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Zoroastrianism

An Introduction

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Ruben Nikoghosyan

In this course we are going to explore one of the most ancient and important religions of the world, Zoroastrianism.

Despite the small number of its followers today, Zoroastrianism has played a crucial role in the history of human thought and civilization. Many prominent historical figures, like Darius, Xerxes, Khusraw I and Khusraw II, have been followers of Zoroastrianism.

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In this course we are going to explore one of the most ancient and important religions of the world, Zoroastrianism.

Despite the small number of its followers today, Zoroastrianism has played a crucial role in the history of human thought and civilization. Many prominent historical figures, like Darius, Xerxes, Khusraw I and Khusraw II, have been followers of Zoroastrianism.

Two prominent Iranian empires, Achaemenids and Sasanians, which have played an immensely important role in the history of the Ancient and Late Antique worlds, had Zoroastrianism as their official religion. Besides that, Zoroastrianism has played a tremendous role in shaping the Iranian identity.

Zoroastrianism had also great impact on the development of religious thought. Such ideas as "Heaven and Hell", the "Evil counterpart of the God (Satan)", the "Savior at the end of times" have been an existential and inseparable part of its dogma and theology.

In this course I have tried to present and discuss some of the core aspects of the classical Zoroastrianism, like the Creation Myth, the Structure of the Universe, and the interesting biography of the founder of this religion, Zoroaster (Zarathushtra).

By completing the course, you will have a basic understanding of the main tenets of the classical Zoroastrianism (as described in the 9-11th centuries CE Zoroastrian Middle Persian literature), its place among other world-religions, its similarities with the latter, the main and reliable sources for further study, etc.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Zoroastrianism
  • History of zoroastrianism
  • Creation myth in zoroastrianism
  • Avesta
  • Biography of zoroaster

Syllabus

In this section the students will get themselves familiar with the environment in which the Zoroastrian religion came into existence.

Language is an essential part of the human identity. Languages define the cultural environment where the ethnic and religious groups live in. Zoroastrianism is an Iranian religion. In this lecture we define the place of the Iranian languages among the other Indo-European languages. We will also shortly discuss the importance of comparative linguistics and mythology in the history of Zoroastrianism.

Required reading: Chapter 1. "The Indo-Aryans" (pp. 3-5) and Chapter 2. "Iranian Languages and Peoples" (pp. 5-7) from P. O. Skjærvø, Introduction to Zoroastrianism, 2005 (you can find the link below).

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In this and the next video we discuss in detail the geography of the land in which Zoroastrianism has thrived for centuries. The correct understanding of the historical environment, in which  Zoroastrianism developed and became one of the most influential religions in history, is necessary for the students of Zoroastrianism.

The second part of the lecture on the geography of the Iranian lands.

Required reading: Frye, R. N., The Heritage of Persia, London, 1962, pp. 7-15 (find the link for the book below)

Watch this brief 8-minute video by Sal Khan from Khan Academy on Zoroastrianism. (see the link below)

Also you can watch this 17-minute popular video on Zoroastrianism.

Watching these videos will give you some understanding of the main principles of this religion.

In this lecture the students will learn about the main languages that we need to know in order to study Zoroastrianism. These languages are Avestan (Old and Young), Middle Persian, and New Persian. The bulk of Zoroastrian literature is written and transmitted in these languages. However, in the last 200 years, many Zoroastrian texts have been translated into modern European languages, and students who don't know any of the above-mentioned languages, may still be able to read many Zoroastrian texts in English, French or German.

If you are interested, I will put here a link to the complete scholarly description of the Avesta and its contents by Prof. Almut Hintze on her Academia page (see the link below). You can read it after completing this section.

How the Avesta has reached our days? What do we need to know about it and how did it originate? In this lecture I have tried to answer these questions.

Required Reading: Mary Boyce, Textual Sources for the Study of Zoroastrianism, 1984, pp. 1-7 (Find the link below)

Watch this interesting lecture by Judith Lerner about Zoroastrianism (36-minute). (Find the link below)

There are not many translations of the entire Avesta. If you are interested, you can refer to James Darmesteter's English translation of Videvdad/Vendidad, Yashts and part of Khurda Avesta (I will put the links below). The complete French translation by the same translator is also available. Generally, different and more modern translations of the different parts of the Avesta are available in English, German, French and other translations, the bibliography for which you may find in Jean Kellen's article below.

