What is Zoroastrianism?

[@LetsTalkReligion]

Check out my linktree for more: linktr.ee/filipholm Support Let's Talk Religion on Patreon: www.patreon.com/letstalkreligion Or through a one-time donation: www.paypal.com/paypalme/letstalkreligion Also check out the Let's Talk Religion Podcast: open.spotify.com/show/0ih4sqtWv0wRIhS6HFgerb?si=95b07d83d0254b

[@commodusmeridius4718]

The ism of all monolithic religion

[@TheMilitantMazdakite]

Hey, will you mention Mazdakism?

[@peterchristiansen9695]

As usual, you deliver the goods, Filip! You and your buddy Doc Sledge always do. This is a really, really good update to your original Zoroastrianism-vid. Tusen takk Filip!!! ☺️👍🏻

[@KnowThyself47]

Is the "Winged Horse night trip" of Muhammad stolen from Zoroastrianism ❓

[@TheMilitantMazdakite]

@@KnowThyself47 Yes.

[@degacci]

Armenians, before becoming the First Nation to accept Christianity as their national religion in 301 A.D were Zoroastrian as far back as 5th century BC. We still have some Zoroastrian traditions. Ahura Mazda was Aramazd and you can still find the common name Aram in many Armenians. Thanks for this video because I’ve always been interested in learning more

[@nomesa7374]

Hello to Hayestan!

[@lambert801]

There are a lot of Persian/Parthian/Zoroastrian names among Armenians to this day-a reminder of your deeply intertwined relationship with Iran and Zoroastrianism. Only some of these names include: Aspen, Ariadne, Patvakan, Abgar, Alvand, Ambak, Anushavan, Arda, Arast, Aram, Aramazd, Artavan, Berdak, Byuzand, Drastamat, Gusan, Hamazasp, Jivan, Khosrov, Mher, Mihran, Parnak, Patvakan, Shahen, Shahamir, Shahnazar, Suren, Tigran, Tiran, Tiravag, Vachagan, Varsak, Vahram, Varazdat, Vashtak, Zhirak, Zohrab, Anita, Anahit, Anush. One shouldn't be surprised of the existence of so many Iranian (Persian/Parthian/Avestan) names in Armenia. We Iranians and Armenian are two brother nations and share a very deep historical and civilizational bond. May the great nation of Armenia live forever!

[@ilikecheese4518]

i think technically youre tied with san marino, with them gaining semi independence from rome in 301 ad (the romans didnt bother to reconquer the mountain), and with them being founded by a saint and acting as a refuge for christians

[@nomesa7374]

@@ilikecheese4518 In general, Zoroastrians were very tolerant of other religions. There were so many religions in the empire: Christianity, Buddhism, Jews, Mandaism, evem polytheists ..... Only half of the population were Zorostrians. In the Asia and middle east, Iran is famous for being the land of so many religions from ancient times: A proto-secular state and civilization.

[@degacci]

@@ilikecheese4518 funny because I never knew San Marino was a separate country, but after doing research about what you said it states it was a place of refuge for Christian’s…. Interesting fact thanks for sharing. But if we’re going off technicalities, they weren’t recognized as a sovereign nation until 1631 by the pope and then 1815 by the congress of Vienna. Thanks for sharing interesting tidbit I love history and will look more into it, I’m assuming you’re either a history buff or from San Marino 🙌

[@Adarfiroz]

A proud Pakistani Zoroastrian here! Born in the blessed land of Hapta-Hendu (Indus Valley), the fifteenth of the 16 good lands and countries created by Ahura Mazda himself. I gotta say, this is the most unbiased and factual video about Zoroastrianism on the internet. Thank you for this. This is what I am gonna use to teach my friends about my religion. Humata, Huxta, Huvarshta (اندیشه نیک, گفتار نیک, کردار نیک) ❤

[@JaefarSABNW]

The five tribes of Airan Veg/Aryavarta are the fountainhead of certain linguistic sounds and other features of civilizations.

[@kiagreendude]

Muslims do not kill you?

[@varzan01]

Hey brother..zoroastrian frm India here. How's life there??? And how's our community doin thr. Wish u good health

[@abhisheksoni2980]

​@@varzan01he most likely got killed by some fanatic muslim before reading our comments. Sad but entirety possible.

[@varzan01]

@@abhisheksoni2980 😅🥲

[@C14445]

This is the best, most nuanced, historically and scholarly balanced video on Zoroastrianism out there. Thank you!

[@catdogfishdogcats]

Inb4 a more nuanced, historically and scholarly balanced video on Zoroastrianism comes out, to contend with this one's throne

[@sizanogreen9900]

well, it is the best one I have personally encountered at least.

[@user98344]

​@@catdogfishdogcatsWho is he?

[@Anthony-qy5yw]

🤣

[@robynmonet1231]

I live in california and there is small zoroastrian community here. I messaged one of the centers because I wanted to learn more and everyone is so friendly and patient and excited to tell you about their religion

[@bigmcjones230]

Well of course, no offense. If you're going to pull in people into your beliefs you have to show a welcoming community where people feel like they belong. It's what religions do.

[@tamshemsu]

Hello I'm in California too...where can I find the zoroastrian community?

[@seanmyatt-philosophy1860]

I thought they did not accept converts.

[@parkercushingable]

They probably accept visitors but people must be born into Zoroastrianism I'm pretty sure

[@jodytrees]

@@seanmyatt-philosophy1860 Traditional Zoroastrians don't but I'm pretty sure the one in California goes only by the Gathas That Zarathusthtra wrote. Zarathushtra didn't say anything about not accepting converts. The Avesta's were written after Zarathushtra and they made up their own laws

[@SiaMianab]

I’m so grateful to you, Filip. As a Persian, I’ve studied what I could about my ancestors’s belief systems and of course, after thousands of years, we still practice many of these traditions. I can speak for many Persians when I say that there is a deep feeling of loss and nostalgia when we study Persian history.

[@shafiquemirzakhani6333]

I'm a Persian from Afghanistan and in Persian we still use the word "drugh" as an equivalent of lie in English. I did not know that my ancestors used this word in that sense. Thank you so much for enlightening me about my ancestors which have been demonized by Muslims throughout history.

[@Joeriks2]

Buddy the Romans and the catholics demonised them first, go watch the movie "300" just to give you a perspective of how the Romans demonised them. who fought and defeated the Persians and ended their kingdom? the Muslims? it was the Romans. You desperately need to do some research first. Secondly, yes the Persians were unfriendly even to their allies, when the Egyptians decided to send a medical team to king Cyrus II of Persia to help him cure his eye disease, which they did, his son Cambyses II returned the favor by conquering Egypt and forcing the people there to live the worst 200 years of their lives, to the point that when the Romans came to conquer Egypt they were welcomed with open arms since they will kick-out the Persians. Maybe some of the Persians were more peaceful but throughout history their leaders weren't and you can do some research yourself. This is coming from a catholic who has no horse in this victim card race.

[@Joeriks2]

Buddy the Romans and the catholics demonised them first, go watch the movie "300" just to give you a perspective of how the Roman demonised them. who fought and defeated the Persians and ended their kingdom? the Muslims? it was the Romans. You desperately need to do some research first. This is coming from a catholic who has no horse in this victim card race.

[@stephanieparker1250]

I still find it incredibly cool that we can translate and read prayers, stories and other messages that are thousands of years old.

[@judykraska400]

Thank you for this educational lecture about Zoroastrianism. I listened to your first one too, as l have been involved with Zoroastrianism through my husband, who studied Arabic, African languages, and Middle Eastern religions, and wrote his Thesis about Yazidism, and Zoroastrianism in 1970. At that time the Berlin Umboldt University had extensive books by German scholars about these two ancient religions, which l needed in essence to translate into my husbands language. “Yazidism is a monotheistic ethnic religion (like Zoroastrianism too) , that has its roots in a western Iranic pre-Zoroastrian religion directly derived from the Indo-Iranian tradition.” (According to Wikipedia) l could not say it better, nor shorter in English, as it’s not my first language) A Kurdish speaking Yazidi Community is living in Melbourne, Australia till date, and of course they are living in the triangle Iran, Iraq, Turkey, and in small groups in the Middle East till today too, trying to preserve their religious, cultural, language traditions, but have lost lots of it due to the mentioned countries suppressing their believes, rituals, and assimilating them, or punish them like in Turkey. Many Yazidis have been massacred, genocides committed in the Triangle borders. It is a hot topic. I wished, there would be an episode about Yazidism, and the connection between the two, the similarities, and differences. Thank you. It’s fascinating to listen to these scholarly lectures. Greetings from Melbourne

[@texmexexpress]

Your husband didn't bother studying Persian?

