The Ancient West

Cradle of Western Religions

Early Western Religious Traditions

• Ancient Iran (Persia)– Zoroastrianism

• Ancient Greece– Homer – Pantheon of gods– Mystery religions

• Ancient Rome – Pantheon of gods– Mystery religions

Zoroastrianism• Zoroastrianism is one of the world's oldest monotheistic

religions. It was founded by the Prophet Zoroaster(or Zarathustra) in ancient Iran approximately 3500 years ago.

• For 1000 years Zoroastrianism was one of the most powerful religions in the world. It was the official religion of Persia (Iran) from 600 BCE to 650 CE.

• It is now one of the world's smallest religions. In 2006 the New York Times reported that there were probably less than 190,000 followers worldwide at that time.– Zoroastrians are roughly split into two groups:

• The Iranians• The Parsis

• The Zoroastrian book of Holy Scriptures is called The Avesta.

FYI

King Cyrus of Persia

The Magi of the Nativity

The Prophet Zarathustra

• AKA Zoroaster• Visited by an angel, Good Thought, and

brought to Ahura Mazda• Began to teach the radical idea of monotheism• Died at 77 years old• 17 hymns, Gathas, attributed to him. These

are the oldest teachings in the Avesta

Ahura Mazda

• Zoroastrians believe there is one God called Ahura Mazda (Wise Lord) and He created the world.

• Ahura Mazda revealed the truth through the Prophet, Zoroaster who claimed him as the one true god

• Ahura Mazda is eternal and universal goodness, and controls the cosmos and the destiny of human beings

Worship

• Zoroastrians are not fire-worshippers, as some Westerners wrongly believe. Zoroastrians believe that the elements are pure and that fire represents God's light or wisdom.

• Zoroastrians traditionally pray five times a day.• Zoroastrians worship communally in a Fire

Temple or Agiary.

The Avesta

• The Avesta can be roughly split into two main sections: – The Avesta is the oldest and core part of the

scriptures, which contains the Gathas. The Gathas are seventeen hymns thought to be composed by Zoroaster himself.

– The Younger Avesta - commentaries to the older Avesta written in later years. It also contains myths, stories and details of ritual observances.

Ethical Dualism• Universal forces of good and evil, the most distinctive

feature of Zoroastrianism– If evil exists, how is Ahura Mazda the only god?

• Twins, a beneficent spirit and a hostile spirit.• Free will• Truth vs. Lie (Shaitan)

• Hint of a future savior that would restore goodness to world

• Great care should be taken to avoid those on the side of evil

• Agricultural life, ethics within that life

Beliefs

• Monotheism• “Great requital” (final judgment) – Worst existence– House of best purpose– Individual responsibility– Resurrection

Modern Zoroastrianism• Adherents live predominately in India, called Parsis• Few are in Iran• Maintain reverence for Zarathustra, and the

Avesta• Dead left on mountain to be eaten by vultures• Closed society, do not accept new converts• Marriage outside of their faith is denounced• Share wealth with those in need

Religion in Ancient Greece• Homer

– Illiad & Odessey• The “Bible” of ancient Greece

– Polytheistic – Gods and goddesses live in Olympus as a loose-knit family

• Zeus & Hera• Various other gods in control of different aspects of nature or life• Anthropomorphic – having human attributes• All gods and goddesses have specific talents and limitations• Moral behavior is human like

– Zeus and Hera quarrel– Ares and Aphrodite commit adultery

• Greek dramatists– Wrote plays depicting the justice, power and moral principles of the

deities

Practices of Ancient Greeks• Piety & Worship

– Prayers and worship brought favorable response from deities, conversely, punishment came to the impious

– Sacrifices were appreciated by the gods and protection was offered to the gift giver

• Festivals– Local events honoring local deities– Olympic games to honor Zeus

• Oracles– Term used to identify the place, person and message– Oracle at Delphi

• Death & Afterlife– Gloomy and dark in Hades across the River Styx– Elysian fields- Paradise

Mystery Religions of Greece

• Eleusian mysteriesDemeter & PersephoneAgricultural cycle

• Cult of DionysusVegetation, fertility and wineTurned water into wineEcstatic and untamed worship

• A diverse group of beliefs and practices of the ancient Greek and Roman civilization that included– Initiation– Personal encounter – Hope for spiritual renewal and afterlife

•OrphismBody- evil, soul- goodVegetarianHope to escape the bodyreincarnation

•Cult of AsciepiusHealing cultDaughter, Hygeia

Religion in Ancient Rome

• Numina– Those having supernatural powers (numen)– Roman thought toward their gods was not human as it

was for the Greeks– By observance of ritual toward the god favors would

be granted• Roman Gods & Goddesses– Counterparts of the Greek gods

• Zeus>Jupiter• Hera> Juno

Mystery Religions of Rome• Emperor worship

– Worship of the emperor began with the Greek Alexander the Great• Julius Caesar flirted with the idea• Caligula and Nero declared their divinity• Caesar Augustus encouraged worship of his genius or spirit• Christian persecution was a result of this practice

• Cult of Isis– Ancient tradition from Egypt regarding Isis and Osiris– Initiation leads to rebirth– Images of Isis and her son Horus influenced the images of Mary and

Jesus• Christianity

– New secret religion