Required readings:

J. Kellens, “AVESTA i. Survey of the history and contents of the book,” Encyclopaedia Iranica, III/1, pp. 35-44 (link available below).

Chapter 3. Source texts (3.1 Avesta) from P. O. Skjærvø, Introduction to Zoroastrianism, 2005, pp. 7-8 (see the link below).

Although it is not required, it would be better if you would cast a look on the translations of the Avesta, provided in the Resources section.

Required reading: H. Humbach, Gathas, Encyclopedia Iranica (link below).

There are a number of translations of the Gathas. Try to find the following translations:

[In English]

H. Humbach, J. Elfenbein, and P. O. Skjærvø, The Gāthās of Zarathushtra and the Other Old Avestan Texts, 2 vols., Heidelberg, 1991.

S. Insler, The Gāthās of Zarathustra, Tehran and Liège, 1975.

[In German]

H. Lommel, Die Gathas des Zarathustra, Basel and Stuttgart, 1971.

H. Humbach, Die Gathas des Zarathustra, 2 vols., Heidelberg, 1959

[In French]

J. Kellens and É. Pirart: Les textes vieil-avestiques, 3 vols., Wiesbaden, 1988-91.

Otherwise, you can read the old translations of Mills (link below).

Required readings:

D. N. MacKenzie, Bundahišn, Encyclopaedia Iranica, 1989. (the link is available below)

P. G. Kreyenbroek, Cosmogony and Cosmology i. In Zoroastrianism/Mazdaism, Encyclopaedia Iranica, 1993. (the link is available below)

In this lecture the classical (Pahlavi) version of the Zoroastrian myth is described, as in the lectures below.

Required readings: Chapter 11. Cosmogony and Cosmology, in P. O. Skjærvø, Introduction to Zoroastrianism, 2005, pp. 37-39.

Chapters 1-4 of Selections of Zadsparam (tr. by E. W. West), in Avesta.org (see the link below).

You can also read the first chapters of the [Iranian] Bundahishn (see the link below).

Required reading:

Gherardo Gnoli, “DUALISM,” Encyclopædia Iranica, 1996. (see the link below)

Mansour Shaki, “GAYŌMART,” Encyclopædia Iranica, 2000. (see the link below)

Required reading: Chapter XIV of the Iranian Bundahishn (see the link below).

Required reading:

M. Boyce, “AHURA MAZDĀ,” Encyclopædia Iranica, 1984. (see the link below)

M. Boyce, “AMƎŠA SPƎNTA,” Encyclopædia Iranica, 1989. (see the link below)

Required reading: J. Duchesne-Guillemin, “AHRIMAN,” Encyclopædia Iranica, 1984. (see the link below)

Required reading: Chapter XXX (30) of the Iranian Bundahishn (see the link below).

You may also read this instructive and comprehensive article by P. O. Skjaervo: Afterlife in Zoroastrianism (see the link below).

Required reading: Gnoli, Gherardo, Indo-Iranian Religion, Encyclopedia Iranica, 2004. (see the link below)

Optional reading: Malandra, W. W., An Introduction to Ancient Iranian Religion, 1983 (I hope you will be able to find the book).

Required reading: Max Mueller, F., The Veda and Zend-Avesta, 1853. (find the link below)

If you are interested in the religion of the Rig-Veda, you can read this book by Arthur MacDonell: Vedic Mythology,  Strassburg, 1897. (find the link below)

Required Reading:

Rüdiger Schmitt, ZOROASTER i. THE NAME, Encyclopedia Iranica, 2002 (see the link below)

A. Shapur Shahbazi, "The 'Traditional Date of Zoroaster' Explained", Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, Vol. 40, No. 1 (1977), pp. 25-35. (you can read it online on JSTOR, see the link below)

Optional reading: A. V. Williams, ZOROASTER iv. In the Pahlavi Books, Encyclopedia Iranica, 2000. (see the link below)

Required reading: Chapters 13-19 of the Selections of Zadsparam, from Avesta.org. (see the link below)

Chapter 3 of the 7th book of Denkard, from Avesta.org. (see the link below)

Required reading: Chapter 21 of the Selections of Zadsparam, from Avesta.org. (see the link below)

Chapter 4-5 of the 7th book of the Denkard, from Avesta.org. (see the link below)

Optional reading: Henning, W. B., Zoroaster, Politician Or Witch-doctor? (find the link below)

Henning's book is not a required reading, but try to read it if you have the time. In this book the questions of the personality and historicity of his character are described in a very engaging and lively stile. The book has overall 51 pages, so you won't get bored.

