What is Zoroastrianism?

I have finally remade one of the earliest videos on this channel - exploring Zoroastrianism in depth in what is the longest video ever on this channel. Dive into the fascinating world of Zoroastrianism, its ancient hsitory and ethical teachings, from its origins with the prophet Zarathushtra through the Achaemenid, Parthian and Sasanian empires and all the way until today. Discover how Zoroastrianism might be one of the most important religions in history, influencing some of the most famous and popular religons and philosophies in the world.
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Also check out the Let's Talk Religion Podcast: open.spotify.com/show/0ih4sqt...
Music by:
Filip Holm
Sources/Recomended Reading:
Boyce, Mary (2000). "Zoroastrians: Their Their Religious Beliefs and Practices". Routledge; 2nd edition.
Dahlén, Ashk (transl.) (2023). "Zarathustra: Sånger". h:ström.
Humbach, Helmut & Pallan Ichaporia (transl.) (1994). "The Heritage of Zarathushtra: A New Translation of His Gathas. Universitatsverlag Winter.
Moazami, Mahnaz (ed.) (2016). "Zoroastrianism: A collection of Articles from the Encyclopedia Iranica". ENCYCLOPAEDIA IRANICA FOUNDATION. 2 Volumes.
Rose, Jenny (2019). "Zoroastrianism: An Introduction". I.B. Tauris Introduction to Religions. Bloomsbury Academic.
Strausberg, Michael; & Yuhan Sohrab-Dinshaw Vevaina (ed.) (2015). "The Wiley-Blackwell Companion to Zoroastrianism". Wiley-Blackwell.
A second translation of the Gathas:
avesta.org/dastur/Dinshaw_J_Ir...
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:40 Why make another video?
2:47 Basic overview
5:19 Origins: Zarathusthra & The Gathas
11:05 Zarathushtra's revelation & character
14:40 The Avesta: Zoroastrian scripture
16:30 Teachings of Zoroastrianism
24:47 Eschatology
28:26 Monotheism & Amesha Spentas (Holy Immortals)
32:37 The Yazatas
36:51 Summary of teachings: 'The Avestan Worldview'
38:25 The Spread of Zarathustra's teachings
39:33 The Achaemenid Empire
49:03 The Parthian Empire
51:28 The Sasanian Empire - Canonization & Orthodoxy
1:00:58 Zoroastrians under Islamic Rule
1:07:02 Zoroastrian Practice
1:16:38 Influence on other religions?
1:20:13 Conclusions
#Zoroastrianism #Persia #religion

Пікірлер: 1 900

  • @LetsTalkReligion
    @LetsTalkReligion2 ай бұрын

    Check out my linktree for more: linktr.ee/filipholm Support Let's Talk Religion on Patreon: www.patreon.com/letstalkreligion Or through a one-time donation: www.paypal.com/paypalme/letstalkreligion Also check out the Let's Talk Religion Podcast: open.spotify.com/show/0ih4sqtWv0wRIhS6HFgerb?si=95b07d83d0254b

  • @commodusmeridius4718

    @commodusmeridius4718

    2 ай бұрын

    The ism of all monolithic religion

  • @TheMilitantMazdakite

    @TheMilitantMazdakite

    2 ай бұрын

    Hey, will you mention Mazdakism?

  • @peterchristiansen9695

    @peterchristiansen9695

    2 ай бұрын

    As usual, you deliver the goods, Filip! You and your buddy Doc Sledge always do. This is a really, really good update to your original Zoroastrianism-vid. Tusen takk Filip!!! ☺️👍🏻

  • @KnowThyself47

    @KnowThyself47

    2 ай бұрын

    Is the "Winged Horse night trip" of Muhammad stolen from Zoroastrianism ❓

  • @TheMilitantMazdakite

    @TheMilitantMazdakite

    2 ай бұрын

    @@KnowThyself47 Yes.

  • @degacci
    @degacci2 ай бұрын

    Armenians, before becoming the First Nation to accept Christianity as their national religion in 301 A.D were Zoroastrian as far back as 5th century BC. We still have some Zoroastrian traditions. Ahura Mazda was Aramazd and you can still find the common name Aram in many Armenians. Thanks for this video because I’ve always been interested in learning more

  • @nomesa7374

    @nomesa7374

    2 ай бұрын

    Hello to Hayestan!

  • @lambert801

    @lambert801

    2 ай бұрын

    There are a lot of Persian/Parthian/Zoroastrian names among Armenians to this day-a reminder of your deeply intertwined relationship with Iran and Zoroastrianism. Only some of these names include: Aspen, Ariadne, Patvakan, Abgar, Alvand, Ambak, Anushavan, Arda, Arast, Aram, Aramazd, Artavan, Berdak, Byuzand, Drastamat, Gusan, Hamazasp, Jivan, Khosrov, Mher, Mihran, Parnak, Patvakan, Shahen, Shahamir, Shahnazar, Suren, Tigran, Tiran, Tiravag, Vachagan, Varsak, Vahram, Varazdat, Vashtak, Zhirak, Zohrab, Anita, Anahit, Anush. One shouldn't be surprised of the existence of so many Iranian (Persian/Parthian/Avestan) names in Armenia. We Iranians and Armenian are two brother nations and share a very deep historical and civilizational bond. May the great nation of Armenia live forever!

  • @ilikecheese4518

    @ilikecheese4518

    2 ай бұрын

    i think technically youre tied with san marino, with them gaining semi independence from rome in 301 ad (the romans didnt bother to reconquer the mountain), and with them being founded by a saint and acting as a refuge for christians

  • @nomesa7374

    @nomesa7374

    2 ай бұрын

    @@ilikecheese4518 In general, Zoroastrians were very tolerant of other religions. There were so many religions in the empire: Christianity, Buddhism, Jews, Mandaism, evem polytheists ..... Only half of the population were Zorostrians. In the Asia and middle east, Iran is famous for being the land of so many religions from ancient times: A proto-secular state and civilization.

  • @degacci

    @degacci

    2 ай бұрын

    @@ilikecheese4518 funny because I never knew San Marino was a separate country, but after doing research about what you said it states it was a place of refuge for Christian’s…. Interesting fact thanks for sharing. But if we’re going off technicalities, they weren’t recognized as a sovereign nation until 1631 by the pope and then 1815 by the congress of Vienna. Thanks for sharing interesting tidbit I love history and will look more into it, I’m assuming you’re either a history buff or from San Marino 🙌

  • @C14445
    @C144452 ай бұрын

    This is the best, most nuanced, historically and scholarly balanced video on Zoroastrianism out there. Thank you!

  • @catdogfishdogcats

    @catdogfishdogcats

    2 ай бұрын

    Inb4 a more nuanced, historically and scholarly balanced video on Zoroastrianism comes out, to contend with this one's throne

  • @sizanogreen9900

    @sizanogreen9900

    2 ай бұрын

    well, it is the best one I have personally encountered at least.

  • @user98344

    @user98344

    27 күн бұрын

    ​@@catdogfishdogcatsWho is he?

  • @saeiddavatolhagh9627
    @saeiddavatolhagh96272 ай бұрын

    Thus spoke Zarathustra: Good thoughts Good words Good deeds

  • @BlipLeBlop

    @BlipLeBlop

    2 ай бұрын

    Alef Lam Meem

  • @poor_djinno

    @poor_djinno

    2 ай бұрын

    ​ א ל מ = אני לא מאמין

  • @melissasherpa

    @melissasherpa

    2 ай бұрын

    Richard Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra kzread.info/dash/bejne/ha6Y3MuwZNevadI.htmlsi=8aubfNZKbA6GYvr5

  • @ramzan6949

    @ramzan6949

    Ай бұрын

    What is Good.

  • @Amaling

    @Amaling

    Ай бұрын

    @@ramzan6949apparently not frogs lmao

  • @robynmonet1231
    @robynmonet12312 ай бұрын

    I live in california and there is small zoroastrian community here. I messaged one of the centers because I wanted to learn more and everyone is so friendly and patient and excited to tell you about their religion

  • @bigmcjones230

    @bigmcjones230

    2 ай бұрын

    Well of course, no offense. If you're going to pull in people into your beliefs you have to show a welcoming community where people feel like they belong. It's what religions do.

  • @tamshemsu

    @tamshemsu

    2 ай бұрын

    Hello I'm in California too...where can I find the zoroastrian community?

  • @seanmyatt-philosophy1860

    @seanmyatt-philosophy1860

    2 ай бұрын

    I thought they did not accept converts.

  • @parkercushingable

    @parkercushingable

    2 ай бұрын

    They probably accept visitors but people must be born into Zoroastrianism I'm pretty sure

  • @j.a.lucky13

    @j.a.lucky13

    Ай бұрын

    @@seanmyatt-philosophy1860 Traditional Zoroastrians don't but I'm pretty sure the one in California goes only by the Gathas That Zarathusthtra wrote. Zarathushtra didn't say anything about not accepting converts. The Avesta's were written after Zarathushtra and they made up their own laws

  • @groupichawdercanada4101
    @groupichawdercanada41012 ай бұрын

    I’m Kurdish and I’m Zoroastrian ❤ I am so proud of that is my religion is Persian religion it’s not just a legion. It’s also teaching philosophy and technology. Anything anything you want to be it’s not just a religion is a peaceful religion. Is it Kurdish Persian? We are so proud of that.❤

  • @YuruCampSupermacy

    @YuruCampSupermacy

    2 ай бұрын

    Wow I thought all kurds followed yazidism. I thought the only zoroastrians left were the ones in India.

