• The Governing Lord of the Universe is called Ahura Mazda
• Ahura Mazda's rival is called Angra Mainya who represents the forces of evil in contrast to the forces of good the former represents.
• This contrast represents a 12,000 battle between good and evil that Ahura Mazda has been winning because he is more powerful.
• This foundation of Zoroastrian belief system is important for two reasons: (1) It parallels the good and evil tendencies between each and every person; as opposed to one believing everyone is inherently good or inherently evil. (2) It provides an answer to the philosophical question that humanity has struggled with since the dawning of monotheistic religion: If God is good, why is there evil in world? Zoroastrian explains it is because there are in fact two deities; one that represents pure goodness and one that represents pure evilness. The former is more powerful and therefore goodness is more prevalent but it does not abolish evilness.
• Zoroastrians believe that their purpose in the world is to help God make it a better place to live; they believe that God is their friend.
• One can choose whether to do good or do evil as there is free will. However, Zoroastrian belief explicitly states that only those that choose to do good have hope of being peaceful and happy.




• Disposal of Dead : 
The dead were given back to nature no matter what sort of life they lived prior to their death. The dead were brought to a Dakhma where natural elements such as sun light and scavenger birds such as vultures would gradually dispose of the corpse. Since the rich and poor died in the same manor it ultimately said people were equal in the eyes of God.

• Fire:
Fire was the most important symbol in Zoroastrianism; this is blatantly true when you note that Zoroastrian places of worship are called Fire Temples. Fire also represents the divine and is forever burning in a Fire Temple. There are three different types of fires: The royal fire only burns in four temples, the adaran fire that burns in most temples and finally the dadgah which is present in the home and tended to by a lay person.

• Symbolic Garments:
There are two types of symbolic garments worn by Zoroastrians. These are called the sudre (the armour of God) and the kusti (the swordbelt of faith). The Sudre is a white cotton garment that must be worn at all times with the exception of bathing. The kusti consists of 72 threads composed of lamb's wool. It's made by the priest's wife and blessed

• Faravahar:
One of the most common symbols in all of Zoroastrianism; however what it actually represents is disputed among scholars. One theory states that the Faravahar represents the King's Authority in terms of its divine origins. Today, the modern symbol is supposed to remind a person what their purpose in life is (to create a union with God)

- Zoroastrianism was the first monotheistic religion
- Zoroastrians may pray at a Fire Temple and may believe that fire is the symbol of God, however they never pray to fire.
- Zoroastrian influence is pravalent in later monotheistic religions, particularly Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. Themes such as good and evil, hell, and a messiah all originated within Zoroastrianism.
- Originated in Persia
- Was founded in the 6th century before common era
- Zoroastrians believe that people are equal in the eyes of God


• Dakhma: a round, open air structure with high walls where a corpse is placed. They are built on high, rocky ground away from populated areas.

• Fire Temple: The place of worship of the Zoroastrian people.

• Ahura Mazda: the governing Lord of the Universe- the "Good" God

• Angru Mazda: Ahura Mazda's rival- the "Evil" God.

(2) Above: A Zoroastrian ceremony