[@_S0urR0ses_]

I’m assuming he didn’t study languages of the past but if the present. Just saying since he studied the 3 major languages of the same area of today. Also Persian would’ve been spoken during Zoroastrian times of the past and yazidi is an updated religion that pulled some of the Zoroastrianism beliefs and also added many additional beliefs. Yazidi is polytheistic and not monotheistic like Zoroastrianism.

[@PathOfAvraham]

I belive Philip made a video on Yazidi a couple years ago, maybe he will reamke it with more info like he did with this one.

[@Makaneek5060]

Hello, I'd be interested in reading your husband's thesis if that is possible.

[@googogagaa]

All that but u forgot to mention that yezidism was invented by the disciples of sheikh adi in the 13the century? It is not ancient

[@lancesmallshaw2415]

I'm 62 years young and have during my life studied, followed a religion, experienced religion, believed in aspects of religion etc and in doing so understand many of the descriptive as explained and the links it has due to the topics history, in this most excellent and unbiased educational masterpiece of a video. It has really provoked me to dig deeper into the great jigsaw of life and it's many associations. Thanks so much for sharing it.

[@tamshemsu]

I feel the same

[@bbbbbbb51]

Most all of his long videos are like this. He clearly got into religions and world history purely out of interest, one I very much shared long ago. It's nice to have content from someone like that so readily available. He's not just well read, but also a good educator and storyteller.

[@AMunoz-rh9cz]

@@bbbbbbb51 And objective and respectful. Very refreshing!

[@LaineyBug2020]

I got chills when you mentioned Artarvakhsha 'Guardians of the Fire' because I'm Potawatomi, which means 'Keepers of the Sacred Fire', and it's really central to the culture!

[@BillYoder]

I lived in Potawatomi county Iowa.

[@TheFakeGooberGoblin]

It burns when I pee

[@74bassman]

How is it central to your culture, am curious?

[@Thatsciencedude324]

Fire is sacred to us

[@Dis-u7p]

Is the fire still lit? I heard when the fire dies and the monotheism isn't straight, the next prophet has already come?

[@FretnesButke]

It's interesting to contrast Mithraism, usually termed a 'mystery-religion' and Zoroastrianism, which is much more of an ethical philosophy like Buddhism. Persian history rocks! A fun fact: Zarathushti used to make a pilgrimage to Baku in modern-day Azerbaijan because the ground was so saturated with petroleum that flames would spontaneously pop up from the ground in some areas.

[@Brett-yq7pj]

I think they still use religious rocks over there

[@johnsondoeboy2772]

@@Brett-yq7pjin Iran???

[@texmexexpress]

@@Brett-yq7pjNo, they don't. Never have, never will.

[@Tuber-sama]

Even though Mithraism has only to do with Persia in name and, maybe, in some degree of inspiration.

[@texmexexpress]

@@Tuber-samaNo, Mithraism has everything to do with Persia. Romans got it from the Persians.

[@AshkanPacino13]

As an Iranian thank you for making this video, even though I'm atheist I always love learning more about Zoroastrianism and even Iranian Paganism.

[@joebidet2050]

Do you practice good thoughts good words hood deeds And doing the right thing because it's the right to do ? If yes You are Zoroastrian 😊

[@Hhhgew]

From india now only in india Zoroastrian religion flooding by aur ancient hindu kings are heartly welcomed when arabic muslim s demolished Zoroastrism killed millions of fire worshipr its so sadly hppnd in parsian history,still hve great syrus history vrrry old relatives hindu and Parisian culture

[@texmexexpress]

​​@@HhhgewWrong, the city of Yazd in Iran has more Zarathustrians than there are Parsis living in India. Kindly refrain from falsely referring to monotheistic Zarathustrians as "fire worshippers". Iran is the capital of Zarathustrianism. Persian culture is Zarathustrian which makes it so ancient, unique, persistent and beautiful. "Parisian" is the adjective for the French capital city of "Paris".

[@YuruCampSupermacy]

No one asked. ​@@Hhhgew

[@richard-p8o]

Same here.

[@Epta_Null]

Awesome! A video on Zoroastrianism is exactly what the world needs. Such a significant and influential religion, interesting as well. Can’t wait!

[@evangelicalsnever-lie9792]

But why do we need Magical Thinking and pretend?

[@RabbyClips]

A monotheistic religion sure. But to say that Jesus was a copy of the prophet in this religion is not historically reliable. Yes this religion dates to somewhere in the 1000 bc, so long before Jesus.. But manuscripts of it can be dated to the 4th century and ontop of that this specific religion was changed​@humanistreformation

[@catdogfishdogcats]

​@@evangelicalsnever-lie9792bro, you don't need to believe in a particular religion to understand it's lore. It's like saying why we need Comic books. It's for the lore😂

[@RabbyClips]

​@@humanistreformation The incorporation of certain motifs into the Zoroastrian tradition in the ninth century CE could indicate the conscious attempt of the priesthood to exalt their prophet in the eyes of the faithful who may have been tempted to turn to other religions. Said by a scholar, we don't really know if there was borrowing between this religion and Judaism, it's mostly an oral religion and texts can be seen very late, after Jesus Christ. About the virgin birth there's no source that says the prophet of this religion was born of a virgin, especially a virgin like Mary, oldest source (which is still after Christianity) is not really a virgin birth

[@kalebbillig3472]

The message is 1 and has always been 1 - it’s came down directly from God over 100 thousand times… and then the evil men corrupt the word to serve themselves, and they are worst of men because they know what they do!!!

[@lijusav]

I think the real number of Zoroastrians in Iran in much higher: between Isfahan and Shiraz in 2018, I came across dozens of practitioners. Based on what I saw, I would even claim that the number in Iran would go into hundreds of thousands. Even in petrol stations, shops etc they had open fires going and they had these unique posters on the walls which set them clearly apart. I was happy to see that at least they could be open about their traditions, despite the regime. I also stayed in a Zoroastrian hotel which mainly catered for the hundreds of Indian pilgrims. This video has been the first comprehensive account about the religion, and I'm happy to understand my own experiences there a little better (the fire temple did have an introduction, but it didn't help much...). Thank you!

[@RoofusRoof19]

Yes unfortunately the islamist government hates iranians being any other religion but shia islam. They do have some religious tolerance for christian armenians or jews but very little for the native persians.

[@jacey320]

I think it is technically illegal to convert from Imamiya to any other religion in Iran so many pretend to be Shia because they may have been "born" Shia but converted later in live, or their family kept their religion secret.

[@jacey320]

Anonymous polling shows about 8% of Iranians are Zoroastrians which would put their population in the millions, but its hard to know how accurate these polls are.

[@tylerdyson8410]

The New testament Gospels came before the book of Avesta mentioning Jesus being God.

[@dahlias5701]

@@tylerdyson8410 no it didnt... You are thinking of the old testament, but that doesnt mean anything, cyrus the great that helped the jews build the second temple in Israel which was under persian rule. Cyrus followed Zoroaster, the nature of the religion is that it is not written, evidence of it exists up to 1500-1000 BCE. Zoroaster was born of a virgin and so on... If you learn more about the religion you will see many similarities and maybe begin to understand that how persians influenced Jewish people and as a result how Christianity was influenced as well.

[@JG-zt3cg]

Oohhh Wow!! I am a student of religion and history and I'm really impressed by this presentation. The scholarship and quality of material in this video are superb. I'm glad I came across your channel as I see there are videos about so many different religions of the world. A lot of research goes into creating this kind of content. Great work.

[@saeiddavatolhagh9627]

Thus spoke Zarathustra: Good thoughts Good words Good deeds

[@BlipLeBlop]

Alef Lam Meem

[@poor_djinno]

​ א ל מ = אני לא מאמין

[@melissasherpa]

Richard Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra kzbin.info/www/bejne/iavHq5ytadl8b9Esi=8aubfNZKbA6GYvr5

[@ramzan6949]

What is Good.

[@Amaling]

@@ramzan6949apparently not frogs lmao

[@docfortune]

I never tire of this beautiful subject.

