra changed that and founded the world's first Monotheistic religion. About 800 to 1000 years after him, the priests started adding the flavor of other dieties with a new term as, Yazatas or the Angels. See the differences between three different eras?  


During the rule of Cyrus and Darius, they were tolerant and allowed people to follow their own religion. Now, if there would have been anything written in the negative about other religion, why would these two great kings allow the people to choose their religion.

Please note: Zoroastrians do believe that the three great kings who came at the birth of Jesus were Zoroastrian kings which were referred as Magoi. This again adds that Zoroastrianism does not have anything in negativity against any religion.

And NO, as far as my understanding, reading, research work goes, it definitely proves that Zoroastrianism and Zoroastrians do not care of what will happen to the soul of a christian or of other religion. If you check the customs and ceremonies of Zoroastrians, you will find slight inclinations towards other religious customs too.

I hope I have been clearer this time and hope my communication has improved too. :-)

If you still have doubts, please feel free to write to me at: rohinton@spenta.edu.

With Vohuman
Hirbad Rohinton Irani
CAO, Spenta University
www.spenta.edu