Required reading:

Almut Hintze, Zarathustra’s Time and Homeland: Linguistic Perspectives. In: M. Stausberg and Y. Vevaina (eds.), The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Zoroastrianism, Oxford: OUP 2015, 31–38. (see the link below)

Frantz Grenet, Zarathustra’s time and homeland. Geographical perspectives. In: M. Stausberg and Y. Vevaina (eds.), The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Zoroastrianism, Oxford: OUP 2015, 21-30. (see the link below)

If you are interested in the history of Zoroastrianism, their beliefs and practices, this is a classical and popular work intended for the general reader: Mary Boyce, Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices, London, 1979.

If you are interested in a more specialized literature, you can look out for these books by the same author:

Mary Boyce, A History of Zoroastrianism, vols. I-II, Leiden, 1975-82.

Mary Boyce and Franz Grenet, A History of Zoroastrianism III: Zoroastrianism under Macedonian and Roman Rule, Leiden, 1991.

You can find the history of Zoroastrianism along with some bibliography in the following articles:

William W. Malandra, ZOROASTRIANISM i. Historical review up to the Arab Conquest, Encyclopedia Iranica, 2005 (see the link below)

Jamsheed K. Choksy, ZOROASTRIANISM ii. Historical Review: from the Arab Conquest to Modern Times, Encyclopedia Iranica, 2015. (see the link below)

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Explores the profound influence of Zoroastrianism on the development of religious thought, including concepts like Heaven and Hell and the idea of a Savior, which are now widespread
Examines primary source texts in translation, such as selections from the Bundahishn and Denkard, allowing students to engage directly with Zoroastrian literature even without language expertise
Requires readings from the Encyclopædia Iranica, a comprehensive and authoritative source for Iranian studies, providing access to in-depth scholarship on Zoroastrianism
Features optional readings, such as Henning's 'Zoroaster, Politician Or Witch-doctor?', which delves into the historical figure of Zoroaster and encourages critical thinking
Relies heavily on required readings from various books and encyclopedias, which may pose a barrier to students who do not have easy access to academic libraries or online databases
Focuses on classical Zoroastrianism as described in 9-11th century CE Middle Persian literature, which may not fully represent the diversity and evolution of Zoroastrian beliefs across different periods and regions

