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by using their free will to do good.
Good thoughts, good words, and
good deeds support asha, the
fundamental order of the universe.
Asha is seen as being constantly
at risk from the opposing principle
of druj, chaos, which feeds on bad
thoughts, bad words, and bad deeds.
The essential opposition is between
creation and uncreation, with evil
threatening at all times to undermine
the ordered structure of the world.
The birth of Zoroaster, with his
destiny to recruit humankind to the
fight between good and evil, tipped
the battle in favor of goodness.
According to Zoroastrianism, it is
good that will ultimately prevail.A world made by goodness
Zoroastrianism tells that when
Ahura Mazda wanted to create a
perfect world, he made the Amesha
Spenta and a spiritual, invisible
world, which included a perfect
being. The spiritual nature of this
world was intended to foil Ahriman,
who tries to attack it nevertheless.
Ahura Mazda defeats Ahriman by
reciting the holiest Zoroastrian
prayer, the Ahunavar, which casts
him back into the darkness.
Ahura Mazda then gives
material form to his spiritual
world. He creates one primal
animal (a bull), and his perfect
spiritual being becomes a human
being, known as Gayomart
(meaning mortal or human life). ❯❯See also: The end of the world as we know it 86–87 ■ From monolatry to
monotheism 176–77 ■ Jesus's message to the world 204–207
ANCIENT AND CLASSICAL BELIEFS
The symbol of Zoroastrianism,
the Faravahar, is thought to depict
a fravashi, or guardian angel. These
protect the souls of individuals as
they struggle against evil.Zoroaster
It is not known exactly when
the prophet Zoroaster (also
called Zarathustra) lived, but
c.1400–1200 BCE seems likely.
Although his teachings draw
on early Hindu texts such as
the Rig-Veda, he regarded his
religious insights into these
texts as visions received
directly from God. Zoroaster
was already a priest among
seminomadic, pastoral Iranians
on the south Russian steppes
when he began to preach the
worship of Ahura Mazda. At
first he found few followers,
but he did convert a local ruler,
who made Zoroastrianism the
official religion of the Avestan
people. However, it was not
until the reign of Cyrus the
Great, in the 6th century BCE,
that the religion spread across
the Persian empire.Key works4th century BCE Zoroaster’s
teachings are compiled in
the Avesta, including the
Gathas, 17 hymns believed
to be Zoroaster’s own words.
9th century CE The dualistic
nature of Zoroastrian
philosophy is laid out in detail
in his Analytical Treatise for
the Dispelling of Doubts.The goodness of the wise
Creator can be inferred from
the act of creation.
Mardan-Farrukh