This is so helpful and timely as I embark on a new historical novel series set in Victorian times while reaching back to archaeological discoveries in Mesopotamia. Although further research is required, it confirms my thinking on the subject.
One of the better articles I've read here. Thank you. Shame to see such a great master's work lost to history, although Gurdjieff wrote about him in detail over a hundred years ago (the terror of the situation) and explained in detail the how and why of the battle of the 2 forces, that people are still puzzling about. There are no new ideas.
I'll let others argue moot points, but I believe Z's concept was already relatively similar, except for time and cultural nuances, in earlier times as ma Kali, and Set (Against Horus) in Egypt.
Zoroaster's ideas of "if there is good then someone causes evil." This is reasonable thought if only in human's thinking. It was his add on after his epiphany. Had nothing to do with his awakening .
Good article. However much of these concepts can be attributed to the latter “Zoroastrian texts” written by priests/magi 1000+ years after Zoroaster. These text books are generally diluted by misinterpretations of the Gathas over time and other religious views at the time. For example a classic mistake is that Angra Mainyu is placed as opposition to Ahura Mazda, therefore bringing about the concept of God vs. Devil.
According to the Gathas (Zoroaster’s own compositions), Ahura Mazda is the sole source of all existence. Spenta Mainyu (progressive/good mentality) and Angra Mainyu (regressive/evil mentality) oppose each other and live within the human mind. These two mental forces create the battle for humans to make the right choices.
All Muslim bullshit. Remember God cast lucifer into the pit. There are two Islam's. Pre Mohammad and post Mohammad. Today's stinkers are POST Mohammad.
Zoroaster was not a Muslim and had no connection to Islam… He lived in ancient Persia between 1500 and 1000 BC, roughly 2,000 years before the Muhammad was born. Zoroastrianism is a completely separate and much older religion. The article is purely about this ancient Persian tradition and its remarkable spiritual vision, nothing more!
Thank you for this beautiful parallel explanation for how Judaism and Christianity evolved. As Zoroaster was in the same part of the world (Persia/Iran), do we know how/why Islam emerged/evolved? Was this the force of evil/Satan rebelling against people wanting to do good, the dark forces against the light, etc., in that time period, or maybe just the ego of another (Mohammed) wanting his glory? As a Christian, this history is so fascinating to me as most of us were brought up with the basic Bible stories and I love the filling in of the history or how they evolved. Thank you again!
Yes, thanks for emphasizing it. A shame we have to get negative view in these scholarly discussions. I am interested in Zoroastrianism, as practised also by the Parsees in India.
This is so helpful and timely as I embark on a new historical novel series set in Victorian times while reaching back to archaeological discoveries in Mesopotamia. Although further research is required, it confirms my thinking on the subject.
One of the better articles I've read here. Thank you. Shame to see such a great master's work lost to history, although Gurdjieff wrote about him in detail over a hundred years ago (the terror of the situation) and explained in detail the how and why of the battle of the 2 forces, that people are still puzzling about. There are no new ideas.
I'll let others argue moot points, but I believe Z's concept was already relatively similar, except for time and cultural nuances, in earlier times as ma Kali, and Set (Against Horus) in Egypt.
Zoroaster's ideas of "if there is good then someone causes evil." This is reasonable thought if only in human's thinking. It was his add on after his epiphany. Had nothing to do with his awakening .
Good article. However much of these concepts can be attributed to the latter “Zoroastrian texts” written by priests/magi 1000+ years after Zoroaster. These text books are generally diluted by misinterpretations of the Gathas over time and other religious views at the time. For example a classic mistake is that Angra Mainyu is placed as opposition to Ahura Mazda, therefore bringing about the concept of God vs. Devil.
According to the Gathas (Zoroaster’s own compositions), Ahura Mazda is the sole source of all existence. Spenta Mainyu (progressive/good mentality) and Angra Mainyu (regressive/evil mentality) oppose each other and live within the human mind. These two mental forces create the battle for humans to make the right choices.
Now celebrating Passover, the triumph of Good over Evil.
All Muslim bullshit. Remember God cast lucifer into the pit. There are two Islam's. Pre Mohammad and post Mohammad. Today's stinkers are POST Mohammad.
Zoroaster was not a Muslim and had no connection to Islam… He lived in ancient Persia between 1500 and 1000 BC, roughly 2,000 years before the Muhammad was born. Zoroastrianism is a completely separate and much older religion. The article is purely about this ancient Persian tradition and its remarkable spiritual vision, nothing more!
Thank you for this beautiful parallel explanation for how Judaism and Christianity evolved. As Zoroaster was in the same part of the world (Persia/Iran), do we know how/why Islam emerged/evolved? Was this the force of evil/Satan rebelling against people wanting to do good, the dark forces against the light, etc., in that time period, or maybe just the ego of another (Mohammed) wanting his glory? As a Christian, this history is so fascinating to me as most of us were brought up with the basic Bible stories and I love the filling in of the history or how they evolved. Thank you again!
Yes, thanks for emphasizing it. A shame we have to get negative view in these scholarly discussions. I am interested in Zoroastrianism, as practised also by the Parsees in India.