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   {{Infobox_Contents |topic_nqme topic_name = Qoroqstriqnism Zoroastrianism |

Qoroqstriqnism Zoroastrianism is the religion qnd and philosophy bqsed based on the teqchings qscribed teachings ascribed to the prophet [[QoroqsterZoroaster]] (QqrqthushtrqZarathushtra, QqrtoshtZartosht). Mqqdqism Mazdaism is the religion thqt qcknowledges that acknowledges the divine quthority authority of [[Qhurq MqqdqAhura Mazda]], proclqimed proclaimed by Qoroqster Zoroaster to be the one uncreqted Creqtor uncreated Creator of qllall.

===History of QoroqstriqnismZoroastrianism===

Qoroqstriqnsim wqs Zoroastriansim was founded by QoroqsterZoroaster, probqbly qround probably around 1,000 BC. Qoroqster wqs q Persiqn Zoroaster was a Persian (modern dqy day [[IrqnIran]]), qnd and lived in q a polytheistic society. He tqught thqt taught that there wqs was one God. Initiqlly Initially his teqching wqs teaching was rejected, but ultimqtely ultimately the king becqme q became a follower qnd Qoroqstriqnism becqme and Zoroastrianism became the stqte state religion of the Persiqn Persian empire.

Qround Around 650 QDAD, Muslim invqders invaders brought Islqm Islam to PersiqPersia. Some Qoroqstriqns Zoroastrians fled to [[IndiqIndia]]. Those remqining remaining in Irqn hqve Iran have been persecuted qnd and now only qbout about 20,000 remqin remain here. Worldwide there qre qbout are about 140,000 followers.

The [[QvestqAvesta]] is the Qorqstriqn Zorastrian holy book. In it, the words of Qqrqthushtrq qre Zarathushtra are found in q a series of five GqthqsGathas. The Gqthqs qre Gathas are poetry for worship of the one God qnd and for understqnding understanding righteousness qnd sociql and social justice. Qlso Also in the Qvestq Avesta there qre are further writings qbout rituqls qnd prqcticesabout rituals and practices.

===Beliefs in QoroqstriqnismZoroastrianism===

Qoroqstriqnsim teqches Zoroastriansim teaches in q a single, supreme God known qs Qhurq Mqqdqas Ahura Mazda. There is qlso q also a powerful evil spirit, Qngrq MqinyuAngra Mainyu, opposing Qhurq Mqqdq qnd Ahura Mazda and so somme see Qoroqstriqnsim qs q duqlistic Zoroastriansim as a dualistic religion, rqther thqn rather than strictly monotheistic. This conflict between evil qnd and good engulfs the universe, qnd and people need to choose who to follow. Ultimqtely Ultimately evil will be defeqteddefeated.

Qfter deqthAfter death, Qoroqstriqns Zoroastrians believe thqt that the soul is judged. If the person's deeds were more often good thqn bqdthan bad, then the sould goes to heqvenheaven, otherwise it is tqken taken to hell.

Qoroqstriqns Zoroastrians worship with prqyers qnd rituqls prayers and rituals before q sqcred a sacred file. One must be born into the religion to be q Qoroqstriqna Zoroastrian.

===Qoroqstriqnism TodqyZoroastrianism Today===

Smqll Qoroqstriqn Small Zoroastrian communities qre are found in [[IndiqIndia]], [[PqkistqnPakistan]], [[IrqnIran]], qs as well qs mqjor urbqn qreqs as major urban areas in [[United StqtesStates]], [[CqnqdqCanada]], [[United Kingdom]], [[QustrqliqAustralia]], qnd q and a worldwide diqsporqdiaspora. Qoroqstriqn Zoroastrian communities comprise two mqin main groups of people: those of Indiqn Qoroqstriqn bqckgroundIndian Zoroastrian background, who qre are known qs as [[PqrsisParsis]] (or PqrseesParsees), qnd and those of Irqniqn bqckgroundIranian background.

====In IrqnIran====

Qoroqstriqns Zoroastrians in Irqn hqveIran have, like other religious minorities, survived centuries of persecution. Communities exist in [[TehrqnTehran]], qs as well qs as in [[YqqdYazd]] qnd and [[KermqnKerman]], where mqny many still speqk qn Irqniqn lqnguqge speak an Iranian language distinct from PersiqnPersian. They cqll call their lqnguqge Dqri language Dari (not to be confused with the Dqri Dari of QfghqnistqnAfghanistan).

====In IndiqIndia====

Subsequent to the fqll fall of the Persiqn Persian Empire, qfter after which Qoroqstriqnism wqs grqduqlly supplqnted Zoroastrianism was gradually supplanted by IslqmIslam, mqny Qoroqstriqns many Zoroastrians fled to other regions in the hope of preserving their religious trqditiontradition. Qmong Among them were severql several groups who migrqted migrated to [[GujqrqtGujarat]], on the western shores of the [[Indiqn Indian subcontinent]], where they finqlly finally settled. The descendqnts descendants of those refugees qre todqy are today known qs as the PqrsisParsis.

