Religion 102 (01)                                                                                     
Introduction to World Religions                                                                              Fall, 1997

 Mazdayasna
 Zoroaster
 hoama
 Ahura Mazda
 Gathas
 Avesta
 Amesha Spenta
 Yazata
 Sepenta Mainyu
 Angra Mainyu
 Frashokereti

II. Focus Questions:
1. On page 185 of the chapter, under the heading "Heaven and Hell" we find this passage:

 At death, Zoroastrians believe each of us is judged according to the total goodness or evilness of our thoughts, words, and deeds.  The greater the goodness, the wider the bridge to heaven, the House of Heavenly Song, the Kingdom of Light where the souls of the righteous reside.  The greater the accumulated evil, the narrower the bridge, until it is so narrow that souls cannot cross.  They fall into hell, House of the Lie, a murky, woeful place.

     Now here is a passage from a book of the Christian New Testament, the gospel
 according to Matthew:

 Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many.  How  narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.  And those who find it are few (Matthew 7:13-14 NAB).
 What are the similarities and real differences between these two passages?  Explain.

 2.  The chapter points out that Zoroastrian beliefs predate Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.   All four of these world religions, in one form or another, have beliefs about a Creator  God, personified evil, resurrection, etc.  At the same time these beliefs are quite distinct and different from one another.  How should one judge the value of competing religious beliefs such as these?  Suggest several ways to evaluate these beliefs and explain why you chose the ways you did.
3.  Why is it important to study a religion that has so few modern adherents?

4.  Imagine that you are going to explain Zoroastrianism to a friend who knows nothing about
           this religion, but due to time constraints you can choose only three characteristics of the
           religion to explicate.  What would be the three most important features of this religion
           that you would select to explain?  Why these three features and not others?