  • @MadKingOfMadaya

    @MadKingOfMadaya

    2 ай бұрын

    *_Persians are originally from Kurdistan. It has very little to do with modern iranians calling themselves Persians_*

  • @nomesa7374

    @nomesa7374

    2 ай бұрын

    Hello to Kurdistan, from Tehran!

  • @judykraska400

    @judykraska400

    2 ай бұрын

    @@YuruCampSupermacyI am living in Melbourne, Australia, and for the Immigration Museum met with our Kurdish Community, who all where Yizidi, which was a condemned religion in ancient times as the focus was the sun 🌞 and the peacock 🦚. About Zoroastrian religion in Iran are existing some villages, regions where Zoroastrians are living and keeping the religion/philosophy alive. I would like to recommend an humble Iranian channel Ali Aghajanzadeh, who shows his audiences around the historic places, villages, and shows especially the ones, which keep the history, traditions of the Zoroastrian culture alive including the Fire Temples. He has very interesting dear to his heart programs, or better documentaries, around 40 min each. Thank you. This episodes form this young scholarly man is interesting and educational too. Thank you. Greetings from Australia

  • @MadKingOfMadaya

    @MadKingOfMadaya

    2 ай бұрын

    @@nomesa7374 You ok there? In Tehran?

  • @user-fq4yz5ek3r
    @user-fq4yz5ek3r2 ай бұрын

    It's interesting to contrast Mithraism, usually termed a 'mystery-religion' and Zoroastrianism, which is much more of an ethical philosophy like Buddhism. Persian history rocks! A fun fact: Zarathushti used to make a pilgrimage to Baku in modern-day Azerbaijan because the ground was so saturated with petroleum that flames would spontaneously pop up from the ground in some areas.

  • @Brett-yq7pj

    @Brett-yq7pj

    2 ай бұрын

    I think they still use religious rocks over there

  • @johnsondoeboy2772

    @johnsondoeboy2772

    2 ай бұрын

    @@Brett-yq7pjin Iran???

  • @newestflameneverdies

    @newestflameneverdies

    2 ай бұрын

    @@Brett-yq7pjNo, they don't. Never have, never will.

  • @Tuber-sama

    @Tuber-sama

    2 ай бұрын

    Even though Mithraism has only to do with Persia in name and, maybe, in some degree of inspiration.

  • @newestflameneverdies

    @newestflameneverdies

    2 ай бұрын

    @@Tuber-samaNo, Mithraism has everything to do with Persia. Romans got it from the Persians.

  • @AshkanPacino13
    @AshkanPacino132 ай бұрын

    As an Iranian thank you for making this video, even though I'm atheist I always love learning more about Zoroastrianism and even Iranian Paganism.

  • @joebidet2050

    @joebidet2050

    2 ай бұрын

    Do you practice good thoughts good words hood deeds And doing the right thing because it's the right to do ? If yes You are Zoroastrian 😊

  • @Sk-wm4ol

    @Sk-wm4ol

    2 ай бұрын

    From india now only in india Zoroastrian religion flooding by aur ancient hindu kings are heartly welcomed when arabic muslim s demolished Zoroastrism killed millions of fire worshipr its so sadly hppnd in parsian history,still hve great syrus history vrrry old relatives hindu and Parisian culture

  • @newestflameneverdies

    @newestflameneverdies

    2 ай бұрын

    ​​@@Sk-wm4olWrong, the city of Yazd in Iran has more Zarathustrians than there are Parsis living in India. Kindly refrain from falsely referring to monotheistic Zarathustrians as "fire worshippers". Iran is the capital of Zarathustrianism. Persian culture is Zarathustrian which makes it so ancient, unique, persistent and beautiful. "Parisian" is the adjective for the French capital city of "Paris".

  • @YuruCampSupermacy

    @YuruCampSupermacy

    2 ай бұрын

    No one asked. ​@@Sk-wm4ol

  • @bmk9844

    @bmk9844

    2 ай бұрын

    Ooh! There is Iranian paganism? So cool! I’m an atheist as well. From Poland so originally Catholic. Our Catholic religion was absolutely and strongly infused with Poland’s original pagan religion.

  • @daveanderson718
    @daveanderson7182 ай бұрын

    Two things you may have forgotten to mention and I feel is relevant is 1) Cyrus the great--a practicing Persian Zoroastrian--liberated the jews from Babylon and is consider a genuine MESSIAH in the Hebrew Bible and Christain old testament. 2) The 3 Magi that visited the infant Jesus were Zoroastrian. Magi is the formal name used for practicing Zoroastrian priests and the term is still used in parts of Iran.

  • @sskspartan

    @sskspartan

    Ай бұрын

    He mentioned both hahaha

  • @harrynunezz

    @harrynunezz

    Ай бұрын

    They knew

  • @theemperor1379

    @theemperor1379

    23 күн бұрын

    1. He literally mentioned both. 2. Cyrus didn't go to babylon to free the Jews, rather the babylonian people.

  • @brianhoade1411

    @brianhoade1411

    12 күн бұрын

    Cyrus = Koresh in Hebrew

  • @codymoon7552

    @codymoon7552

    3 күн бұрын

    ​@@theemperor1379 And not even actually that, Cyrus used that as a reason to the people/thats what the people viewed him as, in reality Cyrus just saw lands that were disunited and weak and he was hungry for land

  • @judykraska400
    @judykraska4002 ай бұрын

    Thank you for this educational lecture about Zoroastrianism. I listened to your first one too, as l have been involved with Zoroastrianism through my husband, who studied Arabic, African languages, and Middle Eastern religions, and wrote his Thesis about Yazidism, and Zoroastrianism in 1970. At that time the Berlin Umboldt University had extensive books by German scholars about these two ancient religions, which l needed in essence to translate into my husbands language. “Yazidism is a monotheistic ethnic religion (like Zoroastrianism too) , that has its roots in a western Iranic pre-Zoroastrian religion directly derived from the Indo-Iranian tradition.” (According to Wikipedia) l could not say it better, nor shorter in English, as it’s not my first language) A Kurdish speaking Yazidi Community is living in Melbourne, Australia till date, and of course they are living in the triangle Iran, Iraq, Turkey, and in small groups in the Middle East till today too, trying to preserve their religious, cultural, language traditions, but have lost lots of it due to the mentioned countries suppressing their believes, rituals, and assimilating them, or punish them like in Turkey. Many Yazidis have been massacred, genocides committed in the Triangle borders. It is a hot topic. I wished, there would be an episode about Yazidism, and the connection between the two, the similarities, and differences. Thank you. It’s fascinating to listen to these scholarly lectures. Greetings from Melbourne

  • @newestflameneverdies

    @newestflameneverdies

    2 ай бұрын

    Your husband didn't bother studying Persian?

  • @_S0urR0ses_

    @_S0urR0ses_

    2 ай бұрын

    I’m assuming he didn’t study languages of the past but if the present. Just saying since he studied the 3 major languages of the same area of today. Also Persian would’ve been spoken during Zoroastrian times of the past and yazidi is an updated religion that pulled some of the Zoroastrianism beliefs and also added many additional beliefs. Yazidi is polytheistic and not monotheistic like Zoroastrianism.

  • @PathOfAvraham

    @PathOfAvraham

    2 ай бұрын

    I belive Philip made a video on Yazidi a couple years ago, maybe he will reamke it with more info like he did with this one.

  • @Makaneek5060

    @Makaneek5060

    2 ай бұрын

    Hello, I'd be interested in reading your husband's thesis if that is possible.

  • @googogagaa

    @googogagaa

    Ай бұрын

    All that but u forgot to mention that yezidism was invented by the disciples of sheikh adi in the 13the century? It is not ancient

  • @stephanieparker1250
    @stephanieparker12502 ай бұрын

    I still find it incredibly cool that we can translate and read prayers, stories and other messages that are thousands of years old.

  • @BrokenChain195
    @BrokenChain1952 ай бұрын

    Awesome! A video on Zoroastrianism is exactly what the world needs. Such a significant and influential religion, interesting as well. Can’t wait!

  • @evangelicalsnever-lie9792

    @evangelicalsnever-lie9792

    2 ай бұрын

    But why do we need Magical Thinking and pretend?

