The Teachings of the Magi: A Compendium of Zoroastrian Beliefs"The Teachings of the Magi" is an introduction to the main tenets of Zoroastrianism -- the religion founded by Zoroaster or Zarathustra, the Prophet of Ancient Iran -- a potent force for more than a thousand years. Such fundamental subjects as the nature of God and the Devil, the genesis of the universe, the reasons for its manifest imperfection, man's situation within it, and the purpose of religion are presented largely in the words of the Zoroastrian texts themselves. The author's aim is to demonstrate the essential reasonableness of Zoroastrian dualism -- the dualism of a good and an evil spirit -- to show what this means in everyday life and how it is philosophically justified. He discusses teachings on cosmology, the relation of man to God, sacraments and sacrifice, ethics, the soul's fate at death, and eschatology. -- From publisher's description. |
Contents
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS | 10 |
A Catechism | 17 |
The Two Primeval Spirits and Creation | 29 |
Copyright | |
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Other editions - View all
The Teachings of the Magi: A Compendium of Zoroastrian Beliefs R. C. ZAEHNER No preview available - 2021 |
The Teachings of the Magi: A Compendium of Zoroastrian Beliefs R. C. Zaehner No preview available - 2023 |
Common terms and phrases
¹Reading 2Reading actions Adhurbadh Aggressor Ahriman Ahunvar Amahraspands Angra Mainyu animal sacrifice Anklesaria astrian attack Avesta battle Bull Bundahishn chapter Christian committed concupiscence created creation of Ohrmazd daēva damned darkness death demon Whore Denkart destroy Destructive Spirit dignity doctrine drinking dualism earth eating enemy eternal evil deeds excess and deficiency exist false religion fashioned father Final Body final Rehabilitation finite fire Fravahr Gayōmart gods Haoma Heaven Hell holiness human immortality infinite Innate Wisdom judgement khwarr knowledge lest man's Manichaeanism Mashye and Mashyānē material creation material world Mean Mēnōk i Khrat Middle Persian Mithra omniscience orthodox Pahlavi books penance plants principle punishment Religion repent Resurrection righteousness rite ruinous heresy Sassanian saved seed sins smite snare Sōshyans soul Spandarmat substance suffer thee things thou didst thoughts tion Vahuman varan virtue wise words worshippers of Ohrmazd Yashts yasna Zervanite Zoro Zoroaster Zoroastrian Zurvan