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Reviews summary

Introduction to ancient zoroastrianism

According to learners, this course provides a solid and fascinating introduction to classical Zoroastrianism. Students highlight the instructor's expertise and passion for the subject, finding the lectures clear and engaging. While the course dives deep into historical texts and academic sources, which some find challenging due to the dense required readings, it is widely seen as a great starting point for understanding the core tenets and historical significance of this ancient religion. The course also offers valuable pointers for further study, though a few learners noted the focus is strictly on the classical period.
Emphasis is strictly on historical, classical Zoroastrianism.
"Note that this focuses on classical Zoroastrianism based on medieval texts..."
"I was hoping for a bit more on modern practices, but it sticks to history."
"The course clearly outlines its scope on the classical period, which is helpful."
Audio/video quality is generally sufficient.
"The video and audio quality were perfectly adequate for following the lectures."
"Production values are simple but don't detract from the excellent content."
"Everything was clear enough to understand the instructor well."
Points towards academic sources for deeper learning.
"The list of resources for further study is incredibly valuable..."
"I appreciate that the course guides you on where to learn more."
"Excellent bibliography and links provided for those who want to continue."
Provides a strong foundation for beginners.
"This course is an excellent introduction for anyone curious about Zoroastrianism."
"Gives a solid overview of the main historical and theological points."
"I feel I have a good basic understanding after taking this course."
Subject matter is captivating and well-presented.
"The course content is incredibly interesting and opened my eyes."
"A truly fascinating glimpse into a religion I knew little about."
"I found the history and concepts presented here utterly captivating."
Instructor's knowledge and passion are praised.
"The instructor is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about the topic."
"His lectures are clear and easy to follow, demonstrating deep expertise."
"I really appreciated the professor's insights and the way he presented the material."
Academic readings can be challenging or time-consuming.
"Some of the required readings were quite dense and academic, requiring extra effort..."
"Be prepared for a significant amount of reading from scholarly sources."
"While valuable, keeping up with all the reading alongside lectures was demanding."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Zoroastrianism: An Introduction with these activities:
Review Indo-European Languages
Strengthen your understanding of the linguistic context of Zoroastrianism.
Browse courses on Indo-European Languages
Show steps
  • Review the basics of Indo-European language families.
  • Study the relationship between Iranian languages and other Indo-European languages.
  • Familiarize yourself with key linguistic terms.
Read 'Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices'
Gain a comprehensive understanding of Zoroastrianism through a widely respected introductory text.
View Zoroastrians (The Library of Religious Beliefs... on Amazon
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices'.
  • Read the book, taking notes on key concepts and historical events.
  • Reflect on how the book's content relates to the course syllabus.
Create a Timeline of Zoroastrian History
Solidify your understanding of Zoroastrianism's historical development by creating a visual timeline.
Show steps
  • Research key events and figures in Zoroastrian history.
  • Organize the information chronologically.
  • Create a visual timeline using online tools or software.
  • Add brief descriptions and images to each entry.
Three other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all six activities
Explore 'A History of Zoroastrianism'
Deepen your knowledge of Zoroastrian history with a comprehensive academic resource.
View A History of Zoroastrianism: Zoroastrianism... on Amazon
Show steps
  • Access 'A History of Zoroastrianism' (volumes I-III).
  • Focus on sections relevant to the course syllabus.
  • Take detailed notes on key historical developments.
Write a Comparative Essay on Creation Myths
Enhance your understanding of the Zoroastrian creation myth by comparing it to other creation myths.
Show steps
  • Research creation myths from other cultures (e.g., Greek, Egyptian, Mesopotamian).
  • Identify similarities and differences between these myths and the Zoroastrian creation myth.
  • Write an essay analyzing these comparisons.
Research Zoroastrian Influences on Other Religions
Explore the impact of Zoroastrianism on the development of other religious traditions.
Show steps
  • Investigate potential Zoroastrian influences on Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
  • Gather evidence from scholarly sources to support your findings.
  • Present your research in a written report or presentation.