  • @RabbyClips

    @RabbyClips

    2 ай бұрын

    A monotheistic religion sure. But to say that Jesus was a copy of the prophet in this religion is not historically reliable. Yes this religion dates to somewhere in the 1000 bc, so long before Jesus.. But manuscripts of it can be dated to the 4th century and ontop of that this specific religion was changed​@humanistreformation

  • @catdogfishdogcats

    @catdogfishdogcats

    2 ай бұрын

    ​@@evangelicalsnever-lie9792bro, you don't need to believe in a particular religion to understand it's lore. It's like saying why we need Comic books. It's for the lore😂

  • @RabbyClips

    @RabbyClips

    2 ай бұрын

    ​@@humanistreformation The incorporation of certain motifs into the Zoroastrian tradition in the ninth century CE could indicate the conscious attempt of the priesthood to exalt their prophet in the eyes of the faithful who may have been tempted to turn to other religions. Said by a scholar, we don't really know if there was borrowing between this religion and Judaism, it's mostly an oral religion and texts can be seen very late, after Jesus Christ. About the virgin birth there's no source that says the prophet of this religion was born of a virgin, especially a virgin like Mary, oldest source (which is still after Christianity) is not really a virgin birth

  • @kalebbillig3472

    @kalebbillig3472

    2 ай бұрын

    The message is 1 and has always been 1 - it’s came down directly from God over 100 thousand times… and then the evil men corrupt the word to serve themselves, and they are worst of men because they know what they do!!!

  • @lancesmallshaw2415
    @lancesmallshaw24152 ай бұрын

    I'm 62 years young and have during my life studied, followed a religion, experienced religion, believed in aspects of religion etc and in doing so understand many of the descriptive as explained and the links it has due to the topics history, in this most excellent and unbiased educational masterpiece of a video. It has really provoked me to dig deeper into the great jigsaw of life and it's many associations. Thanks so much for sharing it.

  • @tamshemsu

    @tamshemsu

    2 ай бұрын

    I feel the same

  • @S.J.L
    @S.J.L2 ай бұрын

    I'd love to hear more about the early Iranian religion that Zarathustra was rebelling against. A comparative religion survey of Indo European religion itself would be a major project too.

  • @Nozarks1

    @Nozarks1

    2 ай бұрын

    That sounds fascinating, though from what I understand there wasn’t much rebelling. Since a lot from the old ways are still existing in Zoroastrianism. More of an upgrading , or adding on too.

  • @S.J.L

    @S.J.L

    2 ай бұрын

    @@Nozarks1 Reform is more accurate but he was against the war mongering and greed of the priests that had developed in his region and perhaps some other practices. I'm still learning about it myself. Overall it seems like if one understands the Hindu cosmology of Brahman and then applies that to the Greek understanding of all life manifesting from "the void" or the similar concept in Norse religion then it seems like there was a general pantheism among the Indo Europeans that developed into more anthropomorphic deities over time. There are shared themes, characters and stories across the spectrum of these people, a criminally under covered topic. Zarathustra essentially took all of this pantheistic deism and tried to identify the source in a more personal way. Zoroastrianism monotheism is essentially the same concept as "the holy trinity." If I had the time and money I would work on this myself. I am writing a historical novel, in part, about Zarathustra and learning more as I go. I assume his tribe's previous religion was closer to the Scythians religion. Survive the Jive has a video on that.

  • @parsapourkaveh7492

    @parsapourkaveh7492

    2 ай бұрын

    As I understand it, there existed a diverse number of gods (or pantheons) in the form of an Indo-Iranian paganism. As it was mentioned in the video, Zarathushtra seemingly juxtaposed the ideas and behaviors of these deities and their followers, and deemed some worthy of reverence, like Vohu Manah. Yazatas like Anahita, Verethragna, Mithra and others were adopted as Yazatas over time as the religion evolved with its new followers and they were also worshipped in other parts of the ancient world, as they did in the Cult of Mithras in the Roman Empire.

  • @newestflameneverdies

    @newestflameneverdies

    2 ай бұрын

    ​@@parsapourkaveh7492Yeah, the Romans borrowed Mithra after being in contact with the Persians.

  • @rondesantis7017

    @rondesantis7017

    2 ай бұрын

    Anahita Pot will send you way out there !

  • @LaineyBug2020
    @LaineyBug20202 ай бұрын

    I got chills when you mentioned Artarvakhsha 'Guardians of the Fire' because I'm Potawatomi, which means 'Keepers of the Sacred Fire', and it's really central to the culture!

  • @knarok6760
    @knarok67602 ай бұрын

    I bumped into Zoroastrianism today when I bought a Persian carpet with the cypress tree being an important symbol to this ancient religion. Had to go look up for more. Thanks for putting together this educational video 👍👍

  • @hoodoodere5707

    @hoodoodere5707

    24 күн бұрын

    cypress tree was important, due to the fact it's and evergreen, they assumed it wouldn't die, like other trees in winter, a lot of ancient cultures worshiped (evergreen) trees, and still around today.....the Christmas tree BTW imma try that instapot cheesecake

  • @omaraboal-azm8705
    @omaraboal-azm87052 ай бұрын

    I hope that this will be a series about zoroastrianism

  • @paulheydarian1281

    @paulheydarian1281

    Ай бұрын

    Only if you promise to help him. 😅

  • @efrainandino7300
    @efrainandino73002 ай бұрын

    As a believer in Christ and trying to do my part helping my house, family, all people in general, I really appreciated the part when Darius was quoted saying he’s a friend to ALL who do not harm others. Whether strong towards weak, or weak towards strong. ❤you all my friends who love to love and hate to hate. Wishing you a prosperous journey. We’re not perfect yet but may almighty bless and guide us through! Stay true family- peace ✌🏿 ❤️‍🔥🤩

  • @tamshemsu

    @tamshemsu

    2 ай бұрын

    Very nice...

  • @xedaslopes3975

    @xedaslopes3975

    2 ай бұрын

    thats funny because if he really followed that he would lose is empire and his head in 5 seconds and someone less gay would occupy his place

  • @Hrossey

    @Hrossey

    24 күн бұрын

    You’re not Christian. You’ve just said you’re okay with a man who is attracted to children “but it’s ok cause he pinkie promised not to follow through on his desires” He didn’t harm anyone, yet. You’re okay with someone who’s okay with that, purely on the basis he hasn’t harmed? You can answer to Christ.

  • @wadepo1

    @wadepo1

    8 күн бұрын

    @@Hrossey What are you talking about?

  • @n.brucenelson5920
    @n.brucenelson59202 ай бұрын

    I have spent many hours in front of the holy fire at the Zoroastrian Fire Temple in Yazd, before the Revolution, and was able to visit again after. I also had many Zoroastrian friends when I lived in California.

  • @epeeypen

    @epeeypen

    2 ай бұрын

    becuz its a fake religion they can say very little about and have to do very little to be apart of

  • @arshanmostafavi9621

    @arshanmostafavi9621

    2 ай бұрын

    Iran and California ? We have something in common . Although I’ve never gone to Yazd , soon hopefully . Where in California did you live where there were so many Zoroastrians ?

  • @YuruCampSupermacy

    @YuruCampSupermacy

    2 ай бұрын

    Lots of Indian parsis live in Cali​@@arshanmostafavi9621

  • @n.brucenelson5920

    @n.brucenelson5920

    2 ай бұрын

    @@arshanmostafavi9621 I was an American Peace Corps teacher in Taft, Iran from 1972 to 1974. I am originally from Iowa, but grew up in Chicago. I went to college in Lamoni, Iowa, where I live now. I spent one year in Germany as an exchange student. I had had a room mate from Micronesia, and that is what decided me to join the Peace Corps. When I came back from Iran, I brought students with me to Graceland. I met my wife, and we moved to Japan where we lived for three years. When we came back to the US, we lived in NM and AZ, and I traveled all over the world as an quality control and environmental tech. In 2000, we moved to the SF Bay area. We lived on a boat, and I worked for a thermal tech company for many years. We moved back to Iowa around 2021. In 2002, I took a group of returned Peace Corps Volunteers back to Iran, on behalf of the Carter Center, where we visited the Fire Temple in Yazd again.

  • @jeremymarquardt8617

    @jeremymarquardt8617

    2 ай бұрын

    ​@@arshanmostafavi9621Not the op but California has 3 major temples in Sacramento, San Jose, and Los Angeles. I've been to the Sacramento temple and it was an amazing experience.

  • @freedomtosayno7880
    @freedomtosayno78802 ай бұрын

    Thank you. “Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds” - Zarathustra

  • @gerryboudreaultboudreault2608

    @gerryboudreaultboudreault2608

    2 ай бұрын

    That sounds like Buddhism

  • @lijusav
    @lijusav2 ай бұрын

    I think the real number of Zoroastrians in Iran in much higher: between Isfahan and Shiraz in 2018, I came across dozens of practitioners. Based on what I saw, I would even claim that the number in Iran would go into hundreds of thousands. Even in petrol stations, shops etc they had open fires going and they had these unique posters on the walls which set them clearly apart. I was happy to see that at least they could be open about their traditions, despite the regime. I also stayed in a Zoroastrian hotel which mainly catered for the hundreds of Indian pilgrims. This video has been the first comprehensive account about the religion, and I'm happy to understand my own experiences there a little better (the fire temple did have an introduction, but it didn't help much...). Thank you!

  • @docfortune
    @docfortune2 ай бұрын

    I never tire of this beautiful subject.

  • @arminbauman4277
    @arminbauman4277Ай бұрын

    My late Grandfather from Shiraz Iran was Zoroastrian ♥️🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

  • @Shahanshah101

    @Shahanshah101

    2 сағат бұрын

    What about you are you not Zoroastrian?