[@Booli......614]

Finally a good long video on Zoroastrianism. I have Always been so curious about this but never found a decent video essay on it Thank you!

[@knarok6760]

I bumped into Zoroastrianism today when I bought a Persian carpet with the cypress tree being an important symbol to this ancient religion. Had to go look up for more. Thanks for putting together this educational video 👍👍

[@CuriousMouseExploration]

Thank you for this. My inlaws from Iran have relatives that practice this religion, which is why I was interested in learning about it. My inlaws only practice "Persian" holidays like the Persian New Year. They have no religious affiliations, which made it rather easy for my sister in law to agree to raising the children Catholic as required. Her family is wonderful and, in many ways, resembles the Italian side of our family - family-oriented, loud and passionate, loves to over feed everyone, opinuated yet accepting, etc.

[@S.J.L]

I'd love to hear more about the early Iranian religion that Zarathustra was rebelling against. A comparative religion survey of Indo European religion itself would be a major project too.

[@Nozarks1]

That sounds fascinating, though from what I understand there wasn’t much rebelling. Since a lot from the old ways are still existing in Zoroastrianism. More of an upgrading , or adding on too.

[@S.J.L]

@@Nozarks1 Reform is more accurate but he was against the war mongering and greed of the priests that had developed in his region and perhaps some other practices. I'm still learning about it myself. Overall it seems like if one understands the Hindu cosmology of Brahman and then applies that to the Greek understanding of all life manifesting from "the void" or the similar concept in Norse religion then it seems like there was a general pantheism among the Indo Europeans that developed into more anthropomorphic deities over time. There are shared themes, characters and stories across the spectrum of these people, a criminally under covered topic. Zarathustra essentially took all of this pantheistic deism and tried to identify the source in a more personal way. Zoroastrianism monotheism is essentially the same concept as "the holy trinity." If I had the time and money I would work on this myself. I am writing a historical novel, in part, about Zarathustra and learning more as I go. I assume his tribe's previous religion was closer to the Scythians religion. Survive the Jive has a video on that.

[@parsapourkaveh7492]

As I understand it, there existed a diverse number of gods (or pantheons) in the form of an Indo-Iranian paganism. As it was mentioned in the video, Zarathushtra seemingly juxtaposed the ideas and behaviors of these deities and their followers, and deemed some worthy of reverence, like Vohu Manah. Yazatas like Anahita, Verethragna, Mithra and others were adopted as Yazatas over time as the religion evolved with its new followers and they were also worshipped in other parts of the ancient world, as they did in the Cult of Mithras in the Roman Empire.

[@texmexexpress]

​@@parsapourkaveh7492Yeah, the Romans borrowed Mithra after being in contact with the Persians.

[@rondesantis7017]

Anahita Pot will send you way out there !

[@freedomtosayno7880]

Thank you. “Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds” - Zarathustra

[@gerryboudreaultboudreault2608]

That sounds like Buddhism

[@romanmay2867]

@@VSLS06yes originally buddhism was “godless” but really buddha said it doesn’t matter he was agnostic

[@bbbbbbb51]

​@@gerryboudreaultboudreault2608 Buddhism at its core (imo) is moreso about rejecting your physical reality. You abstain from bad, but you abstain from good. The end goal is to detach from reality and ascend.

[@omaraboal-azm8705]

I hope that this will be a series about zoroastrianism

[@paulheydarian1281]

Only if you promise to help him. 😅

[@JaefarSABNW]

Much of the Pahlavi and all of the Avestan texts have been translated.

[@marjankhanideh-g6z]

as Zoroastrian practicing up to today, I do really appreciate you providing such precise and accurate it was incredibly on point.

[@belladee591]

how interesting to see how so many different religions are distantly related or have been drawn from the other. rly makes you reconsider the divisions we have today. loved the video, i learned so much 💜

[@Beezy-d3d]

Yes, the religions can be seen as ‘progressive revelation’. Each religion came at a specific time and place to guide and enlighten the people. Each religion was revealed according to the capacity of the people. As humanity has advanced so too have the teachings. Now we require teachings for a global age, the age of the internet and space travel….teachings that create unity and do away with superstitions and prejudices. Would you agree?

[@JeffDixonconductor]

Random association- I was at a choir concert yesterday heard your excerpted theme music, at 1:37. It must be from the Sanctus from Rheinberger’s mass in Eb major- what a glorious piece and very fitting for your channel! Thank you for all you do and for highlighting the importance of music in the world’s religious and spiritual traditions. 🎉❤

[@groupichawdercanada4101]

I’m Kurdish and I’m Zoroastrian ❤ I am so proud of that is my religion is Persian religion it’s not just a legion. It’s also teaching philosophy and technology. Anything anything you want to be it’s not just a religion is a peaceful religion. Is it Kurdish Persian? We are so proud of that.❤

[@YuruCampSupermacy]

Wow I thought all kurds followed yazidism. I thought the only zoroastrians left were the ones in India.

[@MadKingOfMadaya]

*_Persians are originally from Kurdistan. It has very little to do with modern iranians calling themselves Persians_*

[@nomesa7374]

Hello to Kurdistan, from Tehran!

[@judykraska400]

@@YuruCampSupermacyI am living in Melbourne, Australia, and for the Immigration Museum met with our Kurdish Community, who all where Yizidi, which was a condemned religion in ancient times as the focus was the sun 🌞 and the peacock 🦚. About Zoroastrian religion in Iran are existing some villages, regions where Zoroastrians are living and keeping the religion/philosophy alive. I would like to recommend an humble Iranian channel Ali Aghajanzadeh, who shows his audiences around the historic places, villages, and shows especially the ones, which keep the history, traditions of the Zoroastrian culture alive including the Fire Temples. He has very interesting dear to his heart programs, or better documentaries, around 40 min each. Thank you. This episodes form this young scholarly man is interesting and educational too. Thank you. Greetings from Australia

[@MadKingOfMadaya]

@@nomesa7374 You ok there? In Tehran?

[@reginaldbauer5243]

