Zoroastrianism

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /ËŒzɒɹəʊˈæstɹɪəˌnɪzÉ™m/
• US IPA: /ËŒzoʊɹ.oʊˈæs.tɹi.əˌnɪz.É™m/, /ËŒzɔɹ.oʊˈæs.tɹi.əˌnɪz.É™m/

Alternative forms

• Zoroastrism dated

Full definition of Zoroastrianism

Proper noun

1. The monotheistic religion which began in Persia in the sixth century BC based on teachings ascribed to the prophet Zoroaster.

Usage notes

Some consider the term offensive.

2010, Van Christian A. Gorder, Christianity in Persia and the Status of Non-Muslims in Modern Iran (ISBN 0739136119), pages 22 and 36:

Zoroaster (Persian, Zardosht) ... is not to be considered the founder of the religion but only its apt promoter. Followers of his teachings find the term "Zoroastrian" offensive and sometimes call themselves modestly followers of "a good religion" (veh-den) or, more frequently, "worshippers of God" (Yazdan Parast).

...

The term “Zoroastrian” is offensive to them in the same way that the term “Mohammedan” is offensive to Muslims. Neither religion worships their founder. The term they use to describe themselves is “Yazdan Parsat.” ... Because the term Zoroastrianism is offensive, some have called them Mazdakites given the fact that their god is Ahura Mazda. Detractors also have called them fire worshippers, which is a term that they detest.

Related terms

• Zoroastrian
• Zarathustrianism coined by Hermann Lommel (and popularized by Ilya Gershevitch) to denote the prophet's own doctrine as distinguished from later accretions; from Zarathustra, Avestan language name of Zoroaster
• Zarathustricism the teachings of Younger Avestan texts, as distinct from Zarathustrianism and also from later accretions