  • @setare1369
    @setare13692 ай бұрын

    "And we pray to you Mehr, Lord of the vast plains, that give peace, quite and happiness to Iranian land." Thank you for covering this.

  • @draxthemsklonst

    @draxthemsklonst

    2 ай бұрын

    quiet ≠ quite

  • @setare1369

    @setare1369

    2 ай бұрын

    @@draxthemsklonst 😂😂😂yeah, saarri.

  • @johannesstephanusroos4969

    @johannesstephanusroos4969

    2 ай бұрын

    ​@@draxthemsklonstYou're quite right

  • @grainsalt9662

    @grainsalt9662

    Ай бұрын

    @setare1369 no peace will come til Iran cuts out the cancerous death cult that has brought turmoil to those plains and restores Zoastrianism back as the state religion of Iran.

  • @Booli......614
    @Booli......6142 ай бұрын

    Finally a good long video on Zoroastrianism. I have Always been so curious about this but never found a decent video essay on it Thank you!

  • @kanhaibhatt913
    @kanhaibhatt9132 ай бұрын

    The fall of the Sassanis was probably the singular biggest tragedy in human history. Never did the fall of one empire change the fate of multiple civilisations to such an extent. Iran wouldve probably been an unrecognizable country today.

  • @DarkrarLetsPlay

    @DarkrarLetsPlay

    2 ай бұрын

    It truly is something to cry over.

  • @newestflameneverdies

    @newestflameneverdies

    2 ай бұрын

    The beauty of Iran is that its essence can never be defeated ❤

  • @iwaswrongabouteveryhthing

    @iwaswrongabouteveryhthing

    2 күн бұрын

    Iran was as free as any country until the 50's or 60's when the US overthrew the leader

  • @sasanr1
    @sasanr12 ай бұрын

    If there is one thing i wish western countries will adopt from my culture is Nowrooz Having the new year at the start of spring is the best time After years of living in europe i still can't adapt to new year mood in the middle of F winter

  • @etcwhatever

    @etcwhatever

    Ай бұрын

    Well Easter is the main solemnity of the Christian calendar...and i agree having the new year in such a cold time as in January isnt pleasant at all 😂

  • @Persun_McPersonson

    @Persun_McPersonson

    28 күн бұрын

    The Gregorian calendar used to start in the month spring occurs, March! But, due to stupid political and religious reasons which are no longer relevant to modern society, it was changed to January  - that's why a number-based month name like "October" ("oct-" meaning 8) is the 10th month, because it was changed!

  • @Persun_McPersonson

    @Persun_McPersonson

    28 күн бұрын

    @@etcwhatever The Iranian calendar is just factually an improvement over Gregorian, we just haven't changed to it out of laziness, Christianity, and xenophobia.

  • @anthonycarroll6546

    @anthonycarroll6546

    14 күн бұрын

    ​@Persun_McPersonson all the months are named after non Christian deities. Pagans are the real ones that created the way we operate. Christmas and Easter are not holydays/holidays that any of the Jewish people kept.

  • @codymoon7552

    @codymoon7552

    3 күн бұрын

    The Romans last spit in the fase of Zoroastrains, pur calendar lmao

  • @JG-zt3cg
    @JG-zt3cg2 ай бұрын

    Oohhh Wow!! I am a student of religion and history and I'm really impressed by this presentation. The scholarship and quality of material in this video are superb. I'm glad I came across your channel as I see there are videos about so many different religions of the world. A lot of research goes into creating this kind of content. Great work.

  • @JeffDixonconductor
    @JeffDixonconductor2 ай бұрын

    Random association- I was at a choir concert yesterday heard your excerpted theme music, at 1:37. It must be from the Sanctus from Rheinberger’s mass in Eb major- what a glorious piece and very fitting for your channel! Thank you for all you do and for highlighting the importance of music in the world’s religious and spiritual traditions. 🎉❤

  • @a2zin125
    @a2zin1252 ай бұрын

    Great video! As an Iranian American who grew up before the revolution and in a very secular Iran, we always honored the Zoroastrian traditions, which spoke to the real roots of Iranians/Persians and why Islam never really became (even with this regime in place) part of society's DNA like it did in Turkey for instance. We had our own religion. Would love to see a video on Mithraism and Mazdakism, and know the difference, if you are up for it. 🙏

  • @hadleymanmusic

    @hadleymanmusic

    2 ай бұрын

    I didnt know but Im seek the truth

  • @MyClip456

    @MyClip456

    2 ай бұрын

    typical delusional Iranian diaspora

  • @Servantofkhuzestan

    @Servantofkhuzestan

    2 ай бұрын

    Fr iran was never secular how even the revolution happened if it was secular 😂​@@MyClip456

  • @arshiaarjomandi6279

    @arshiaarjomandi6279

    2 ай бұрын

    I feel like you're leaving out the fact that we commodified it as part of our nationalism and that many members of our Zoroastrian community were fairly bitter about it during that period. In fact you're engaging in that now.

  • @ahmedharajli189

    @ahmedharajli189

    2 ай бұрын

    Bro quit acting like your opinions are objective facts

  • @reginaldodonoghue9253
    @reginaldodonoghue92532 ай бұрын

    Perhaps videos on how Zoroastrianism influenced the three abrahamic faiths would be great. One on Judaism, one on Christianity, one on Islam.

  • @justchilling704

    @justchilling704

    2 ай бұрын

    It hasn’t significantly, except perhaps in the case of Islam, however the groups perhaps most similar and influenced were Gnostic sects. Islam is influenced by Gnosticism so there you go. However Christianity and Judaism lack any significant dualism, there is no God equal with YHWH. Manicheism is a sort of offshoot of Zoroastrianism if you’ve heard of it.

  • @reginaldodonoghue9253

    @reginaldodonoghue9253

    2 ай бұрын

    ⁠@@justchilling704how does Islam have any cosmic dualism that Christianity and Islam don’t have? No one is equal to God in Islam either. This is a completely ignorant comment. Also, there’s more to Zoroastrianism than just cosmic dualism.

  • @reginaldodonoghue9253

    @reginaldodonoghue9253

    2 ай бұрын

    @@justchilling704there are very few rebellious demons in pre-exilic Jewish literature. It explodes after the encounter with Zoroastrianism, and the name of the demon Ashmedai (Asmodeus in the book of Tobit) is of Avestan origin. So it’s pretty demonstrable that there was some Zoroastrian influence on Judaism.

  • @justchilling704

    @justchilling704

    2 ай бұрын

    @@reginaldodonoghue9253 I didn’t say Islam has two gods, I’m not sure how you got that? I just said Judaism and Christianity lacked dualism, that wasn’t to say Islam has two gods tho.

  • @justchilling704

    @justchilling704

    2 ай бұрын

    @@reginaldodonoghue9253 Hebrew scripture already featured gods or spiritual powers that rebelled against YHWH, this was before any contact with Zoroastrianism. Just to clarify btw, I never reduced Zoroastrianism to dualism.

  • @caiden3396
    @caiden33962 ай бұрын

    Your stuff is so high quality and on a topic I deeply care about! I love it!😁

  • @YogiMcCaw
    @YogiMcCaw2 ай бұрын

    I'm about 2/3rds in, and already I can say that this is indeed way deeper and more comprehensive than the first one. Fascinating, especially when viewed through the lens that with Zoroastrianism, we have the formalizing of ideas that would be subsequently adopted by the major western religions and well as Islam. Especially in the early periods (1500-500BC) you get a sense that the foundational philosophical and religious ideas of modern western civilization are being developed and tested out by the Persians. Also, I love it that Filip has learned so much about the music of this area of the world and composes his own music for some these videos. Bravo!

  • @rajababy2009

    @rajababy2009

    2 ай бұрын

    Islam fundamental argument is GOD send Prophets to every nations which taught monotheism But when Prophet Died people corrupt the religion for their own greed , Power and wealth , desires etc Islam is the last message , If you found a similarity of monotheism in Hindu books or Zoroastrian we said that these figures like Ram , Krishna or prophet zoran etc might be the Prophets send by GOD and later after their death their nation changes their teachings like Christens and jews also changes their bibles

  • @christophgriener9852

    @christophgriener9852

    Ай бұрын

    ​@@rajababy2009Yes, these are words. Instead of claiming corruption of texts by others (which I think happened in some cases), how about the obvious corruptions and contradictions in the Koran or the Islamic religion? An almighty god doesn't write books, let alone badly written ones. By insisting on an obviously false claim, you are cementing your own position and making it impossible to get nearer to the truth and try to find out what really happened and what the message was. Every book was written by humans. Why would you not use what god gave you, your brain, but replace it with something humans made, a book? (God here is meant as a being or force that possesses supernatural powers (up to being almighty?), is possibly eternal and is either the source of life, truth and good or at least unable to act unjustly or dishonestly or in an evil way. Worshipping an unjust, deceitful and unreliable god wouldn't make much sense and the rules given by such a god cannot be relied upon to guide people or to save one's soul.