Career center

Learners who complete Zoroastrianism: An Introduction will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Comparative Religionist
A comparative religionist analyzes and contrasts various religious traditions to identify similarities, differences, and patterns. This course introduces the core aspects of Zoroastrianism, its place among other world religions, and its similarities with them. This course may help those who wish to understand the influence of Zoroastrianism on other faith traditions, especially through its ideas of heaven and hell, Satan, and a savior. A comparative religionist often looks for recurring themes and patterns throughout the world's religions. Students may be interested in this course's focus on the similarities between Zoroastrianism and other faiths. Those looking to understand the historical development of religious thought may find this course to be ideal.
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Religious Studies Scholar
A religious studies scholar researches and analyzes various religious traditions, often specializing in a particular faith or region. This course on Zoroastrianism may be useful for those who want to delve deep into a religion that has significantly shaped human thought, with a focus on its historical context, core beliefs, and mythology. This course may be of particular value given its focus on classical Zoroastrianism and its original literature. A religious studies scholar often needs to be familiar with the history and development of a religion, its key texts, and its place in the world. This course may help build a foundation for those looking to specialize in Iranian religions or comparative studies. Those interested in the evolution of religious ideas, and who want to understand a religion's historical roots may find this course particularly helpful. Many advanced scholars hold a doctorate.
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Religious Educator
A religious educator teaches about religious traditions in various settings, such as schools, universities, or community centers. This course offers a detailed introduction to Zoroastrianism, which makes it potentially useful for a religious educator seeking to expand their knowledge of world religions. A religious educator with a background in Zoroastrianism may be better equipped to teach about the origins of religions that are widely practiced today, and also to teach its historical context. The course's overview of the core tenets, creation myth, and history of Zoroastrianism will enable the educator to design courses or workshops that provide an accurate overview of this faith. Those who are wanting to become acquainted with Zoroastrianism may find this course helpful.
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Cultural Anthropologist
Cultural anthropologists study human societies and cultures, focusing on understanding the beliefs, practices, and social structures of different groups. A cultural anthropologist seeking to understand ancient Iranian society might take this course to learn about the role Zoroastrianism played in shaping the identity of the region. An understanding of the creation myth, cosmology, and historical development of Zoroastrianism can give particular insights into the cultural beliefs and structures of the people who followed this faith. By analyzing the course's discussion of the Avesta and other Zoroastrian texts, a cultural anthropologist may gain valuable insight into a culture's worldview. Scholars may also look to this course to understand how ancient and classical religious ideas impact modern societies.
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Historian
Historians research, analyze, and interpret the past, often focusing on specific regions, periods, or themes. This course, which delves into Zoroastrianism's history and its impact on Iranian empires like the Achaemenids and Sasanians, may be useful for individuals interested in the history of the ancient world, and particularly in the history of Iran. A historian often studies the cultural, social, political, and religious aspects of different societies. The course may provide a deep understanding of the religious context of the Iranian empires, a good historical case study for those interested in ancient religions. This course may prove useful for individuals seeking a greater understanding of Iranian history and the impacts of religious beliefs on societies. A historian will benefit from the course's analysis of original source materials.
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Linguist
A linguist studies language, its structure, history, and its relationship to culture and cognition. This course may be helpful to a linguist interested in Indo-European languages, especially Iranian languages. This is because the course content includes discussions on the Avestan, Middle Persian, and New Persian languages. It also discusses the importance of comparative linguistics and mythology in understanding Zoroastrianism. A linguist could also benefit from the course’s analysis of the Avesta, as well as its focus on the evolution of languages. Linguists often find it necessary to understand how language impacts culture and religious beliefs. This course, with its focus on philology, may prove useful in this effort.
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Archaeologist
Archaeologists study the material remains of past cultures to understand human history and prehistory. While this course is not directly about archeology, it provides valuable insight into the religious context needed to better understand sites and artifacts from the ancient Iranian world. An archaeologist working on sites related to the Achaemenids or Sasanians may find the course's discussion of Zoroastrianism to be very useful. By studying the religious beliefs and practices of these ancient cultures, an archaeologist can have a more nuanced view of the cultural context of the material remains they discover. For example, the course's focus on creation myths and cosmology could illuminate the symbolic meanings of ancient artifacts and architecture. Students who want to understand the cultural and historical contexts of their findings may find this course useful.
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Content Writer
A content writer creates written material for various platforms, such as websites, blogs, and publications. This course may be helpful for a content writer who needs to write articles or blog posts about world religions, ancient cultures, or the history of religious thought. The course provides a thorough understanding of Zoroastrianism which is a faith that is not very well known, yet has had profound impacts on the world. A content writer with this knowledge can create more accurate and informative content. A content creator who wants to understand the history of religion may find this course particularly useful. The content writer could also use these skills to write books, articles, or travel guides.
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Museum curator
Museum curators manage and oversee museum collections, often specializing in a particular area or historical period. This course may be helpful to a museum curator focused on ancient Iranian art and artifacts. This course helps build a foundational understanding of the Zoroastrian religion, a faith that has had a significant impact on the region's art and material culture. The curator may be able to more intelligently contextualize a historical artifact or artistic object that has connections to Zoroastrianism once they have a better understanding of its religious symbolism and beliefs. For those working with historical collections, the course's content on creation myth, cosmology, and the history of Zoroastrianism may provide key context that is important for effective exhibition design. Those interested in working with museums may find this course to be beneficial.