Some say that Mithra is not a god of light who wages war against darkness(personified by Angra-Mainyu, The Evil(Angry) Spirit), but the yazata of trust, credibility and contracts. The God, Eternal Source of Light, Truth and Good, is Ahura Mazda(can be translated as "The Master of Wisdom", or as "The God who named Wisdom"), or Spenta-Mainyu("Holy Spirit). Mithra is a guardian of all contract, as it is said in Mehr-yasht: "Don't break the contract with a person that is good and with the one that bad." In Zoroastrian religion there is a belief in hierarchy of yazatas(which influenced judeo-christian belief in angels a lot), who are the personifications of good personality traits, with God Himself on the top. Yazatas, and Ameshaspentas, the most important of yazatas, are emanations of Ahura Mazda, like candles, clamped from one fire. And for every yazata there is a symbolical association in physical world, for example, Kshatra Vairya, the Ameshaspenta of masculinity and will to order things, is associated with metals. And Mithra is associated with the Sun. But then look at the Rig Veda. Mitra (that is how it is spelled) is a divinity in Vedic religion. Mitra is seen as the god of light in the Rig Veda. Interestingly, the Gathas (as well as the Yasnas and Yashts) can be interpreted using Vedic Sanskrit, the language of the Vedas, as the Rig Veda is composed in a closely related language. Many words bear a close resemblance. Both religions refer to a sacred utterance or hymn as a Mantra (Rig Veda) or Matra (Avesta) and to a ritual drink as Soma (Rig Veda) or Haoma (Avesta). Both texts use almost the exact same terms for a member of a religious sodality (Aryaman in the Rig Veda and Airyaman in the Gathas), for sacrifice or worship (yajna in the Rig Veda and yasna in the Gathas), and for a fire priest (Atharvan in the Rig Veda and Athaurvan in the Gathas), fire being a sacred symbol in both religions. Fire - personified in the Avesta as Atar and in the Vedas as Agni - was greatly revered as a central object of ritual in both traditions. The Athaurvan or Athravan is highly important in the Zoroastrian religion as fire priests who attend to fire rites. The Athravan of the Avesta is said to be evolved from ‘Atar’, fire. Athravan means fire-guardian; the attendant of the sacred fire in Persian temples; the proper word for a priest in the Avesta. Indeed, speakers of both language subgroups used the same word to refer to themselves as a people: Vedic Sanskrit arya and Avestan/Old Persian ariya. Both words “a-ve-sta” (from the Old Persian abasta, meaning “the law”) and “ve-da” (insight, wisdom) are derived from the same root: “Vid” to know, to gain knowledge. This word “Vae-da” also appears at Yasna 28.10 and 31.2 as knowledge. Similarly the term “Avesta” is called “Upastha” in Vedic Sanskrit, meaning collection of mantras, or sacred utterances. The chief difference between the two lies in certain well-defined phonetic shifts rather than in basic grammar. It is, therefore, quite possible, by simple phonetic substitutions, to transliterate verses from the Gathas into intelligible Vedic Sanskrit. Both the Rig Veda and the Gathas make references to divine spirits/‘demons’. However, two very different interpretations can be given on the appearance of the terms asura in the Rig Veda and ahura in the Avesta and Gathas on the one hand and devas in the Rig Veda and daevas in the Avesta and Gathas. It is known as the Demons and Gods Riddle. In the Rig Veda the devas are worshipped as gods and the asuras are the demons, while in Zoroastrianism ahuras are the gods and daevas are the demons. The treatment of these deities is reversed. That is, whereas in Zoroastrianism the role of the ahuras was exalted in the personage of Ahura Mazda while the daevas were made into forces of evil, in Hinduism it is the asuras who would ultimately become doers of evil and foes of the gods/deities - the devas. The argument is that the root div, ‘to shine’, (from which came the word deva, ‘bright’ in Sanskrit) was lost in Zend, and the etymology was unable to preserve this meaning of div and instead assigned the word daeva to it, thus the meaning of div followed a degradation and the primitive meaning of div had been forgotten. The word deva/daeva was therefore given a new meaning by Zarathustra, i.e. ‘demon’ or personifications of vices, wrongs, and evils. The Iranians declared the Indian deities, Indra, Sarva/Sauru, and Nasatya/Naunghaithya, as well as Zauri and Tauru as the chief demons or daevas to be banished, along with the Nasu and Angra Mainyu himself (Vendidad 10.9-10, 19.43). Mithras was identified with the Greek sun god Helios when the Mithraic cult was introduced in the mid 1st century BCE by Antiochus I, who practiced astrology, of the Kingdom of Commagene. Mithra, the ancient spirit of light, became the god of truth and justice in Zoroastrianism and retained that character in the Hellenistic world and Roman Empire. Mithra had a character similar to Apollo, but while Hellenism, with a finer appreciation of beauty, developed the aesthetic qualities in Apollo, the Persians cared more for matters of conscience, emphasizing the moral character in Mithra, as a gaurantor of faith and protector of oaths and contracts. Now, the rapid spread of Mithraism occurred parallel with the century of crisis in Rome (3rd century CE). It is likely that the spread of Mithraism was commensurate with a need for discipline, loyalty, fidelity, obedience, devotion, and respect for authority from the Roman army and a need for administration of a vast empire by a sovereign. More likely, however, is that this century introduced a world of trouble and turmoil and Mithraism offered a consolation to people in a time when the Roman Empire seemed to be disintegrating. Nevertheless, Mithra, for the Persians, exalted absolute fidelity to one’s oath and was a cardinal virtue in the religion of a soldier, whose first act upon enlistment was to pledge obedience and devotion to the sovereign. For the Persians, Mithra embodied these qualities. Perhaps the Roman emperors accepted the spread of this cult among the Roman army in order to inspire a similar character and feeling in their soldiers. As different as the Persian and Roman ways of life were, both realized the necessity of discipline in the administration of a vast empire.

[@SoriduSnakeu]

I love that Filip makes his own music. Keeps it relevant to the region. Love this channel.

[@thepad4197]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR WONDERFUL LOOK INSIDE ZOROASTRIANISM. THE EASE WITH WHICH YOU TEACH IS A JOY FOR ME TO SIT AND LISTEN. I'LL BE CHECKING INTO YOUR EARLIER DISCOURSE. I LOOK FORWARD TO MORE DISCUSSIONS FROM YOU. THANKS AGAIN.

[@setare1369]

"And we pray to you Mehr, Lord of the vast plains, that give peace, quite and happiness to Iranian land." Thank you for covering this.

[@draxthemsklonst]

quiet ≠ quite

[@setare1369]

@@draxthemsklonst 😂😂😂yeah, saarri.

[@johannesstephanusroos4969]

​@@draxthemsklonstYou're quite right

[@grainsalt9662]

@setare1369 no peace will come til Iran cuts out the cancerous death cult that has brought turmoil to those plains and restores Zoastrianism back as the state religion of Iran.

[@r0kus]

I think I remember watching your first Zoroastrian video, but I'm glad you updated and extended it. It is an important and fascinating topic.

[@messeuravril540]

I've been reading into Zoroastrianism lately, getting through Skjaervo's 'Introduction to Zoroastrianism', and this video is very good, and about as comprehensive an overview as is possible in it's runtime. Props!

[@sasanr1]

If there is one thing i wish western countries will adopt from my culture is Nowrooz Having the new year at the start of spring is the best time After years of living in europe i still can't adapt to new year mood in the middle of F winter

[@etcwhatever]

Well Easter is the main solemnity of the Christian calendar...and i agree having the new year in such a cold time as in January isnt pleasant at all 😂

[@Persun_McPersonson]

The Gregorian calendar used to start in the month spring occurs, March! But, due to stupid political and religious reasons which are no longer relevant to modern society, it was changed to January  - that's why a number-based month name like "October" ("oct-" meaning 8) is the 10th month, because it was changed!

[@Persun_McPersonson]

@@etcwhatever The Iranian calendar is just factually an improvement over Gregorian, we just haven't changed to it out of laziness, Christianity, and xenophobia.

[@anthonycarroll6546]

​@Persun_McPersonson all the months are named after non Christian deities. Pagans are the real ones that created the way we operate. Christmas and Easter are not holydays/holidays that any of the Jewish people kept.

[@codymoon7552]

The Romans last spit in the fase of Zoroastrains, pur calendar lmao

[@heidu1127]

Kiitos!

[@Artofdanieljoseph]

Awesome video! I am a long time viewer, and I have been really fascinated by Zoroastrianism for a long time so it’s great to see an informative video like this.

[@fanzy1338]

I must admit that you did your research thoroughly on the subject. I have seen many documentaries on Zoroastrianism but your follow up video topped all of them.

[@YogiMcCaw]

I'm about 2/3rds in, and already I can say that this is indeed way deeper and more comprehensive than the first one. Fascinating, especially when viewed through the lens that with Zoroastrianism, we have the formalizing of ideas that would be subsequently adopted by the major western religions and well as Islam. Especially in the early periods (1500-500BC) you get a sense that the foundational philosophical and religious ideas of modern western civilization are being developed and tested out by the Persians. Also, I love it that Filip has learned so much about the music of this area of the world and composes his own music for some these videos. Bravo!

[@rajababy2009]

Islam fundamental argument is GOD send Prophets to every nations which taught monotheism But when Prophet Died people corrupt the religion for their own greed , Power and wealth , desires etc Islam is the last message , If you found a similarity of monotheism in Hindu books or Zoroastrian we said that these figures like Ram , Krishna or prophet zoran etc might be the Prophets send by GOD and later after their death their nation changes their teachings like Christens and jews also changes their bibles

[@christophgriener9852]

​@@rajababy2009Yes, these are words. Instead of claiming corruption of texts by others (which I think happened in some cases), how about the obvious corruptions and contradictions in the Koran or the Islamic religion? An almighty god doesn't write books, let alone badly written ones. By insisting on an obviously false claim, you are cementing your own position and making it impossible to get nearer to the truth and try to find out what really happened and what the message was. Every book was written by humans. Why would you not use what god gave you, your brain, but replace it with something humans made, a book? (God here is meant as a being or force that possesses supernatural powers (up to being almighty?), is possibly eternal and is either the source of life, truth and good or at least unable to act unjustly or dishonestly or in an evil way. Worshipping an unjust, deceitful and unreliable god wouldn't make much sense and the rules given by such a god cannot be relied upon to guide people or to save one's soul.

[@charlesblum1179]

Yes I think that orally passed on histories and stories may be more reliable than books written before printing as narrative seems to be our best way to understand ideas on a deeper level. Scribes and their overseers may easily carry out their own agendas instead of passing on the words and emotional content as the stories are familiar to the hearers in detail from generation to generation! Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us.