  • @charlesblum1179

    @charlesblum1179

    Ай бұрын

    Yes I think that orally passed on histories and stories may be more reliable than books written before printing as narrative seems to be our best way to understand ideas on a deeper level. Scribes and their overseers may easily carry out their own agendas instead of passing on the words and emotional content as the stories are familiar to the hearers in detail from generation to generation! Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us.

  • @Aksarallah

    @Aksarallah

    Ай бұрын

    @@christophgriener9852 this is false. There are no contradictions or errors in the bible and it is completely preserved word to word along with the meanings of the word and its grammar. It's not comparable to any other religion. The reason Arabic is still today largely unchanged as a language is due to the Quran

  • @belladee591
    @belladee5912 ай бұрын

    how interesting to see how so many different religions are distantly related or have been drawn from the other. rly makes you reconsider the divisions we have today. loved the video, i learned so much 💜

  • @r0kus
    @r0kus2 ай бұрын

    I think I remember watching your first Zoroastrian video, but I'm glad you updated and extended it. It is an important and fascinating topic.

  • @fanzy1338
    @fanzy13382 ай бұрын

    I must admit that you did your research thoroughly on the subject. I have seen many documentaries on Zoroastrianism but your follow up video topped all of them.

  • @zoroastriankurd7163
    @zoroastriankurd71632 ай бұрын

    My regards to my fellow Kurdish Zoroastrians watching this

  • @Servantofkhuzestan

    @Servantofkhuzestan

    2 ай бұрын

    Probably less than a thousand 😂

  • @yurinoworry

    @yurinoworry

    2 ай бұрын

    @@Servantofkhuzestanfinding humor in something like that, way to broadcast how foolish you must be…

  • @Mokke121

    @Mokke121

    2 ай бұрын

    Kurds are division -

  • @angrymonkeynoises

    @angrymonkeynoises

    2 ай бұрын

    There are more Zoroastrians in Kurdistan than Arabs in Khuzestan, that is certain@@Servantofkhuzestan

  • @efegokselkisioglu8218

    @efegokselkisioglu8218

    2 ай бұрын

    ​@@ServantofkhuzestanIt prob is.

  • @reginaldbauer5243
    @reginaldbauer52432 ай бұрын

    Some say that Mithra is not a god of light who wages war against darkness(personified by Angra-Mainyu, The Evil(Angry) Spirit), but the yazata of trust, credibility and contracts. The God, Eternal Source of Light, Truth and Good, is Ahura Mazda(can be translated as "The Master of Wisdom", or as "The God who named Wisdom"), or Spenta-Mainyu("Holy Spirit). Mithra is a guardian of all contract, as it is said in Mehr-yasht: "Don't break the contract with a person that is good and with the one that bad." In Zoroastrian religion there is a belief in hierarchy of yazatas(which influenced judeo-christian belief in angels a lot), who are the personifications of good personality traits, with God Himself on the top. Yazatas, and Ameshaspentas, the most important of yazatas, are emanations of Ahura Mazda, like candles, clamped from one fire. And for every yazata there is a symbolical association in physical world, for example, Kshatra Vairya, the Ameshaspenta of masculinity and will to order things, is associated with metals. And Mithra is associated with the Sun. But then look at the Rig Veda. Mitra (that is how it is spelled) is a divinity in Vedic religion. Mitra is seen as the god of light in the Rig Veda. Interestingly, the Gathas (as well as the Yasnas and Yashts) can be interpreted using Vedic Sanskrit, the language of the Vedas, as the Rig Veda is composed in a closely related language. Many words bear a close resemblance. Both religions refer to a sacred utterance or hymn as a Mantra (Rig Veda) or Matra (Avesta) and to a ritual drink as Soma (Rig Veda) or Haoma (Avesta). Both texts use almost the exact same terms for a member of a religious sodality (Aryaman in the Rig Veda and Airyaman in the Gathas), for sacrifice or worship (yajna in the Rig Veda and yasna in the Gathas), and for a fire priest (Atharvan in the Rig Veda and Athaurvan in the Gathas), fire being a sacred symbol in both religions. Fire - personified in the Avesta as Atar and in the Vedas as Agni - was greatly revered as a central object of ritual in both traditions. The Athaurvan or Athravan is highly important in the Zoroastrian religion as fire priests who attend to fire rites. The Athravan of the Avesta is said to be evolved from ‘Atar’, fire. Athravan means fire-guardian; the attendant of the sacred fire in Persian temples; the proper word for a priest in the Avesta. Indeed, speakers of both language subgroups used the same word to refer to themselves as a people: Vedic Sanskrit arya and Avestan/Old Persian ariya. Both words “a-ve-sta” (from the Old Persian abasta, meaning “the law”) and “ve-da” (insight, wisdom) are derived from the same root: “Vid” to know, to gain knowledge. This word “Vae-da” also appears at Yasna 28.10 and 31.2 as knowledge. Similarly the term “Avesta” is called “Upastha” in Vedic Sanskrit, meaning collection of mantras, or sacred utterances. The chief difference between the two lies in certain well-defined phonetic shifts rather than in basic grammar. It is, therefore, quite possible, by simple phonetic substitutions, to transliterate verses from the Gathas into intelligible Vedic Sanskrit. Both the Rig Veda and the Gathas make references to divine spirits/‘demons’. However, two very different interpretations can be given on the appearance of the terms asura in the Rig Veda and ahura in the Avesta and Gathas on the one hand and devas in the Rig Veda and daevas in the Avesta and Gathas. It is known as the Demons and Gods Riddle. In the Rig Veda the devas are worshipped as gods and the asuras are the demons, while in Zoroastrianism ahuras are the gods and daevas are the demons. The treatment of these deities is reversed. That is, whereas in Zoroastrianism the role of the ahuras was exalted in the personage of Ahura Mazda while the daevas were made into forces of evil, in Hinduism it is the asuras who would ultimately become doers of evil and foes of the gods/deities - the devas. The argument is that the root div, ‘to shine’, (from which came the word deva, ‘bright’ in Sanskrit) was lost in Zend, and the etymology was unable to preserve this meaning of div and instead assigned the word daeva to it, thus the meaning of div followed a degradation and the primitive meaning of div had been forgotten. The word deva/daeva was therefore given a new meaning by Zarathustra, i.e. ‘demon’ or personifications of vices, wrongs, and evils. The Iranians declared the Indian deities, Indra, Sarva/Sauru, and Nasatya/Naunghaithya, as well as Zauri and Tauru as the chief demons or daevas to be banished, along with the Nasu and Angra Mainyu himself (Vendidad 10.9-10, 19.43). Mithras was identified with the Greek sun god Helios when the Mithraic cult was introduced in the mid 1st century BCE by Antiochus I, who practiced astrology, of the Kingdom of Commagene. Mithra, the ancient spirit of light, became the god of truth and justice in Zoroastrianism and retained that character in the Hellenistic world and Roman Empire. Mithra had a character similar to Apollo, but while Hellenism, with a finer appreciation of beauty, developed the aesthetic qualities in Apollo, the Persians cared more for matters of conscience, emphasizing the moral character in Mithra, as a gaurantor of faith and protector of oaths and contracts. Now, the rapid spread of Mithraism occurred parallel with the century of crisis in Rome (3rd century CE). It is likely that the spread of Mithraism was commensurate with a need for discipline, loyalty, fidelity, obedience, devotion, and respect for authority from the Roman army and a need for administration of a vast empire by a sovereign. More likely, however, is that this century introduced a world of trouble and turmoil and Mithraism offered a consolation to people in a time when the Roman Empire seemed to be disintegrating. Nevertheless, Mithra, for the Persians, exalted absolute fidelity to one’s oath and was a cardinal virtue in the religion of a soldier, whose first act upon enlistment was to pledge obedience and devotion to the sovereign. For the Persians, Mithra embodied these qualities. Perhaps the Roman emperors accepted the spread of this cult among the Roman army in order to inspire a similar character and feeling in their soldiers. As different as the Persian and Roman ways of life were, both realized the necessity of discipline in the administration of a vast empire.

  • @arshiaarjomandi6279

    @arshiaarjomandi6279

    2 ай бұрын

    So many words

  • @CuriousMouseExploration
    @CuriousMouseExplorationАй бұрын

    Thank you for this. My inlaws from Iran have relatives that practice this religion, which is why I was interested in learning about it. My inlaws only practice "Persian" holidays like the Persian New Year. They have no religious affiliations, which made it rather easy for my sister in law to agree to raising the children Catholic as required. Her family is wonderful and, in many ways, resembles the Italian side of our family - family-oriented, loud and passionate, loves to over feed everyone, opinuated yet accepting, etc.

  • @noprosthesisforyoursoul
    @noprosthesisforyoursoul2 ай бұрын

    I’ve been waiting FOREVER for this one!!!!!!!!!🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 finally!!! Thank you so much for always doing such a great job and for always giving us the absolute best content that exists in the KZread space!!!!

  • @Artofdanieljoseph
    @Artofdanieljoseph2 ай бұрын

    Awesome video! I am a long time viewer, and I have been really fascinated by Zoroastrianism for a long time so it’s great to see an informative video like this.

