Zoroastrianism

**Facts**

 * Founded in the 6th century before christ (500-600 b.c)
 * Ancent Persian religion
 * Oldest monotheistic religion in the world.
 * Comes from the philosophical teachings of Zoroaster.
 * Had more influence on the world and other faiths than any other faith
 * First concept of heaven and hell.
 * First concept of future resurrection.
 * First concept of last judgement.
 * First concept of life everlasting.
 * First concept of the virgin birth of the savior.
 * First concept of slaughter of the innocent.
 * Followers worship in fire temple.
 * Beleifs **
 * They beleive in a single god Ahura Mazda.
 * They beleive in a counter spirit to Ahura Mazda named Angra Mainyu. He is symbolized with blood and violence.
 * Followers must choose which to worship.
 * In the end of time goodness will triumph over evil and the good will live eternally.
 * When someone dies, their soul is judged on whether or not their good deeds outweigh their bad.
 * The world goes through 3 states: Creation, the present state where good and evil both exist in the world, and the final state where time ends and the good live eternally in heaven.
 * Their heaven is unlike the christian heaven, it is the earth that has been removed of all evil and only goods exists.
 * Hell is a temporary place, all occupants of hell are to be released when they are deemed good, almost like jail in todays society.
 * The saoshyant (savior) will be born of a virgin and will raise the dead and judge everyone in the final judgement.
 * Practices **
 * They live by the motto, "good words, good thoughts, good deeds."
 * Celebrate a coming-of-age ritual in which followers of the age of seven are given a girdle and a shirt that they wear for the rest of their lives.
 * They have a purification ritual involving a dog in the belief that the dogs gaze will cast out evil spirits.
 * They feed the sacred fire, which burns all day every day, 5 times a day
 * They also pray 5 times a day while feeding the fire.
 * When someone dies, they are placed in a room for 3 days, during this time a fire while burn the entire time and a dog will come in 5 times a day, again for the belief that the dogs gaze will cast out evil spirits.
 * Every month is dedicated