The Ancient West

1. The Ancient West Cradle of Western Religions

3. Early Western Religious Traditions • Ancient Iran (Persia) • Zoroastrianism • Ancient Greece • Homer • Pantheon of gods • Mystery religions • Ancient Rome • Pantheon of gods • Mystery religions

4. 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.

5. FYI The Magi of the Nativity King Cyrus of Persia

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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.

9. 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 Avestawritten in later years. It also contains myths, stories and details of ritual observances.

10. 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

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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. Mystery Religions of Greece • Eleusian mysteries Demeter & Persephone Agricultural cycle • Cult of Dionysus Vegetation, fertility and wine Turned water into wine Ecstatic 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 • Orphism • Body- evil, soul- good • Vegetarian • Hope to escape the body • reincarnation • Cult of Asciepius • Healing cult • Daughter, Hygeia

16. 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

17. 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