[@Aksarallah]

@@christophgriener9852 this is false. There are no contradictions or errors in the bible and it is completely preserved word to word along with the meanings of the word and its grammar. It's not comparable to any other religion. The reason Arabic is still today largely unchanged as a language is due to the Quran

[@Tom-sd9jb]

It is a blessing to be able to watch your videos at no charge. Thanks for making them available to us all and sharing your knowledge freely. This is a video I have wanted to see for ages!

[@adorabellaperfecta3513]

thank you. This covered so much that I never ever would have put together myself just from reading. This channel is a valuable source.

[@noprosthesisforyoursoul]

I’ve been waiting FOREVER for this one!!!!!!!!!🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 finally!!! Thank you so much for always doing such a great job and for always giving us the absolute best content that exists in the KZbin space!!!!

[@eviltrickyspider5266]

I shared the last version you did on this topic when you did it! I shared this one as well. Good work thank you.

[@banjogyro]

Finally a contemporary full length documentary on Zoroastrianism. May Ahura Mazda bless you

[@TT-ob9cd]

You’re just impressive!! So proud of you and your content, knowledge, and humbleness. God bless you

[@caiden3396]

Your stuff is so high quality and on a topic I deeply care about! I love it!😁

[@n.brucenelson5920]

I have spent many hours in front of the holy fire at the Zoroastrian Fire Temple in Yazd, before the Revolution, and was able to visit again after. I also had many Zoroastrian friends when I lived in California.

[@epeeypen]

becuz its a fake religion they can say very little about and have to do very little to be apart of

[@arshanmostafavi9621]

Iran and California ? We have something in common . Although I’ve never gone to Yazd , soon hopefully . Where in California did you live where there were so many Zoroastrians ?

[@YuruCampSupermacy]

Lots of Indian parsis live in Cali​@@arshanmostafavi9621

[@n.brucenelson5920]

@@arshanmostafavi9621 I was an American Peace Corps teacher in Taft, Iran from 1972 to 1974. I am originally from Iowa, but grew up in Chicago. I went to college in Lamoni, Iowa, where I live now. I spent one year in Germany as an exchange student. I had had a room mate from Micronesia, and that is what decided me to join the Peace Corps. When I came back from Iran, I brought students with me to Graceland. I met my wife, and we moved to Japan where we lived for three years. When we came back to the US, we lived in NM and AZ, and I traveled all over the world as an quality control and environmental tech. In 2000, we moved to the SF Bay area. We lived on a boat, and I worked for a thermal tech company for many years. We moved back to Iowa around 2021. In 2002, I took a group of returned Peace Corps Volunteers back to Iran, on behalf of the Carter Center, where we visited the Fire Temple in Yazd again.

[@KnightNecro]

​@@arshanmostafavi9621Not the op but California has 3 major temples in Sacramento, San Jose, and Los Angeles. I've been to the Sacramento temple and it was an amazing experience.

[@cluesagi]

This is among the best channels on all of KZbin

[@malis61]

Thank you for posting this. Religion is something that covers philisophy, theology, metaphysics, ethics, spirituality and the relationship between the Divine and humanity. My mentor and Professor of Religious Studies, Dr. Robert William Smith, was a world expert on Zoroastrianism and wrote the Encylcopedia Britannica's entries on Zoroastrianism, in the 1970s and early 1980s. He studied early texts, beliefs and practices of the religion. He saw it as the earliest montheistic religion, and that it shares much with the Vedic religion, as you have mentioned. Thank you again for posting.

[@a.f.2944]

Danke!

[@peterchristiansen9695]

As usual, you deliver the goods, Filip! You and your buddy Doc Sledge always do. This is a really, really good update to your original Zoroastrianism-vid. Tusen takk Filip!!! ☺️👍🏻

[@RhetoricalSyndicate]

Great video, glad to have found it live, paused it multiple times and finished it off a couple of hours later. Legendary

[@DefaultUser61]

I like the idea of remaking old videos with more info. Also Zoroastrianism is fascinating, cheers!

[@NewportSolar]

I appreciate the update to Zoroastrianism on your channel, but for what it’s worth, your first video was also excellent. I enjoy all your videos.

[@昊天信]

Can you do a program to introduce the more ancient Confucianism in detail? Confucianism was once the most important religion in East Asian countries and the state religion of China. It also influenced Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Ryukyu, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Confucianism is still one of the six official religions in Indonesia.

[@MisterS.]

One of the most interesting religions, miraculously still alive today, the natural culture of Persia. Thanks for making this video!

[@mmn8488]

Also many of Iranians, on paper are born moslems, but are Zoroasterians in their heart

[@Monkeysfist221]

I’m sure Muslims are salty that they couldn’t erase this religion, good. They’re ignorant people who can’t except the fact that there are multiple religions on earth!

[@nightwhenjar]

True​@@mmn8488

[@Thenoobestgirl]

I hope that one day the cancer of Islam recedes and Zoroasteranism returns in full force.

[@donaldcarey114]

@@Thenoobestgirl Cancer only recedes when the body's immune system attacks it. The world's immune system seems to have HIV.

[@MrSomethingElse]

bro I have really enjoyed and learned from the way this channel has developed, you are a champ man, I have learned and been provoked to consider so many things I'd have ordinarily needed a student loan to be exposed to and I am grateful. This is Farrokh Bulsaras' familys religion huh? Fascinating, thanks man, good thoughts, good words and good deeds, indeed!

[@meneerw8295]

Great video, been waiting for more Zoroastrian content from you for a while :) i love that you did a "summary" in there aswell to go and look back to, you should include this more often! I hope you will make videos on Zurvanism and Mazdakism too like you said, and the Parsis, and hopefully other less "popular" religions and traditions too! Like you said in the beginning, the quality of the channel has increased greatly and i love it.

[@martinarreguy2984]

Always well spoken, deeply invested in what you present, and easy to understand! Thank you for all your time in your efforts to illuminate our existence as human beings. Excellent as ever....

[@matthewcarter6502]

This was such a beautiful video, Filip! I looked forward to it from whenever I first saw you mentioned, and it was even better than I imagined it being (I watched it on the day it came out, it's just taken me this long). Wonderful job. I've been interested in Zoroastrianism for decades, and I still learned so much from this video. And I loved and agreed with all of the nuance that you gave everything. I'm a linguist, so one thing that's confusing (not that Filip explained it in a confusing way, just that the facts are confusing) is the linguistic situation. So Persian (Farsi, Dari, Tajik) we can think of as one language going all the way back (now the dialects are diverse enough that it's clearly multiple languages, but still, it's all Persian). Now we have new Persian (and a lot of closely related languages), that emerges as a new literary language, written in the Perso-Arabic script. At the time of the conquest, the language was Middle Persian, which was the literary language of the Sassanid Era. Before that, during the Achaemenid Era, we had Old Persian. Old Persian and Avestan are both referred to as "Old Iranian languages", and they were very similar, but they're actually from different corners of the family - Persian comes from Pars, later Fars, in the southwest ('Persia' from Greek 'Parsia', from 'Pars'), whereas Avestan is an Eastern Iranian language, so it's actually more closely related to modern Pashtun and the Parimiri languages, spoken in the Pamir mountains in Tajikistan (and also Ossetian, spoken in the Caucasus, which comes from one of the languages of the Scythians, who also spoke Iranian languages.).

[@ethdow6817]

A joy to watch and such a fascinating topic. Also the accompanying music was inspiring!

[@daveanderson718]

Two things you may have forgotten to mention and I feel is relevant is 1) Cyrus the great--a practicing Persian Zoroastrian--liberated the jews from Babylon and is consider a genuine MESSIAH in the Hebrew Bible and Christain old testament. 2) The 3 Magi that visited the infant Jesus were Zoroastrian. Magi is the formal name used for practicing Zoroastrian priests and the term is still used in parts of Iran.

[@sskspartan]

He mentioned both hahaha

[@harrynunezz]

They knew

[@theemperor1379]

1. He literally mentioned both. 2. Cyrus didn't go to babylon to free the Jews, rather the babylonian people.

[@brianhoade1411]

Cyrus = Koresh in Hebrew

[@codymoon7552]

​@@theemperor1379 And not even actually that, Cyrus used that as a reason to the people/thats what the people viewed him as, in reality Cyrus just saw lands that were disunited and weak and he was hungry for land

[@aryandixit229]

As a Hindu, I am surprised how much my religion has in common with Zoroastrianism. This may explain why Zoroastrians were so successful in India. It is unfortunate that this beautiful religion is shrinking in numbers due to low birth rates. I would hope that it sees a revival soon.

