Thus Spake Zarathustra Trivia Quiz

Answer: False

Numbers vary, but, at the turn of the 21st century there were about 60,000 to 200,000 Zoroastrians around the world. The heaviest concentrations appear to be in Canada, the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, Iraq and some island nations. There are Zarathustris scattered over the globe, but they are few in number and difficult to count.

The basis for this religion is very simple: to love life and enjoy its pleasures. With that comes the responsibilities of being a part of society and helping others. Good thoughts (Humata) are primary, good words (Hukhta) follow, and those are followed by good deeds (Huvarshta). People should strive for happiness by spreading it around. Optimism is a virtue, while pessimism and despair are sins.
Withdrawing from the world is also considered a sin.

Answer: True

God does not control every aspect of human life or choice. As Zarathustris, people must reason and choose for themselves. The Invocation of Asha (Righteousness) is:

"Righteousness is good, it is best, it is happiness. Happiness comes to the person who is righteous for the sake of utmost righteousness". Thus the choice to be good and to do good for its own sake rests with the individual.

The Spirit of Truth (Spenta Mainyu) must always oppose the Spirit of Lies (Angra Mainyu). The struggle between these forces governs all human action and thought.

Answer: It was memorized by priests

The original scripture, the Avesta, was carried on orally by priests memorizing and reciting the prayers and psalms, and passing them down to the next generations. Its language became modified over hundreds of years and there was a legend stating that Alexander the Great burned the palace of Persepolis around 330 BC, and one of the things he destroyed was a complete version of the Avesta written in gold on 12,000 goatskins. It is not known for certain whether there ever was such a document. In addition to the destruction of sacred writings, many priests were killed and their memories never passed on, so there are gaps.

Over the centuries many documents have been lost and the religion of Zarathustra nearly died out in the 17th century. It is estimated that perhaps only 25% of the Avesta survives into the 21st century.

Zarathustra was a priest of an ancient religion that existed in Persia (now Iran). His ideas and reforms were considered revolutionary at the time, such as the belief in only one God, Ahura Mazda (Wise Lord), who is to be loved and respected but never feared. The twin spirits, Truth and Lies or Good and Evil, should be recognized in the world and Free Will is given to humans to choose which they will follow.

Zarathustra placed less value on ritual than on the individual choice of a way of life.

Answer: Benevolent spirits

These spirits are aspects of Ahura Mazda's power. They also represent the sparks of the divine that exist in each person. The six Amesha Spentas are:

1. Vohu Mana: the spirit of the good mind: from the good mind comes good thoughts, and good words and deeds will follow.
2. Asha Vahista: the spirit of truth and righteousness. Truth, wisdom, progress and justice lead to blessing and salvation.
3. Khshathra Vairya: the spirit of ideal authority, which is the power of Ahura Mazda; one must fight evil and promote good.
4. Spenta Armaity: the spirit of love and benevolence, from which come charity and grace.
5. Haurvatat: the spirit of perfection and well-being in the world.
6. Ameratat: the spirit of immortality and eternal bliss.

Answer: Guardian spirit

The fravashi is a helpful spirit that assists a person in choosing right from wrong. Whereas a conscience is developed, a fravashi is inborn and remains with the individual until death. Fravashis have been around since before the creation of the physical world, and represent the divine spark in each person that is God.

The Zoroastrian view of death is quite different from most other religions. Death is considered the most impure state, and even before someone dies a ritual fire may be brought into the room of the dying in order to keep evil spirits away. Only trained 'corpse bearers' may handle dead bodies, and they wash and dress the body before carrying it outside. Anyone who touches a dead body must undergo a purification ritual afterward. The body is then placed on a stone slab and priests pray over it until the soul has departed. Then the body will be gazed at by a dog to verify death and drive off evil spirits. The final destination is usually on a mountain top, in a 'tower of silence' where the dead are placed so that vultures may consume them, in effect giving back to nature what was taken during life. In a modern setting where this ritual cannot legally be observed, burial or any non-polluting method may be used.

Answer: Frashogard

Frashogard (aka Frashokereti), will come after thousands of years of good and evil battling. A savior, Saoshyant, will lead the people against the forces of evil and defeat them. The world will be destroyed by fire. The righteous will wade through the molten seas and be saved, but the unrighteous will perish.

The world will be renewed. The dead will rise, all souls in hell will be purified, and all will live in peace. Hell is not considered a permanent state, but a waiting place.

Answer: False

The priests perform daily rituals as well as memorial ones, but people are not expected to partake. On more social occasions, such as celebrating the new year and six major festivals occurring during the year, many Zoroastrians join together for shared foods and prayers. They also enjoy dancing and singing.
Five daily ritual prayers from the Avesta (kin to the Bible) are said alone or at family gatherings.

Answer: Fire

Fire is the sacred symbol of Ahura Mazda. It represents the light of the sun and heavenly bodies, the power of good over evil and purification. The most powerful source of fire is from lightning because it is said to come directly from God.

There are fire temples around the world where the sacred fire burns continuously.

The priests wear white, symbolizing purity, and masks over their mouths so as not to pollute the sacred fire with their breath.

Water is available at the entrance of these temples in order for those entering to first wash the exposed parts of their bodies, but only the initiated are allowed into the central chamber; the others may observe through a grate. There is very little decoration to detract from the fire itself, and then usually only natural things like flowers in other rooms used for teaching or prayer.

Answer: True

Contrary to the notion of the time that women were lesser beings and had less impact on the world, Zarathustra gave them equal footing and deemed them capable of salvation. It may have been a far cry from the 21st century concept, but it was revolutionary then. Bear in mind that women in the U.S. could not celebrate the centennial of their right to vote until 2020.

After centuries of persecution in Persia, many Zoroastrians drifted to India, where they were called Parsis; they were well respected members of society, trusted in their dealings and generous to all. As with all small religions, the modern-day Zarathustris face the challenge of being able to pass on a pure religion to their children, allowing intermarriage to keep the generations going, or dying out from lack of adherents.

Answer: Baptism

While Zoroastrianism is like many other religions, and has influenced some as well, its precepts are very clear. People have an obligation to follow a code of ethics toward themselves and their neighbors. Faith, good thoughts, good words and good deeds are mandatory, and should be practiced in a spirit of happiness and joy. Unlike Christianity, Zoroastrians do not believe in original sin, and do not feel that faith by itself is enough. Zoroastrianism differs from Hinduism in that there is no reincarnation. People are born on the earth and have one shot at getting it right. If they have chosen and followed the right path, they will enjoy the afterlife in happiness.