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Archivist
An archivist is responsible for acquiring, organizing, preserving, and making accessible historical records and documents. This course delves into the historical context of Zoroastrianism, including its key sources like the Avesta and other Middle Persian texts. An archivist dealing with ancient religious texts, particularly those from the Iranian empires, may find this course helpful. Knowing the history, language, and cultural significance of these documents helps archivists understand how to properly preserve and catalog them. The course's focus on the history of Zoroastrian texts and their transmission will help archivists understand the context in which these documents were created and used. An archivist may especially find the course's discussion of textual sources and their preservation helpful.
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Curriculum Developer
Curriculum developers design educational materials and programs for schools, universities, and other institutions. This course on Zoroastrianism may be useful for a curriculum developer seeking to create materials pertaining to world religions or ancient history. An understanding of Zoroastrianism's influence on other faiths and cultures may be useful for a world religion curriculum. The course's comprehensive overview of Zoroastrianism, its core tenets, and historical sources will allow the curriculum developer to create well-informed and engaging educational content. The course may help those who want to create programs for universities, secondary schools, or cultural centers.
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Documentary Filmmaker
Documentary filmmakers research, produce, and direct films that explore real-world subjects and events. This course may prove helpful to a documentary filmmaker wanting to create a film about ancient religions or the history of Iran. The course offers a detailed overview of Zoroastrianism, its history, creation myth, and cosmology. A documentary filmmaker with this background will be better equipped to tell a compelling story. This is particularly true when trying to represent ancient civilizations accurately, and when trying to understand the context of the people from the past. Those looking to tell the story of the ancient world may find this course very helpful. The course's exploration of original source material may also contribute to a richer documentary.
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Translator
A translator converts written text from one language to another, maintaining the original meaning and context. This course may be helpful to a translator specializing in ancient Iranian languages and religious texts. The course offers an overview of Zoroastrianism, its history, and the Avestan, Middle Persian, and New Persian languages in which the faith's texts were written. A translator may be able to better understand the cultural and religious context of the text they are working with by understanding Zoroastrianism's beliefs and history. Translators who wish to translate religious scriptures or any document stemming from Zoroastrianism may find this course useful.The course's focus on the Avesta and other primary source materials is particularly relevant to a translator.
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Editor
Editors review and prepare written content for publication ensuring clarity, accuracy, and adherence to style guidelines. This course may be helpful for an editor working on scholarly or academic publications related to religious studies and ancient history. An editor familiar with Zoroastrianism may be better able to assess the accuracy and scholarly rigor of articles and books that discuss the faith. This course may help those who want to understand the religious and historical context of texts written by scholars of this religion. This could be particularly valuable when working with texts that analyze Zoroastrianism’s impact on world history. The course's deep dive into the history and literature of Zoroastrianism will provide valuable context when evaluating scholarly materials.
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Tour Guide
A tour guide leads groups of people on tours, providing information about historical sites, cultural landmarks, and other points of interest. This course on Zoroastrianism may help a tour guide working in Iran or in other places with a Zoroastrian heritage. Such a tour guide can learn more about the ancient history of the region, including the impact of the Zoroastrian faith on the development of the culture. By knowing more about the religious beliefs and practices of ancient Iranians, a tour guide can better explain the historical significance of the sites they visit. Those who wish to provide a deep and rich educational experience on a tour may find this course helpful.
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Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Zoroastrianism: An Introduction.
Cover image
Zoroastrians
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of Zoroastrian beliefs and practices. It popular and accessible work intended for the general reader. It offers valuable context for understanding the course material and is often recommended as an introductory text. It is especially useful for gaining a broad understanding of the religion's history and key concepts.
Zoroastrians (The Library of Religious Beliefs and...
Paperback
$$
Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices...
Unknown Binding
$$$$
Zoroastrians Their Religious Beliefs and Practices...
Paperback
$$$$
Zoroastrians (The Library of Religious Beliefs and...
Kindle Edition
$
Cover image
A History of Zoroastrianism: Zoroastrianism under...
Save
This multi-volume work provides an in-depth historical analysis of Zoroastrianism. While not required for the course, it offers a more specialized and detailed perspective. It is valuable for students seeking a deeper understanding of the religion's evolution and its interactions with other cultures. Consider this as additional reading to expand on the course's historical overview.
A History of Zoroastrianism: Zoroastrianism Under...
Hardcover
$$$$

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Effort
1.5 total hours
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Instructor
Ruben Nikoghosyan
Language
English
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Explores the profound influence of Zoroastrianism on the development of religious thought, including concepts like Heaven and Hell and the idea of a Savior, which are now widespread
Examines primary source texts in translation, such as selections from the Bundahishn and Denkard, allowing students to engage directly with Zoroastrian literature even without language expertise
Requires readings from the Encyclopædia Iranica, a comprehensive and authoritative source for Iranian studies, providing access to in-depth scholarship on Zoroastrianism
Features optional readings, such as Henning's 'Zoroaster, Politician Or Witch-doctor?', which delves into the historical figure of Zoroaster and encourages critical thinking
Relies heavily on required readings from various books and encyclopedias, which may pose a barrier to students who do not have easy access to academic libraries or online databases
Focuses on classical Zoroastrianism as described in 9-11th century CE Middle Persian literature, which may not fully represent the diversity and evolution of Zoroastrian beliefs across different periods and regions
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