[@YuruCampSupermacy]

It's not just low birth rates. Orthodox zoroastrians in India don't allow conversions so if a Parsi marries a non-Parsi they are not considered Parsi anymore, same goes for their children.

[@sarfrazmh31]

Vedic religion came from ancient Persia. Even the Gods are similar, caste system with 3 castes in Persia, but 4 castes in Hinduism, because the Conquered Dravidians became the Shudra slaves, etc Sanskrit language is ancient Avestan language. All Vedic religion, Panteon of Hindu Gods, teachings, came from Pre-Islamic Persian Conquerors, with input from Greek Panteon and Homer's tales . Ancient Pagan Persian conquerors who are Hinduism's leaders till this day.

[@saitandale8482]

Islam has 72 casts 😂​@@sarfrazmh31

[@aryandixit229]

@@sarfrazmh31 castes were based on occupation not Aryan/Dravidian. And Hinduism did not come from Persia. Its roots are deep in India and all the pilgrimage sites are in India. All the major texts like the Vedas and Gita were written in India.

[@sarfrazmh31]

​@@aryandixit229 Madam, any Thakur, or Chaudhary or Jatt land lord who is a Dravidian , dark skinned flat nosed as written in Rig Veda?

[@bubatamba3101]

Thank you so much. You have just opened another chapter in my life.

[@efrainandino127]

As a believer in Christ and trying to do my part helping my house, family, all people in general, I really appreciated the part when Darius was quoted saying he’s a friend to ALL who do not harm others. Whether strong towards weak, or weak towards strong. ❤you all my friends who love to love and hate to hate. Wishing you a prosperous journey. We’re not perfect yet but may almighty bless and guide us through! Stay true family- peace ✌🏿 ❤️‍🔥🤩

[@tamshemsu]

Very nice...

[@xedaslopes3975]

thats funny because if he really followed that he would lose is empire and his head in 5 seconds and someone less gay would occupy his place

[@Hrossey]

You’re not Christian. You’ve just said you’re okay with a man who is attracted to children “but it’s ok cause he pinkie promised not to follow through on his desires” He didn’t harm anyone, yet. You’re okay with someone who’s okay with that, purely on the basis he hasn’t harmed? You can answer to Christ.

[@wadepo1]

@@Hrossey What are you talking about?

[@qmakavelii]

​@@Hrossey bro what?

[@reginaldodonoghue9253]

Perhaps videos on how Zoroastrianism influenced the three abrahamic faiths would be great. One on Judaism, one on Christianity, one on Islam.

[@justchilling704]

It hasn’t significantly, except perhaps in the case of Islam, however the groups perhaps most similar and influenced were Gnostic sects. Islam is influenced by Gnosticism so there you go. However Christianity and Judaism lack any significant dualism, there is no God equal with YHWH. Manicheism is a sort of offshoot of Zoroastrianism if you’ve heard of it.

[@reginaldodonoghue9253]

⁠@@justchilling704how does Islam have any cosmic dualism that Christianity and Islam don’t have? No one is equal to God in Islam either. This is a completely ignorant comment. Also, there’s more to Zoroastrianism than just cosmic dualism.

[@reginaldodonoghue9253]

@@justchilling704there are very few rebellious demons in pre-exilic Jewish literature. It explodes after the encounter with Zoroastrianism, and the name of the demon Ashmedai (Asmodeus in the book of Tobit) is of Avestan origin. So it’s pretty demonstrable that there was some Zoroastrian influence on Judaism.

[@justchilling704]

@@reginaldodonoghue9253 I didn’t say Islam has two gods, I’m not sure how you got that? I just said Judaism and Christianity lacked dualism, that wasn’t to say Islam has two gods tho.

[@justchilling704]

@@reginaldodonoghue9253 Hebrew scripture already featured gods or spiritual powers that rebelled against YHWH, this was before any contact with Zoroastrianism. Just to clarify btw, I never reduced Zoroastrianism to dualism.

[@zoroastriankurd7163]

My regards to my fellow Kurdish Zoroastrians watching this

[@Servantofkhuzestan]

Probably less than a thousand 😂

[@yurinoworry]

@@Servantofkhuzestanfinding humor in something like that, way to broadcast how foolish you must be…

[@Mokke121]

Kurds are division -

[@angrymonkeynoises]

There are more Zoroastrians in Kurdistan than Arabs in Khuzestan, that is certain@@Servantofkhuzestan

[@efegokselkisioglu8218]

​@@ServantofkhuzestanIt prob is.

[@MysticMountainNebula]

I’ve been looking forward to this. I need to find a good audio recitation of the Gathas, preferably in both Avestan and English. Your channel is the reason I read the Qur’an, which has reignited my belief in God. Thank you for all that you do ❤

[@LocSupStar]

Beautiful. Thank you. A lot was done subsequently to negate Zarathustra's teachings after he left, similar to Akhenaten. Nietzsche's "Thus Spoke Zarathustra" is a tragic example of this. This could also explain why the Hindi equivalents for"God" and "Demon" are flipped. Keep doing what you do. Peace.

[@Roma_eterna]

Thank you! This was extremely helpful for my novel I’m working on! One of my characters is a Parthian slave (this story is set in first century Roman Empire) and she practices Zoroastrianism.

[@S.J.L]

"Give me that old time religion ... we'll pray with Zarathustra, we'll pray just like we used to, I'm a Zarathustra boosta...and that's good enough for me..."

[@phasematerialsresearch9319]

It’s ironic that Christian Hymn leads us to an older religion that Christianity largely borrowed from lol

[@S.J.L]

@@phasematerialsresearch9319 It's from a satire of the old hymn by Pete Seeger but yeah, the really traditional people aren't Christians.

[@sarfrazmh31]

Zorastrians practised Incest: Brother-sister marriages which led to poor genetics and diseases causing dwindling Zorastrian populations all over the world.

[@jeffmckinnon5842]

@@phasematerialsresearch9319 Clearly, religions evolve around the adaptability of its leaders. It is the willingness to bend as other ideologies compete to gain influence, and finance. The keeper of the long flowing robe of authority is, and has always been a very Human goal of personal desire. To lead, has always required the skills of a politician, backed by the fullest of purses. That alone doesn't make it evil, but it does make "God" into an elected position. I would never want to be King

[@sally9352]

​@phasematerialsresearch9319 Christina's didn't borrow from any religion. It comes from Judaism, and the only difference between Christians and Jews is Jesus.

[@shaneslr9123]

Great job. 👍🏼. Such high-quality work. Beautiful pictures and scenes and great information with details. I think understanding Zoroastrianism can reveal a deeper understanding of the history of many religions. Its connections with both Indo-European and semetic religious cultures are very clear.

[@texmexexpress]

It influenced them.

[@socialswine3656]

Love the old video so im very excited for this one!

[@dodul65]

One of the most informative and authentic lectures I have come across ever. Can't thank you enough. Thank you. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽.

[@shattered_lightsb8381]

The wide range of your videos is great, it led me to become a Perennialist. Would you consider doing a video covering “new age spirituality?” Or Sri Ramakrishna

[@GizzyDillespee]

I think that's a good idea for new age spirituality - cover 1 or 2 individual branches of that tree per episode, because there is such variation.

[@shivnu]

Can't wait to smoke a joint, grab a coffee, and watch this one. My deep interest in the Vedas, and comparative mythology, makes this one extremely appealing. Cheers, Filly!

[@patrickirwin3662]

Impossible to praise this work enough. Consider me much further informed and inspired to research further. Mission accomplished. Those with means, please support this man, a gift to the human religious conversation.

[@delmahill4753]

I really like how this video is more of you having a conversation and not just reading straight from a script. As I can see you add sentences and phrases as your speaking, because you hear that the addition is needed.

[@gbhaskar4703]

you have the gift of presenting the subject lucidly without taking a "i am the High Priest" chair.... wonderfully spent time watching

[@runciblespoon925]

One of the things I really like about your presentation of religion in general is that you bring a boundless sense of "it's this fascinating!" to it all. I am not a believer myself, so I can't speak from that perspective, but you always seem to treat your subjects with respect and enjoyment. As to this video itself, I have long been fascinated by Zoroastrianism and it was great to have a long-form dive into some of its features and history. With respect to that, you mentioned the influence of Zoroastrianism on the Abrahamic religions, which is often discussed, but rightly mention the other direction as well. Do you have any good material that discusses that? It would be fascinating to follow up on.

