Zoroastrianism

The Ancient Faith Embracing Empowerment and Accountability

In my last article, I explored the remarkable leadership of Cyrus the Great, a ruler who governed with wisdom, tolerance and a deep sense of spiritual purpose. In that exploration, I mentioned that one of the important reference points in Cyrus’s worldview was Zoroastrianism.

There’s a good chance you’ve heard of Zoroastrianism before. This unusual but beautiful word certainly sticks in your mind once you’ve seen or heard it. But in the West, we’re far less consciously familiar with the specifics of this faith than we are with those of Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism and various others whose names I could reel off.

I think this is a shame, because this gentle faith has so many virtues and values to teach us.

Zoroastrianism is one of the world’s oldest surviving religions. It influenced not only Cyrus but also countless spiritual traditions that followed. And it laid the groundwork for many of the ideas we now take for granted—for instance, free will, the battle between good and evil and even the concept of heaven and hell.

Perhaps most importantly, though, Zoroastrianism asks us a question as old as time itself: What kind of person will you choose to be?

Origins: The Roots of a Timeless Faith 

Zoroastrianism is built on ideas and practices that are nearly as old as civilization itself. Its origins date back over 3,500 years, to the early Aryan tribes who migrated into Persia (modern-day Iran). These people carried with them spiritual beliefs that would become the foundation of many later traditions.

At the core of their belief system was the idea of a Great Spirit. This divine force pervades everything and everyone. To maintain harmony with this Being, priests conducted rituals involving haoma, a sacred plant-based drink, and fire, which was seen as a divine manifestation of purity and wisdom.

Unlike many other ancient religions, which worshipped a multitude of unpredictable gods, what would become Zoroastrianism gradually developed a more structured, moral philosophy, one focused not just on pleasing the divine but on living an ethical life.

Zoroaster: The Prophet Who Saw the Light

At the heart of Zoroastrianism is its prophet, Zoroaster (who was known in his time as Zarathushtra, Zoroaster being the Greek rendering of his name). His exact biographical dates remain uncertain. some say he lived around 1000 BCE, while others place him as late as 600 BCE, possibly making him a contemporary of Cyrus the Great.

According to tradition, Zoroaster received a divine revelation while meditating beside a river. In this moment of clarity, Ahura Mazda, the Wise Lord, revealed the nature of existence to him: the world was not controlled by fickle gods but the theatre of a cosmic struggle between truth (Asha) and deception (Druj).

Zoroaster’s teachings were later recorded in the Avesta, the holy scriptures of Zoroastrianism, in the form of hymns and prayers. Their message is clear: people are not powerless before fate. Instead, they have the free will to choose righteousness and to contribute to a better world.

Zoroastrianism’s Core Teachings

Zoroastrianism is built on a simple yet profound moral philosophy: good thoughts, good words, good deeds.

This triad serves as a guiding principle for followers, emphasizing that every action, no matter how small it is, has consequences. The universe, according to this belief system, is shaped by the choices we make.

At the center of this cosmic struggle are two opposing forces. On the one hand, there is Ahura Mazda, the wise lord, the embodiment of truth, justice and order. On the other, there is Angra Mainyu, the spirit of chaos, deception, and destruction.

Unlike many religious traditions where evil is an independent force, Zoroastrianism teaches that Angra Mainyu exists because humans have free will. The battle between good and evil is not just a war between gods; it is a struggle within every individual.

The faith also introduces the idea of divine judgment. At the end of life, each person’s soul is weighed based on their thoughts, words and actions. Those who have lived with righteousness cross the Chinvat Bridge into paradise; those who have followed falsehood and cruelty fall into a realm of suffering.

These ideas of free will, personal responsibility and a moral afterlife would later influence major world religions, including Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

A Legacy that Shaped Empires

Zoroastrianism became the guiding force behind three great Persian empires across more than a millennium. But the Muslim conquest of Persia in 651 CE marked a turning point for the faith. As Islam spread, Zoroastrians faced pressure to convert, and many were forced to flee. A significant number settled in India, where they became known as the Parsis. Today, there are roughly twenty-five thousand Zoroastrians in Iran, sixty thousand in India (Parsis), and thirty thousand in North America.

Sacred Fire and Unique Traditions

Zoroastrians hold fire and water as sacred symbols of purity. Fire temples, where an eternal flame is tended by priests, remain places of worship. This reverence for fire has led some to mistakenly call them "fire worshippers." In truth, fire is seen not as a god, but as a divine representation of wisdom and truth.

Some of the most fascinating Zoroastrian traditions concern death. To avoid polluting the earth, Zoroastrians traditionally placed their dead in Towers of Silence, where bodies were left to be naturally consumed by birds. This practice, though largely discontinued, reflects a deep environmental awareness that feels strikingly relevant in today’s world.

Why Zoroastrianism Still Matters

So why should we care about this ancient faith? Because at its heart, Zoroastrianism is a philosophy of empowerment. It reminds us that:

• We have a choice. Every day, in the smallest of actions, we decide between kindness and cruelty, truth and falsehood, light and darkness.

• We are not alone. There is a greater order, a moral structure to the universe, and our actions contribute to it.

• Our legacy matters. What we do in this life echoes beyond it.

In a world that often feels chaotic, these ideas are as relevant now as they were three thousand years ago.

As Cyrus the Great himself said: “Whenever you can, act as a liberator. Freedom, dignity, wealth—these three together constitute the greatest happiness of humanity. If you bequeath all three to your people, their love for you will never die.”

What Do You Think?

Had you heard of Zoroastrianism before? Do you see its influence on modern beliefs? What do you think about the idea that we actively shape the world through our choices?

Published in March, 2025