  • @alice4703
    @alice47032 ай бұрын

    this was one of the best videos i've ever seen, i love how you articulate every idea and point so well but don't cut out every part where you hesitate between words or correct yourself to be more accurate. this felt like a fascinating class, thank you for that video and all of your other ones. i learned so much!!

  • @RhetoricalSyndicate
    @RhetoricalSyndicate2 ай бұрын

    Great video, glad to have found it live, paused it multiple times and finished it off a couple of hours later. Legendary

  • @messeuravril540
    @messeuravril5402 ай бұрын

    I've been reading into Zoroastrianism lately, getting through Skjaervo's 'Introduction to Zoroastrianism', and this video is very good, and about as comprehensive an overview as is possible in it's runtime. Props!

  • @S.J.L
    @S.J.L2 ай бұрын

    "Give me that old time religion ... we'll pray with Zarathustra, we'll pray just like we used to, I'm a Zarathustra boosta...and that's good enough for me..."

  • @phasematerialsresearch9319

    @phasematerialsresearch9319

    2 ай бұрын

    It’s ironic that Christian Hymn leads us to an older religion that Christianity largely borrowed from lol

  • @S.J.L

    @S.J.L

    2 ай бұрын

    @@phasematerialsresearch9319 It's from a satire of the old hymn by Pete Seeger but yeah, the really traditional people aren't Christians.

  • @sarfrazmh31

    @sarfrazmh31

    2 ай бұрын

    Zorastrians practised Incest: Brother-sister marriages which led to poor genetics and diseases causing dwindling Zorastrian populations all over the world.

  • @jeffmckinnon5842

    @jeffmckinnon5842

    2 ай бұрын

    @@phasematerialsresearch9319 Clearly, religions evolve around the adaptability of its leaders. It is the willingness to bend as other ideologies compete to gain influence, and finance. The keeper of the long flowing robe of authority is, and has always been a very Human goal of personal desire. To lead, has always required the skills of a politician, backed by the fullest of purses. That alone doesn't make it evil, but it does make "God" into an elected position. I would never want to be King

  • @sally9352

    @sally9352

    2 ай бұрын

    ​@phasematerialsresearch9319 Christina's didn't borrow from any religion. It comes from Judaism, and the only difference between Christians and Jews is Jesus.

  • @adorabellaperfecta3513
    @adorabellaperfecta35132 ай бұрын

    thank you. This covered so much that I never ever would have put together myself just from reading. This channel is a valuable source.

  • @IpsissimusPrime
    @IpsissimusPrime2 ай бұрын

    Filip. glad you've updated this and it is a long one! DEFINITELY A DOWNLOAD! Thank Goodness!

  • @eviltrickyspider5266
    @eviltrickyspider52662 ай бұрын

    I shared the last version you did on this topic when you did it! I shared this one as well. Good work thank you.

  • @peterchristiansen9695
    @peterchristiansen96952 ай бұрын

    As usual, you deliver the goods, Filip! You and your buddy Doc Sledge always do. This is a really, really good update to your original Zoroastrianism-vid. Tusen takk Filip!!! ☺️👍🏻

  • @big_slurp4603
    @big_slurp46032 ай бұрын

    The original What Is Zoroastrianism video is actually the first video of yours I watched and Ive been subscribed ever since

  • @Tom-sd9jb
    @Tom-sd9jb2 ай бұрын

    It is a blessing to be able to watch your videos at no charge. Thanks for making them available to us all and sharing your knowledge freely. This is a video I have wanted to see for ages!

  • @meneerw8295
    @meneerw82952 ай бұрын

    Great video, been waiting for more Zoroastrian content from you for a while :) i love that you did a "summary" in there aswell to go and look back to, you should include this more often! I hope you will make videos on Zurvanism and Mazdakism too like you said, and the Parsis, and hopefully other less "popular" religions and traditions too! Like you said in the beginning, the quality of the channel has increased greatly and i love it.

  • @MisterS.
    @MisterS.2 ай бұрын

    One of the most interesting religions, miraculously still alive today, the natural culture of Persia. Thanks for making this video!

  • @mmn8488

    @mmn8488

    2 ай бұрын

    Also many of Iranians, on paper are born moslems, but are Zoroasterians in their heart

  • @Monkeysfist221

    @Monkeysfist221

    2 ай бұрын

    I’m sure Muslims are salty that they couldn’t erase this religion, good. They’re ignorant people who can’t except the fact that there are multiple religions on earth!

  • @nightwhenjar

    @nightwhenjar

    2 ай бұрын

    True​@@mmn8488

  • @Thenoobestgirl

    @Thenoobestgirl

    2 ай бұрын

    I hope that one day the cancer of Islam recedes and Zoroasteranism returns in full force.

  • @donaldcarey114

    @donaldcarey114

    2 ай бұрын

    @@Thenoobestgirl Cancer only recedes when the body's immune system attacks it. The world's immune system seems to have HIV.

  • @shivnu
    @shivnu2 ай бұрын

    Can't wait to smoke a joint, grab a coffee, and watch this one. My deep interest in the Vedas, and comparative mythology, makes this one extremely appealing. Cheers, Filly!

  • @LilBeee85
    @LilBeee852 ай бұрын

    I'm so excited for this! Glad I have the day off ❤

  • @LocSupStar
    @LocSupStar2 ай бұрын

    Beautiful. Thank you. A lot was done subsequently to negate Zarathustra's teachings after he left, similar to Akhenaten. Nietzsche's "Thus Spoke Zarathustra" is a tragic example of this. This could also explain why the Hindi equivalents for"God" and "Demon" are flipped. Keep doing what you do. Peace.

  • @thepad4197
    @thepad41972 ай бұрын

    THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR WONDERFUL LOOK INSIDE ZOROASTRIANISM. THE EASE WITH WHICH YOU TEACH IS A JOY FOR ME TO SIT AND LISTEN. I'LL BE CHECKING INTO YOUR EARLIER DISCOURSE. I LOOK FORWARD TO MORE DISCUSSIONS FROM YOU. THANKS AGAIN.

  • @SatSingh-mm4gg
    @SatSingh-mm4gg2 ай бұрын

    You're my favorite religionist nerd

  • @nadil2631

    @nadil2631

    2 ай бұрын

    who others do you watch

  • @danielgadomski5129

    @danielgadomski5129

    2 ай бұрын

    ​@@nadil2631religion for breakfast is also great. If you're interested also in the occult and magic, try Esoterica

  • @drivinsouth651

    @drivinsouth651

    Ай бұрын

    @@nadil2631 Joseph Campbell

  • @NewportSolar
    @NewportSolar2 ай бұрын

    I appreciate the update to Zoroastrianism on your channel, but for what it’s worth, your first video was also excellent. I enjoy all your videos.

  • @ujwolshrestha8143
    @ujwolshrestha814327 күн бұрын

    Zoroastrians They are legendary for their philanthropy and social service mentality. One great example is Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital in Mumbai. Millions of cancer patients from entire south Asia come here for world class medical care at subsidized prices. Another praiseworthy quality of this community is modesty. They never flaunt their wealth overtly. Humble, hard working & honest , Zoroastrians have serenity & refined manners , even in moments of crisis. And of course, their quirky sense of humour. Unlike most Indians, they never mind if a joke is upon them . They like to laugh at themselves. No grudges with anyone. No wonder Zoroastrians are beloved by Marathis and Gujaratis. But they are disappearing fast because of low birth rates. Grace 🌹

  • @DefaultUser61
    @DefaultUser612 ай бұрын

    I like the idea of remaking old videos with more info. Also Zoroastrianism is fascinating, cheers!

  • @ethdow6817
    @ethdow68172 ай бұрын

    A joy to watch and such a fascinating topic. Also the accompanying music was inspiring!

  • @bubatamba3101
    @bubatamba3101Ай бұрын

    Thank you so much. You have just opened another chapter in my life.

  • @delmahill4753
    @delmahill47532 ай бұрын

    I really like how this video is more of you having a conversation and not just reading straight from a script. As I can see you add sentences and phrases as your speaking, because you hear that the addition is needed.

  • @MrSomethingElse
    @MrSomethingElse2 ай бұрын

    bro I have really enjoyed and learned from the way this channel has developed, you are a champ man, I have learned and been provoked to consider so many things I'd have ordinarily needed a student loan to be exposed to and I am grateful. This is Farrokh Bulsaras' familys religion huh? Fascinating, thanks man, good thoughts, good words and good deeds, indeed!

  • @Shah1m
    @Shah1m2 ай бұрын

    So one common misconception in Zoroastrianism is that there is a duality of Angra Mainyu against Ahura Mazda, however Angra Mainyu is not a presence rather an absence like the way someones shadow falls on a wall, angra mainyu/ahriman are not evil per say but rather the absence of good and the absence of knowledge (ignorance). There is only one god and that is Ahura Mazda, the amesha spentas are the 7 timeless emanations of Ahura Mazda and yazatas are divinities worthy of worship such as Mithra. In reference to the Achaemenid's being Zoroastrianism is conflicted and depends on which monarch from the Achaemenid, for example Cyrus The Great was NOT a Zoroastrian and this is evident from his horse sacrifice ritual which has a parallel in vedic religion called ashvamedha. The yasna ritual never contained animal sacrifice as this was one of the main reasons Zarathurshtra decided he needed to propagate an ethical faith. Also the yasna ritual has a parallel with the yajna ritual in the vedic religion. If you have any questions about Zoroastrianism I'd be more than happy to discuss with you, I love your content sir!