[@fanzy1338]

Abrahamic religions can’t have any influence on Zoroastrianism because they came centuries later.

[@nowhereman6019]

It would be really interesting to learn more about the religion which existed before Zoroastrianism and the Vedas, and how the seeming split between worship and demonization of Deva and Azurah happened. There definitely seems to be a connection to the Proto-Indo-European cultural group with the importance of cattle among other things.

[@AbramelinWoW]

A fascinating dive into Zoroastrianism! This video takes us on a deep journey through the history, core beliefs, and the undeniable influence Zoroastrianism has had on the world's major religions. It's intriguing to see how concepts like the battle between good and evil, the final judgment, and the savior figure have woven their way into other religions, showing just how interconnected our spiritual narratives truly are. The evolution of Zoroastrianism, from its glory days in the Persian empires to its current global diaspora, testifies to the enduring nature of faith. The migration of Zoroastrians to India, in particular, forming the Parsi community, is not just proof of the resilience and adaptability of this ancient faith but also of India's long-standing tradition of religious tolerance and pluralism. It is almost as if the shared Indo-Iranian heritage established a fundamental bond that has evolved, yet remained unbroken through the millennia. This video doesn't just teach us about Zoroastrianism; it invites us to ponder the connections and shared quests that unite different religious traditions. A brilliant reminder of how complex the mosaic of human belief and spirituality is!

[@YuruCampSupermacy]

Are you from India?

[@texmexexpress]

Zarathustranism is the very essence of Persian culture.

[@chiragk7399]

​@@texmexexpress 😂😂. Nice cope! Celebrating Nawruz excluding the elements associated with Zoroastrianism is it's essence of Iranian Culture. 🙏

[@texmexexpress]

@@chiragk7399Yet another obsessed Hindu 😂 Cope some more.

[@texmexexpress]

@@chiragk7399Cope some more and learn how to properly phrase a sentence in English. 😂

[@Natella3312]

Thank you for casting this video! Great job! Very comfortable to listen and absorb the information! You are one of the best!!! ❤

[@pokegan52]

As a Persian American / Iranian, thank you for shedding light on our ancient religion. Islam is winding down after 1800 years of damage to our society, and my generation is avidly learning about our past again to rekindle the flame put out 18 centuries ago by a band of drujgoos/durughgus known as Arabs, who call us majoosi in a derogatory way (meaning fire worshipers). We’re proud of our culture and proud of Pirooz Nahavandi.

[@roseannemain9957]

When I first learned about Zoroastrianism it seemed perfectly clear that Judaism, and Christianity had evolved from this or heavily borrowed from it as well as other faiths. Could not really understand why people thought Christianity had so much to offer. Still can't really get behind any religion. Find them all too human. If we have a devine creative force that made everything why would there be such emphasis on just one tiny part of it that does nothing but exploit and destroy it? Really enjoyed listening to the explanations and discussion. I will listen again, try and get more to stick. Thank you xx

[@whatsup-bw5vd]

The abrahamic religions didn't so much evolve from zoroastrianism as much as they stole away the knowledge and built structures of hierarchy and power over the people ...,imo

[@tatumfanclub8295]

You sound Jealous that people found something

[@Beezy-d3d]

Yes, it is an evolution, isn’t it? One religion coming after another according to the needs of humanity. Each one building on another, as in classes or grades in a school. They were each perfect for the time in which they appeared, but then had to be renewed according to the greater capacity of humankind. Progressive Revelation. Best wishes!

[@SatSingh-mm4gg]

You're my favorite religionist nerd

[@nadil2631]

who others do you watch

[@danielgadomski5129]

​@@nadil2631religion for breakfast is also great. If you're interested also in the occult and magic, try Esoterica

[@drivinsouth651]

@@nadil2631 Joseph Campbell

[@romanmay2867]

@@nadil2631 religion for breakfast is great

[@munimahmed7877]

You don't know how long i've been waiting for this remaster

[@jojones4685]

One of the best videos on Zoroastrianism on youtube!

[@Amadeu.Macedo]

Congratulations on this outstanding video about an intrinsically philosophical perspective from deep antiquity. Bravo! Yet, might I add a couple of observations? 1) Some authors seem to suggest that Ahura Mazda actually created evil itself so that humanity would have the choice of "the truth" versus "the lie." 2) Others have also advocated the view that, at the ultimate end of existence, even those who have fallen to darkness would ultimately be reunited with those enjoying the "so-called light" in the perfect universe of truth and brightness... Despite my radical atheism, I am fascinated by the myriad of mythological philosophies that have been dominating humanity since the rise of civilization.

[@nmomayezan]

I just know the answer of your first question , in persian mytholigy Ahura mazda and ahriman are twin brothers , came into life by their mother/father figure called "Zorvan"(زروان /زمان) who is basically an intersex(hermaphrodite) god/godess of Time in persian mythology , zorvan had its own followers in different parts of Iran and is considered as a religion itself ,so basically ahura and ahriman are 2 faces of the same truth and its human beings who can decide to follow ahuramazda and do goods in life or be a follower of Ahriman and do devilish things , these 2 brothers gonna have a big fight at the end of time and then the apocalypse happen

[@Amadeu.Macedo]

@@nmomayezan Thanks for your fascinating elucidation. What I have learned about Zoroastrianism was derived from the book titled "CREATION" by Gore Vidal, which is a fiction based on their alleged prophet Zaratrusta's grandson, who attended the Achaemenid Persian Empire's court during Darius and Xerxes reign.

[@lambert801]

The orthodox view is and has likely always been that-unlike the God of Abrahamians-Ahura Mazda is only responsible for the creation of the Good in the world, and whatever Evil exists in the world was created (or corrupted) by Ahriman, who was NOT created by Ahura Mazda and who is a force rivaling Ahura Mazda's own (unlike Satan who was created by God himself and can be destroyed by him anytime he wills).

[@texmexexpress]

​​@@Amadeu.MacedoTry reading the Avesta and Shahnameh. Persian mythology and philosophical thought will become much clearer. If you're advanced, you'll find references to Zarathustra all over the Divan of Hafez and Persian literature in general.

[@panoptikon42]

Fascinating. Thank you very much! Another point of of influence on Judaism are the laws surrounding ritual purity, particularly in regards to women. In Judaism, these customs developed during the time of the prophets Ezra and Nehemiah, who were in Persia. It is clear that this was brought by them and integrated into Judaism.

[@Eliyaaaahoooo]

I own a book about the Zoroaster, it is incredible and I am fully engaged and with Saadi and his story, i see how it connects to Christianity and the magi that came to his birth, it’s helped me grow spiritually

[@mortyharenza9854]

Where is history document these Magi? Surely the Bible cannot be a source.

[@Eliyaaaahoooo]

@@mortyharenza9854depending on the source, most history is oral tradition before it is written, it depends on your own personal view of the source from which you read, whether mystical history metaphorical or literal chronology history isn’t just about names, dates and times but who, why and when and what was the result of the actions taken but often depending on who is the teller history for some is only a story to others

[@Eliyaaaahoooo]

@@mortyharenza9854 specifically if you’re looking for verses on magi, or wise men who followed the Bethlehem star it is literally in the Bible, the book of Matthew , but their identities and where exactly they come from is either speculation or oral tradition, I believe they were Zoroastrian it would align with what I have read but then it’s also speculation but they certainly weren’t Hebrew according the Bible

[@wadepo1]

@@mortyharenza9854 When the gospel of Matthew was written, it was in Greek. They used the word Magi, which is the word they used to describe a Zoroastrian priest.

[@Petal-Lavelle]

What an incredible episode. I really appreciate that you provide sources and recommended reading. This is great stuff.

[@cainebarrettduggan5337]

Thank you so much for this video, I’ve been looking into religion for so long and haven’t found good sources for information on zoroastrianism

[@CatastrophicDisease]

Outstanding video as always, Filip. Do you think thinking of Druj as a deprivation of Asha, rather than an essential force in itself, a reasonable interpretation? If so, this would create lots of parallels with things like Neoplatonism and Vedanta and other Monist philosophies.

