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Prerequisites: ENG 090, REA 090

Text:

• Mary Pat Fisher: Living Religions

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Other hours by appointment.

An Example of an Entry from an Annotated Bibliography

Collins, Robert. The Medes and the Persians: Conquerors and Diplomats. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1968, pages 1-170 (170 pages, secondary source)

Summary:

I read the above source in order to get an overall picture of the world in which Zoroaster was born and in which he became an influence. The pages that directly concern Zoroaster are 17 and 72-78. The information of these pages deals with the nature of Zoroaster’s struggle against the established religious leaders of his day. His vision put him into conflict with the Magi who promoted animal sacrifice as well as other rites. Collins reports that Zoroaster had to flee for his life, and many of the Gathas were written during the time of persecution. Legend says that he converted the wife of Vishtaspa and, finally, Vishtaspa himself. This led to safety and acceptance for Zoroaster. He settled into favor with the court and saw his visions become a faith. He brought Ahura Mazda to the front as the One God and presented a system of eschatology. It included a Final Battle, a Judgment, and a Heaven and a Hell. Collins noted that Zoroaster considered agriculture a noble way of life. He classed neglectful farmers in the same league with tyrant kings and dishonest judges--all were evil men for Zoroaster. His belief in Ahura Mazda gave absolute free choice and freedom of the will concerning his future. He asked people to deny the old gods and decide their eternity by their daily actions. After his death, his followers compromised on some issue, such as the animal sacrifice. Collins notes that later Zoroastrians would try to stun an animal before sacrifice, so some of Zoroaster’s thought remained.

Reaction:

I do not think it is ever easy to rebel against the accepted form of worship. It is admirable that Zoroaster would put himself in an unpopular position on the strength of his visions. The Magi were powerful enough to revolt against the Persian ruler at one time. If they followed the normal patter of ritual leaders at that time, there were probably very wealthy men. I see Zoroaster doing what Christ was to do many years later--he opposed a religious system that made money off the ritual of worship. Collins’ material reveals a man who believed strongly enough in what he taught to act upon it. I like the way Zoroaster moved from word to deed. I believe that he was right to emphasize the freedom of choice given to us. I think that he was also practical to give a new meaning to the god, Mithras. I have the impression that Zoroaster was a man who knew when to do a bit of compromising in order to present his point of view. In a time that was not known for humaneness, he saw the worth of preserving animal life rather than wasting it on stone altars. His respect for the land is revealed in the manner in which he regarded a lazy farmer. I believe that Zoroaster has much to say to us today about land, life, and the way we disorder our universe.