Uploaded February 2020 | Updated September 2026, 16 hours ago
More than several millennia ago, a spiritual leader in Persia had a very high vision and ideal for humanity that he labored to preach and spread. In what is now known as Iran, this priest and reformer - who we know as Zarathustra (or Zoroaster) - began with a strong conception of both good and evil, and man’s choice to be a manifestation of either. He saw this choice, and the awareness of it as a choice - as not only crucial to the future of his tribe and his countrymen, but to the well being of the world at large. Along with this very basic but essential concept was Zoroaster’s advocacy for man’s connection and respect for nature, a cohesive society, and reverence for a higher cosmological order.
Considering Zoroastrianism’s huge influence and widespread appeal, and the two thousand or more years that it helped lift up the ancient world, what can be said of its impact on other of the world’s ancient religions? And perhaps more importantly, what religious, social and cultural ideas does Zoroastrianism teach that we may benefit from today? This week on MindMatters we discuss these and several other features of this ancient religion, that though mostly lost to this time, could not be more timely.
Show mp3: media.sott.net/srn/20200219mnd-zoroastrianism-the-ancient-system-of-values-that-sought-to-change-the-world-and-did.mp3
In Search of Zarathustra: smile.amazon.com/Search-Zarathustra-Across-Central-Prophet/dp/1400031427
The Hymns of Zoroaster: smile.amazon.com/Hymns-Zoroaster-Translation-Ancient-Sacred/dp/1848855052
Teachings of the Magi: smile.amazon.com/Teachings-Magi-R-C-Zaehner/dp/0195198573
The Dawn and Twilight of Zoroastrianism: smile.amazon.com/Dawn-Twilight-Zoroastrianism-R-Zaehner/dp/1258126354
More than several millennia ago, a spiritual leader in Persia had a very high vision and ideal for humanity that he labored to preach and spread. In what is now known as Iran, this priest and reformer - who we know as Zarathustra (or Zoroaster) - began with a strong conception of both good and evil, and man’s choice to be a manifestation of either. He saw this choice, and the awareness of it as a choice - as not only crucial to the future of his tribe and his countrymen, but to the well being of the world at large. Along with this very basic but essential concept was Zoroaster’s advocacy for man’s connection and respect for nature, a cohesive society, and reverence for a higher cosmological order.
Considering Zoroastrianism’s huge influence and widespread appeal, and the two thousand or more years that it helped lift up the ancient world, what can be said of its impact on other of the world’s ancient religions? And perhaps more importantly, what religious, social and cultural ideas does Zoroastrianism teach that we may benefit from today? This week on MindMatters we discuss these and several other features of this ancient religion, that though mostly lost to this time, could not be more timely.
Show mp3: media.sott.net/srn/20200219mnd-zoroastrianism-the-ancient-system-of-values-that-sought-to-change-the-world-and-did.mp3
In Search of Zarathustra: smile.amazon.com/Search-Zarathustra-Across-Central-Prophet/dp/1400031427
The Hymns of Zoroaster: smile.amazon.com/Hymns-Zoroaster-Translation-Ancient-Sacred/dp/1848855052
Teachings of the Magi: smile.amazon.com/Teachings-Magi-R-C-Zaehner/dp/0195198573
The Dawn and Twilight of Zoroastrianism: smile.amazon.com/Dawn-Twilight-Zoroastrianism-R-Zaehner/dp/1258126354