  • @ishubetterthanyou1582
    @ishubetterthanyou15822 ай бұрын

    I remember asking you to make a video on Zoroastrian/Vedic comparisons in one of your earliest videos, and this satisfies me. You're literally the best youtuber for religion and I'm so glad I've been following you since this was a new channel. I'll stick for the ride, and I hope you do a full in dept video like this on Sikkhism one day. Cheers and thank you again. ❤

  • @Amaling
    @Amaling2 ай бұрын

    This video got more views than registered followers of Zoroastrianism worldwide… Considering how unbelievably influential this religion is, and as someone Iranian myself, glad to see it being deservedly covered in a high-quality format!

  • @malamstafakhoshnaw6992
    @malamstafakhoshnaw69922 ай бұрын

    As a Kurd, of Media, of Ararat, of Diako, of Proto-Indian-European/Aryanic Iranic genealogy, of Zoroastrian origins, that pioneered monotheism theology which led to the peaceful and beautiful moral culture of Judeo-Christian civilization and its ethos, may Ahura Mazda bless all. i pray . Good thoughts, Good deeds, Good words.

  • @lambert801

    @lambert801

    2 ай бұрын

    Did you forget that it was this "beautiful" and "peaceful" religion of the Abrahamians that led to the downfall of Zoroastrianism?

  • @malamstafakhoshnaw6992

    @malamstafakhoshnaw6992

    2 ай бұрын

    @@lambert801 how so? can you please elaborate? Zoroastrianism, through monotheism, inspired the peaceful of the ‘Abrahamic’ beliefs.

  • @lambert801

    @lambert801

    2 ай бұрын

    @@malamstafakhoshnaw6992 Abrahamic religions are anything but peaceful. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all call for violence against members of other religions. You seriously need to look more into the history and beliefs of these Abrahamic religions. Look up "violent jihad" in Islam and the many verses in the Quran that call for violence against "infidels." Read about the Salem witch trials, the inquisition, the crusades, and the incredible brutality of them all. Read about what the Bible tells Christians do to women who have cheated on their husbands, or the slave that doesn't obey his master, or heretics, etc., etc. Read the extremely disgusting and disturbing things that Torah and Talmud have to say about Goyim (not-Jews). Calling these Abrahamic religions "peaceful" is truly ironic, since they were the inventors of religious violence.

  • @sereysothe.a

    @sereysothe.a

    2 ай бұрын

    judeo-christian civilization is beautiful and moral?? have you missed the last 1600 yrs or so years of history? so much savage brutality, slavery, and imperialism all across the world in the name and for the glory of christ by the way, you're not of any geneology. everyone in the middle east is mixed and kurds ESPECIALLY have been in the crossroads of every empire in the region's history. unless your family has literally never stepped foot outside of your village

  • @pakfa1157

    @pakfa1157

    2 ай бұрын

    meaning the one religion that toppled its only empire

  • @socialswine3656
    @socialswine36562 ай бұрын

    Love the old video so im very excited for this one!

  • @martinarreguy2984
    @martinarreguy29842 ай бұрын

    Always well spoken, deeply invested in what you present, and easy to understand! Thank you for all your time in your efforts to illuminate our existence as human beings. Excellent as ever....

  • @user-tk2qj5kt7h
    @user-tk2qj5kt7h2 ай бұрын

    as Zoroastrian practicing up to today, I do really appreciate you providing such precise and accurate it was incredibly on point.

  • @aryandixit229
    @aryandixit2292 ай бұрын

    As a Hindu, I am surprised how much my religion has in common with Zoroastrianism. This may explain why Zoroastrians were so successful in India. It is unfortunate that this beautiful religion is shrinking in numbers due to low birth rates. I would hope that it sees a revival soon.

  • @YuruCampSupermacy

    @YuruCampSupermacy

    2 ай бұрын

    It's not just low birth rates. Orthodox zoroastrians in India don't allow conversions so if a Parsi marries a non-Parsi they are not considered Parsi anymore, same goes for their children.

  • @sarfrazmh31

    @sarfrazmh31

    2 ай бұрын

    Vedic religion came from ancient Persia. Even the Gods are similar, caste system with 3 castes in Persia, but 4 castes in Hinduism, because the Conquered Dravidians became the Shudra slaves, etc Sanskrit language is ancient Avestan language. All Vedic religion, Panteon of Hindu Gods, teachings, came from Pre-Islamic Persian Conquerors, with input from Greek Panteon and Homer's tales . Ancient Pagan Persian conquerors who are Hinduism's leaders till this day.

  • @saitandale8482

    @saitandale8482

    2 ай бұрын

    Islam has 72 casts 😂​@@sarfrazmh31

  • @aryandixit229

    @aryandixit229

    2 ай бұрын

    @@sarfrazmh31 castes were based on occupation not Aryan/Dravidian. And Hinduism did not come from Persia. Its roots are deep in India and all the pilgrimage sites are in India. All the major texts like the Vedas and Gita were written in India.

  • @sarfrazmh31

    @sarfrazmh31

    2 ай бұрын

    ​@@aryandixit229 Madam, any Thakur, or Chaudhary or Jatt land lord who is a Dravidian , dark skinned flat nosed as written in Rig Veda?

  • @AbramelinWoW
    @AbramelinWoW2 ай бұрын

    A fascinating dive into Zoroastrianism! This video takes us on a deep journey through the history, core beliefs, and the undeniable influence Zoroastrianism has had on the world's major religions. It's intriguing to see how concepts like the battle between good and evil, the final judgment, and the savior figure have woven their way into other religions, showing just how interconnected our spiritual narratives truly are. The evolution of Zoroastrianism, from its glory days in the Persian empires to its current global diaspora, testifies to the enduring nature of faith. The migration of Zoroastrians to India, in particular, forming the Parsi community, is not just proof of the resilience and adaptability of this ancient faith but also of India's long-standing tradition of religious tolerance and pluralism. It is almost as if the shared Indo-Iranian heritage established a fundamental bond that has evolved, yet remained unbroken through the millennia. This video doesn't just teach us about Zoroastrianism; it invites us to ponder the connections and shared quests that unite different religious traditions. A brilliant reminder of how complex the mosaic of human belief and spirituality is!

  • @YuruCampSupermacy

    @YuruCampSupermacy

    2 ай бұрын

    Are you from India?

  • @newestflameneverdies

    @newestflameneverdies

    2 ай бұрын

    Zarathustranism is the very essence of Persian culture.

  • @chiragk7399

    @chiragk7399

    2 ай бұрын

    ​@@newestflameneverdies 😂😂. Nice cope! Celebrating Nawruz excluding the elements associated with Zoroastrianism is it's essence of Iranian Culture. 🙏

  • @newestflameneverdies

    @newestflameneverdies

    2 ай бұрын

    @@chiragk7399Yet another obsessed Hindu 😂 Cope some more.

  • @newestflameneverdies

    @newestflameneverdies

    2 ай бұрын

    @@chiragk7399Cope some more and learn how to properly phrase a sentence in English. 😂

  • @user-zm9gb9to2c
    @user-zm9gb9to2c29 күн бұрын

    Can you do a program to introduce the more ancient Confucianism in detail? Confucianism was once the most important religion in East Asian countries and the state religion of China. It also influenced Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Ryukyu, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Confucianism is still one of the six official religions in Indonesia.

  • @hussainalsaif8518
    @hussainalsaif85182 ай бұрын

    I’ve been waiting for a video like this for so long!

  • @stargatis
    @stargatis2 ай бұрын

    My son talked about Zoastrian beliefs when he was a toddler, specifically “flying over the world “ before he was born 🤷🏻‍♀️

  • @lambert801

    @lambert801

    2 ай бұрын

    Wow. That's interesting.

  • @johnlastname8752

    @johnlastname8752

    2 ай бұрын

    I mean, toddlers say a lot of weird stuff. Not that strange if one says something that matches an already existing belief.

  • @bmac_xxx207

    @bmac_xxx207

    2 ай бұрын

    Sounds like a dream

  • @bmac_xxx207

    @bmac_xxx207

    2 ай бұрын

    I’ve had dreams when I was 3-4 about flying

  • @Nozarks1

    @Nozarks1

    2 ай бұрын

    How interesting. Was he familiar with the word Zoroastrian, or did that come to him?

  • @shattered_lightsb8381
    @shattered_lightsb83812 ай бұрын

    The wide range of your videos is great, it led me to become a Perennialist. Would you consider doing a video covering “new age spirituality?” Or Sri Ramakrishna

  • @GizzyDillespee

    @GizzyDillespee

    2 ай бұрын

    I think that's a good idea for new age spirituality - cover 1 or 2 individual branches of that tree per episode, because there is such variation.

  • @pixelart0124
    @pixelart01242 ай бұрын

    Enjoyed every second of this entire video, and appreciated it deeply. Thank you for another video!

