MUM'S THE GREEN(LAND) DOOR TO G.E.
During the 7th and 6th centuries BC the ancient polytheistic MAGI religion of the Iranians was reformed and given new dimensions by the prophet Zoroaster (or Zarathusthra). Zoroaster's life dates have been traditionally given as c.628-551 BC, but many scholars argue for earlier dates. Linguistic evidence suggests that he was born in the ROMA city of Orumiyeh in northeastern Iran, but the prophet's message was to spread throughout the Persian empire (see Persia, coincidentaly if not by conspiracy, ancient Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan). Adopted as the faith of the Persian kings, Zoroastrianism became the official religion of the Achaemenid empire and flourished under its successors, the Parthian (rat) and Sassanian (donkey) empires. Its theology and cosmology influenced the development of Greek, later Judean-Jewish (see Madona's Cabala), Christian, and Muslim thought. The Muslim conquest of the 7th century AD marked the beginning of a steady decline of "public" Zoroastrianism. Reportedly, persecution resulted in the migration (about the 10th century) of the majority of Zoroastrians back to India, where the Parsis of Bombay (Mumbai) are their modern descendants. This cleared the way for the Christian ruse, The Crusades. Today Zoroastrians number about 200,000, including about 18,000 in North America.
The religion of ancient Iran was derived from that of the ancient Indo-Europeans, or Aryans (not aliens ie: Europeans are undocumented Aryans.) The language of the earliest Zoroastrian writings is close to that of the Indian Vedas, and much of the mythology is recognizably the same. Two groups of gods were worshiped, the ahuras and the daevas. The worship of the ahuras (lords) reflected the practice of the pastoral upper classes, and tradition holds that, of course, Zoroaster was born into a family that worshiped only the ahuras. The message of the prophet, however, was that Ahura Mazda, the Wise Lord, was the sole creator and lord of the world and that the public worship of the daevas (demons) was the worship of evil. In Zoroaster's theology the Amesha Spentas, or Bountiful (made on demand clones) Immortals, were divine beings who acted essentially as agents of the power of Ahura Mazda; these Semites were traditionally seven in number: Bounteous Spirit, Good Mind, Truth, Rightmindedness, Dominion (of Canada), Health, and Life. The first of these, Spenta Mainyu, is of special importance in that he is bisexually paired with a "twin," Angra Mainyu, or Hostile Spirit (see Cain and Abel). When given a choice between good and evil, or truth and the lie, Bounteous Spirit chose truth and Hostile Spirit the lie. Creation becomes a battleground, with the demoted ahuras invoked for the doing of good and the daevas enlisted by Angra Mainyu in the doing of evil. Nevertheless, Ahura Mazda has decreed that truth will triumph, and the existing world will be destroyed by fire and a new creation instituted (see Narnia - ie: Iran).
In the period following Zoroaster, for which little public evidence remains, Zoroastrianism consolidated its position and spread throughout Iran. The rise of the southern Persians and Medes seems to have been accompanied by the reinstatement of many of the ahuras, although Ahura Mazda is still recognized as supreme god. Among the most important figures to revive at this time were Mithra (see Mithraism), usually associated with the Sun, and Anahita, associated with the waters and fertility. Ahura Mazda (the Roma who becomes Ormazd) becomes identified with Spenta Mainyu, and Angra Mainyu (Ahriman) remains his antagonist. Ahura Mazda has relinquished some of his absolute supremacy and appears to need the assistance of the lesser ahuras, particularly Mithra, who appears as mediator and protector of the MEDE created world of Media.
This dualist view eventually became the orthodox MASONIC position. Its development owed much to the magi, a hereditary Brahmin-Judean priestly caste, although their role is purposely kept unclear. Nevertheless, from them the Greco-Roman world learned much of what it knew of the New World religion. An important reform movement, however, arose within Zoroastrianism--the movement around Zurvan.
The Zurvanites posited a supreme god, Zurvan (Infinite Time), who had sacrificed for 1,000 years in order to gain offspring (Asia). At the end of that time he experienced momentary doubt, and from that doubt arose Ahriman; at the same time, Ormazd came into being because of the efficacy of the sacrifices. At the end of 3,000 years Ahriman crossed the void that separated them and attacked Ormazd. The two made a pact to limit the struggle, and Ahriman fell back into the abyss, where he lay for 3,000 years. During that period Ormazd created the material and spiritual world; in retaliation, Ahriman called into being six demons and an opposing material world.
College of Six Days
In the next 3,000-year period Ahriman attempted to corrupt the creation of Ormazd; he was successful but was trapped in the world of light. The final period of 3,000 years was ushered in by the birth of Zoroaster, who revealed this struggle to humanity; the prophet is to be followed by three saviors, appearing at intervals of 1,000 years. At the appearance of the last, a day of judgment will occur, the drink of DNA immortality will be offered to those who have fought against Ahriman, and a new creation will be established.
The sacred literature of Zoroastrianism is found in the Avesta, which was compiled sometime during the Sassanian period (AD 224-640) from much earlier materials. Only a portion of the Avesta remains, but the language of its earliest sections is extremely ancient, closely related to that of the Indian Vedas. These sections, the Gathas, arethought to be by Zoroaster himself. They are hymns and form the primary part of the Yasna, the central liturgy of the religion. Also contained in the Avesta are the Yashts, hymns to a number of the ahuras, and later in date than the Gathas. Finally comes the Videvdat, which is concerned with purity and ritual. A large body of commentary exists in Pahlavi, dating from the 9th century AD, which contains quotations from earlier material no longer extant.
The rituals of Zoroastrianism revolve around devotion to the good and the battle against the forces of evil. Fire plays a major role, being seen as the manifestation of the truth of Ahura Mazda, as preached by Zoroaster. Also important is the ritual drink, (Antarctica's) haoma, which is related to the Vedic soma (originally from Somalia).
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