[@ForProfit-x100]

Zarathustra is such a cool name

[@adityamohan1773]

Most Iranian (without their Greek corruption) and Assyrian names are super cool. I'd love to name my future son Tiglath Pleiser or Ashurbenipal

[@Yarblocosifilitico]

Yep. Though I like Zoroaster even more. Zarathustra has a ring of calm wisdom to it, and Zoroaster has more of a raw power ring (to me personally, of course).

[@ForProfit-x100]

@@Yarblocosifilitico Maybe it's because I'm from an English/Hispanic background but Zoroaster sounds much more masculine and Zaratustra sounds more feminine. Perhaps these things could be related to your thoughts about these names?

[@Yarblocosifilitico]

@@ForProfit-x100 Indeed, I'm from Spain so it's probably that, too.

[@Bundpataka]

@@ForProfit-x100the “-a” ending is Masculine in Punjabi and “-i” is used as the feminine ending in Punjabi. It’s just because of your cultural background that “-a” seems feminine to you.

[@donaldmoderational5338]

Thank you for this educational clip. It was well done. I would like to clarify few issues. 1-In the Gathas, Yasna 32, the Daevas or old Aryan gods are called the false gods and creations of evil mind. The word, Yazata is not mentioned in the Gathas of Zarathushtra. They belong to Yashts, the writings of much later era. 2-The term Amesha Spenta is post-Gatha, in the Gathas these are simply, the attributes of Ahura Mazda and the Divine manifestations: wisdom. truth, inner constructive power, serenity (love), evolution (wholeness), and immortality. Every man and woman by attainment of the attributes can become whole and immortal as God. a perfect human indeed is the mirror image of God. Divine attributes are the means of approaching God and at the same time the Divine bounties to mankind. Ahura Mazda is the light of lights Whose light radiates other lights 31-7. To understand better, Ahura Mazda is the Light that when analyzed, forms six spectrums. Colors are six but the Light is one. Spenta Mainyu is not included, but considered as faculty of God. 3- In the Gathas, the soul after death is guided by conscience on the bridge of judgement, the soul of the righteous shall pass and the soul of the wrongful are upbraided by conscience, does not pass and shall return. There is no geographic location, depiction of the two and dreams of eschatology. The line of separation poetically is called the sorting bridge, Chinovat bridge, Heaven and Hell are indeed the two states of mind in the living world and discerned by the conscience. 4- One other issue, in the Gathas personification of evil as Satan and Ahriman, to be feared or worshiped out of fearr does not exist. In other words in Zarathushtra's mindset an entity as Satan or bad god does not exist. In the Achamenian inscriptions also devil or demon is absent. Thank you again for this detailed informative video clip.

[@drachenfeIs]

The haptanghaiti pays oblations to Vayu(the stormy wind Mazda made). Some of the older aryan gods (Airyaman) seem to have been re-introduced as "immortals"

[@donaldmoderational5338]

Thank you. Haptanghaiti or Haptanyasn is in the Gathic language but composed in prose soon after Zarathushtra. In this book the term Amesha Spenta is used for the Divine attributes in the Gathas. We do not cite the term Amesha Spenta in the Gathas.@@drachenfeIs

[@donaldmoderational5338]

Heaven and hell in the Gathas are the two states of mind that are discerned by conscience. Heaven is equated with spirituals relief and hell indeed is inner torment. In yasna 46/11 the soul after death is guided by conscience on the bridge of judgment, the soul of the righteous will pass but the soul of the wrongful will be upbraided by their conscience and shall not pass and return. The two are not presented in geographic location and are not depicted, The line of separation are poetically called the sorting bridge, Chinovat. The Gathas does not engage in dreams of eschatology.@@zxmnbcvqpow

[@debjones4712]

Thanks

[@jaybird6905]

great stuff as usual. would like to see a deep dive into some of the indigenous traditions- obviously you’d need a consultant/collaborator. maybe start with the saami just for geographical convenience? love their musical traditions. anyhow thanks filip

[@malamstafakhoshnaw6992]

As a Kurd, of Media, of Ararat, of Diako, of Proto-Indian-European/Aryanic Iranic genealogy, of Zoroastrian origins, that pioneered monotheism theology which led to the peaceful and beautiful moral culture of Judeo-Christian civilization and its ethos, may Ahura Mazda bless all. i pray . Good thoughts, Good deeds, Good words.

[@lambert801]

Did you forget that it was this "beautiful" and "peaceful" religion of the Abrahamians that led to the downfall of Zoroastrianism?

[@malamstafakhoshnaw6992]

@@lambert801 how so? can you please elaborate? Zoroastrianism, through monotheism, inspired the peaceful of the ‘Abrahamic’ beliefs.

[@lambert801]

@@malamstafakhoshnaw6992 Abrahamic religions are anything but peaceful. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all call for violence against members of other religions. You seriously need to look more into the history and beliefs of these Abrahamic religions. Look up "violent jihad" in Islam and the many verses in the Quran that call for violence against "infidels." Read about the Salem witch trials, the inquisition, the crusades, and the incredible brutality of them all. Read about what the Bible tells Christians do to women who have cheated on their husbands, or the slave that doesn't obey his master, or heretics, etc., etc. Read the extremely disgusting and disturbing things that Torah and Talmud have to say about Goyim (not-Jews). Calling these Abrahamic religions "peaceful" is truly ironic, since they were the inventors of religious violence.

[@sereysothe.a]

judeo-christian civilization is beautiful and moral?? have you missed the last 1600 yrs or so years of history? so much savage brutality, slavery, and imperialism all across the world in the name and for the glory of christ by the way, you're not of any geneology. everyone in the middle east is mixed and kurds ESPECIALLY have been in the crossroads of every empire in the region's history. unless your family has literally never stepped foot outside of your village

[@pakfa1157]

meaning the one religion that toppled its only empire

[@Ali-bu6lo]

Currently it's very likely that a Zoroastrian revival is beginning to happen in Iran. There's a massive movement of increased enthusiasm towards pre-Islamic Iran and revival of its culture and traditions that in some cases results in becoming Zoroastrian ranging from cultural to religious. Of course it's not very open since leaving Islam can be punished by death but I have met quiet a few converts to Zoroastrianism while three polls by GAMAAN institute have shown 7%, 1% or 5% of Iranians identify as Zoroastrian, all three numbers are huge compared to the number of people born Zoroastrian which is like 0.03% I have also read of growth of Zoroastrianism in Iraqi Kurdistan.

[@sereysothe.a]

it's extremely unlikely that any of the frustration with islam and interest in pre-islamic iran will lead to a genuine revival in zoroastrianism. as an actual religion it's just as patriarchal as islam and certainly as ritualistic as shia islam. the furthest extent of a "revival" that I predict will be the revival of some holidays and perhaps some cultural awareness.

[@lambert801]

@@sereysothe.a Revival of ancient holidays and increase in cultural awareness has already happened to some extent (the latest example being the revival of the Sadeh holiday). I predict it will go further than this. I personally know a lot of young Iranians who, although haven't actually converted to Zoroastrianism, have consciously adopted a lot of the Zoroastrian worldview, ethics, philosophy, and spirituality. Although doubtful that Iranians will actually convert to Zoroastrianism in significant numbers anytime in the future, I think we will see a general Zoroastrian cultural and spiritual revival at least to some extent.

[@godlikecrazy6482]

​@@lambert801What's the general opinion on Islam for average Persians nowadays? If you'd care to answer. I'm curious

[@Ali-bu6lo]

@@lambert801 What I thin will grow is the number of people who will adopt many of Zoroastrian customs, may even say they are Zoroastrian but won't be really religious and certainly distinct from the traditional Zoroastrian population. These people I still count as conversion to Zoroastrianism since the religion as mentioned in the video, already has the idea of Zoroaster being a philosopher rather than a prophet in some interpretations.

[@lambert801]

@@godlikecrazy6482 I'm afraid I can't speak for all Iranians on their opinion on Islam "on average." I can say that the vast, vast majority of Iranians are pretty secular, even if they may self-identify as Muslims. It's just like how most Europeans identify as Christians despite not being real, devout, practicing Christians. You won't believe how many Iranians I've met who outright damn and slander everyone from Muhammad and the 12 Imams to Allah himself; although not in the majority, these kind of people also exist in not-too-few numbers. I think atheism has peaked in Iran, particularly in the past 10 years. Almost every university student I know is an atheist, for instance. So, I hope I answered your question at least in part.