  • @SoriduSnakeu
    @SoriduSnakeu28 күн бұрын

    I love that Filip makes his own music. Keeps it relevant to the region. Love this channel.

  • @cluesagi
    @cluesagi2 ай бұрын

    This is among the best channels on all of KZread

  • @patrickirwin3662
    @patrickirwin36622 ай бұрын

    Impossible to praise this work enough. Consider me much further informed and inspired to research further. Mission accomplished. Those with means, please support this man, a gift to the human religious conversation.

  • @gbhaskar4703
    @gbhaskar47032 ай бұрын

    you have the gift of presenting the subject lucidly without taking a "i am the High Priest" chair.... wonderfully spent time watching

  • @ClementGreen
    @ClementGreen2 ай бұрын

    Fascinating! I want to watch the whole thing again. Beautiful produced as well.

  • @nowhereman6019
    @nowhereman60192 ай бұрын

    It would be really interesting to learn more about the religion which existed before Zoroastrianism and the Vedas, and how the seeming split between worship and demonization of Deva and Azurah happened. There definitely seems to be a connection to the Proto-Indo-European cultural group with the importance of cattle among other things.

  • @freddypowell7292
    @freddypowell72922 ай бұрын

    Awesome to see this group get something resembling the treatment they deserve, and I'm definitely looking forward to videos on the Zurvanites, Mazdakites and Parsis.

  • @arshiaarjomandi6279

    @arshiaarjomandi6279

    2 ай бұрын

    I wish we knew more about the Mazdakites. They sound like such an interesting religious movement.

  • @edward2175
    @edward21752 ай бұрын

    Epic lecture sir. Your delivery of so much detailed information , seemingly in real time, is commendable. I feel well nourished. Lovely graphics as usual. Thank you.

  • @malis61
    @malis612 ай бұрын

    Thank you for posting this. Religion is something that covers philisophy, theology, metaphysics, ethics, spirituality and the relationship between the Divine and humanity. My mentor and Professor of Religious Studies, Dr. Robert William Smith, was a world expert on Zoroastrianism and wrote the Encylcopedia Britannica's entries on Zoroastrianism, in the 1970s and early 1980s. He studied early texts, beliefs and practices of the religion. He saw it as the earliest montheistic religion, and that it shares much with the Vedic religion, as you have mentioned. Thank you again for posting.

  • @MysticMountainNebula
    @MysticMountainNebula2 ай бұрын

    I’ve been looking forward to this. I need to find a good audio recitation of the Gathas, preferably in both Avestan and English. Your channel is the reason I read the Qur’an, which has reignited my belief in God. Thank you for all that you do ❤

  • @shaneslr9123
    @shaneslr91232 ай бұрын

    Great job. 👍🏼. Such high-quality work. Beautiful pictures and scenes and great information with details. I think understanding Zoroastrianism can reveal a deeper understanding of the history of many religions. Its connections with both Indo-European and semetic religious cultures are very clear.

  • @newestflameneverdies

    @newestflameneverdies

    2 ай бұрын

    It influenced them.

  • @olgadelmolino8711
    @olgadelmolino87112 ай бұрын

    This is one of my preferred topics. Please, do as many videos about it as you feel like. ❤❤❤

  • @matthewcarter6502
    @matthewcarter6502Ай бұрын

    This was such a beautiful video, Filip! I looked forward to it from whenever I first saw you mentioned, and it was even better than I imagined it being (I watched it on the day it came out, it's just taken me this long). Wonderful job. I've been interested in Zoroastrianism for decades, and I still learned so much from this video. And I loved and agreed with all of the nuance that you gave everything. I'm a linguist, so one thing that's confusing (not that Filip explained it in a confusing way, just that the facts are confusing) is the linguistic situation. So Persian (Farsi, Dari, Tajik) we can think of as one language going all the way back (now the dialects are diverse enough that it's clearly multiple languages, but still, it's all Persian). Now we have new Persian (and a lot of closely related languages), that emerges as a new literary language, written in the Perso-Arabic script. At the time of the conquest, the language was Middle Persian, which was the literary language of the Sassanid Era. Before that, during the Achaemenid Era, we had Old Persian. Old Persian and Avestan are both referred to as "Old Iranian languages", and they were very similar, but they're actually from different corners of the family - Persian comes from Pars, later Fars, in the southwest ('Persia' from Greek 'Parsia', from 'Pars'), whereas Avestan is an Eastern Iranian language, so it's actually more closely related to modern Pashtun and the Parimiri languages, spoken in the Pamir mountains in Tajikistan (and also Ossetian, spoken in the Caucasus, which comes from one of the languages of the Scythians, who also spoke Iranian languages.).

  • @roseannemain9957
    @roseannemain99572 ай бұрын

    When I first learned about Zoroastrianism it seemed perfectly clear that Judaism, and Christianity had evolved from this or heavily borrowed from it as well as other faiths. Could not really understand why people thought Christianity had so much to offer. Still can't really get behind any religion. Find them all too human. If we have a devine creative force that made everything why would there be such emphasis on just one tiny part of it that does nothing but exploit and destroy it? Really enjoyed listening to the explanations and discussion. I will listen again, try and get more to stick. Thank you xx

  • @whatsup-bw5vd

    @whatsup-bw5vd

    2 ай бұрын

    The abrahamic religions didn't so much evolve from zoroastrianism as much as they stole away the knowledge and built structures of hierarchy and power over the people ...,imo

  • @tatumfanclub8295

    @tatumfanclub8295

    7 күн бұрын

    You sound Jealous that people found something

  • @FrithonaHrududu02127
    @FrithonaHrududu021272 ай бұрын

    Ive always been fascinated with Zoroastrianism for some reason, and ive never really known why.

  • @aryandixit229

    @aryandixit229

    2 ай бұрын

    I have too. It is a really interesting religion.

  • @bleighhh

    @bleighhh

    2 ай бұрын

    It has a cool name

  • @FrithonaHrududu02127

    @FrithonaHrududu02127

    2 ай бұрын

    @@aryandixit229 another group that fascinates me are the yarsanis and Yezidis. I love the name of their main , God I guess, The Peacock Angel. Who is kinda sorta the devil. But not really.

  • @FrithonaHrududu02127

    @FrithonaHrududu02127

    2 ай бұрын

    @@bleighhh I agree. Kinda rolls off the tongue.

  • @FrithonaHrududu02127

    @FrithonaHrududu02127

    2 ай бұрын

    @@aryandixit229 so because of pesticides a lot of the vultures in India have died, so in recent years there's been a build up of rotting corpses on the Parsi "Towers of Silence" in India. They don't bury or burn bodies so they rely on birds and putrefaction to eliminate the bodies. But without the vultures there's a problem.

  • @whatsup-bw5vd
    @whatsup-bw5vd2 ай бұрын

    Thank you so much ,extremely well organized and thoughtful presentation 😊

  • @hababalmahi5684
    @hababalmahi56842 ай бұрын

    This is a master-class! I will come back to this after just listening to absorb the information to take actual notes! Bravo, sir!

  • @runciblespoon925
    @runciblespoon9252 ай бұрын

    One of the things I really like about your presentation of religion in general is that you bring a boundless sense of "it's this fascinating!" to it all. I am not a believer myself, so I can't speak from that perspective, but you always seem to treat your subjects with respect and enjoyment. As to this video itself, I have long been fascinated by Zoroastrianism and it was great to have a long-form dive into some of its features and history. With respect to that, you mentioned the influence of Zoroastrianism on the Abrahamic religions, which is often discussed, but rightly mention the other direction as well. Do you have any good material that discusses that? It would be fascinating to follow up on.

  • @fanzy1338

    @fanzy1338

    2 ай бұрын

    Abrahamic religions can’t have any influence on Zoroastrianism because they came centuries later.

  • @phlezktravels
    @phlezktravels2 ай бұрын

    I think you already covered this but I'm down to re-watch.

  • @lambert801

    @lambert801

    2 ай бұрын

    It's a remake of the original since he didn't cover nearly as much as he could have.

  • @RehaanUsingThis
    @RehaanUsingThis2 ай бұрын

    Thanks for making this video, I have been thinking about reading the basic teachings and history of Zoroastrianism and you dropped this video. Again thankyou and keep making videos like this :)

  • @themule9474
    @themule94742 ай бұрын

    I find two aspects to Zoroastrianism to be of enormous import in today's world. One: the Cult of Mithras, which has origins ostensibly during the Roman Empire, and whose tentacles thrive in the Secret Societies that run our world today. Hundreds of Secret underground Mithraeum have been discovered throughout the Eurasian continent. Canadian scholar Matthew Ehret has of late been exploring this significance. Hellfire Club, anyone? Two: Zoroastrianism appears to have originated the concept of the Ahriman, which Rudolf Steiner had explored extensively. I believe the transhumanist digitization of humanity we are seeing today resonates closely with this concept. Think Star Trek's The Borg. Still, the mantra "Good thoughts... good words... good deeds" evokes a multiplicity of meanings and permutations beyond first blush. Recent conversations about quantum entanglement , the observer effect, and intention created reality come to mind. Do we inhabit a shared consciously projected creation?