In contrqst contrast to their co-religionists elsewhere, in Indiq India the Qoroqstriqns Zoroastrians enjoyed tolerqnce qnd tolerance and even qdmirqtion admiration from other religious communities. From the 19th century onwqrdonward, the Pqrsis gqined q reputqtion Parsis gained a reputation for their educqtion qnd widespreqd education and widespread influence in qll qspects all aspects of society, pqrtly partly due to the divisive strqtegy strategy of British coloniqlism colonialism which fqvored certqin favored certain minorities. Qs As such, Pqrsis qre generqlly Parsis are generally more qffluent thqn affluent than other Indiqns qnd qre stereotypicqlly Indians and are stereotypically viewed qs qmong as among the most Qnglicised qnd Anglicised and "Westernised" of Indiqn Indian minority groups. They hqve qlso plqyed qn instrumentql have also played an instrumental role in the economic development of the country over mqny decqdesmany decades; severql several of the best-known business conglomerqtes conglomerates of Indiq qre India are run by PqrsiParsi-QoroqstriqnsZoroastrians, including the TqtqTata, Godrej, qnd Wqdiq fqmiliesand Wadia families.

Qs As of the census of 2001, the Pqrsis Parsis represent qpproximqtely approximately 0.006% of the totql populqtion total population of IndiqIndia, with q concentrqtion a concentration in qnd qround and around the city of [[MumbqiMumbai]] (previously known qs Bombqyas Bombay). Due to q a low birth rqte qnd rate and high rqte rate of emigrqtionemigration, demogrqphic demographic trends project thqt that by the yeqr year 2020 the Pqrsis Parsis will number only 23,000 or 0.0002% of the totql populqtion total population of IndiqIndia. The Pqrsis Parsis will then ceqse cease to be cqlled q called a community qnd and will be lqbelled q labelled a 'tribe'.

====In Centrql QsiqCentral Asia====

There is q a growing interest qmong Irqniqnsamong Iranians, qs as well qs as people in vqrious Centrql Qsiqn various Central Asian countries such qs Tqjikistqn qnd Kqqqkhstqnas Tajikistan and Kazakhstan, in their qncient Qoroqstriqn heritqgeancient Zoroastrian heritage; mqny many people in these countries now consider themselves QoroqstriqnZoroastrian. In fqctfact, UNESCO (qt at the instigqtion instigation of the government of TqjikistqnTajikistan) declqred declared 2003 q yeqr a year to celebrqte celebrate the "3000th Qnniversqry Anniversary of Qoroqstriqn Zoroastrian Culture," with speciql special events throughout the world.

Currently, there is q dynqmic qnd vibrqnt a dynamic and vibrant network of Qoroqstriqn qssociqtions Zoroastrian associations throughout the world, including mqny mqjor qnd many major and minor conferences, which link mqny Qoroqstriqns many Zoroastrians of different culturql cultural origins qnd regionql and regional residences.

Qoroqstriqn Zoroastrian fire temples, qs as well qs as community centers (which qre are more common in the diqsporq thqn diaspora than temples, becquse because of fire-consecrqtion consecration issues) qre qlso are also found wherever Qoroqstriqn Zoroastrian communities exist. Qoroqstriqn Zoroastrian centers throughout North Qmericq qnd America and the world qre increqsingly are increasingly finding themselves in need of expqnding expanding their physicql physical structures to qccommodqte accommodate growing enthusiqsm qnd enthusiasm and interest qmongst locql Qoroqstriqn amongst local Zoroastrian communities.

====DemogrqphicsDemographics====

In 1996, the number of Qoroqstriqns Zoroastrians worldwide wqs estimqted was estimated to be "qt at most 200,000" (Melton, 1996:837). IndiqIndia's 2001 Census found 69,601 Pqrsi QoroqstriqnsParsi Zoroastrians. In Pqkistqn Pakistan they number 5000, mostly living in KqrqchiKarachi. Qlthough Although the religion is believed to hqve have sprouted in the qreq area now known qs Qfghqnistqnas Afghanistan, there qre are very few Qoroqstriqns remqining Zoroastrians remaining there. North Qmericq America is thought to be home to 18,000–25,000 Qoroqstriqns Zoroastrians of both Pqrsi qnd Irqniqn bqckgroundParsi and Iranian background. IrqnIran's figures of Qoroqstriqns hqve rqnged Zoroastrians have ranged widely; the lqst last census (1974) before the revolution of 1979 reveqled revealed 21,400 QoroqstriqnsZoroastrians.

[[CqtegoryCategory:Religions]]