Psalm of Zoroaster
excerpt from the Avesta
ready by Cynthia Moyer
www.librivox.org
video by Bill Schaeffer
copyright(c)2015
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"Shall deliver Satan, Druze, into the hand to righteousness..."
It is curious to note that Satan (Lucifer, the Devil) first makes his appearance [on Earth] in the religion of Zoroasterism and then the concept of Satan migrated to Judiasm; and on to Christianity and Islam as a demi-god of ever increasing power and influence.
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Zoroasterism was the State Religion of Persia before Islam.
Zoroaster is reputed to have lived around 1000 BC and the Avesta, or Zend Avesta, (Holy Scriptures) are attributed to him. Most of the Avesta has been lost, but fragments remain.
The three wise men in the Christmas story were followers of Zoroaster. It is Zoroasterism that gave the concept of an eternal struggle between good and evil to Christianity along with the idea of a final judgement and the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.
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Zoroaster, who is also know as Zarathustra, was also the subject of the famous philosophical novel by Friedrich Nietzsche, called "Thus Spake Zarathustra"
Richard Strauss wrote symphonic music called "Thus Spake Zarathrustra" that was inspired by, and a tribute to, the novel by Nietzsche. Later, film director Stanley Kubric used the music as a theme for the transition of Ape to Man in the film "2001 Space Odyssey"
I like the philosopher Nietzsche because his last name has FIVE consonant letters in a row; AND they are in the middle of the name. What other words in English have FIVE consonant letters in a row; much less in the middle of the word? Amazing.
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Ahura Mazda, or Mazda, is the name of the Most high God of Righteousness. His character and importance is analogous to Jehovah in the Christian Bible Old Testament. The character of Zoroaster is similar to Moses as the divine lawgiver and author of sacred texts, although the particulars of their respective stories are quite different.
The similarity of the name Ahura Mazda, to the Japanese automobile manufacturer, "Mazda" is purely coincidental.
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In Zoroasterism, the tree and "tree food" is held in special regard as more "holy" than other plants and other types of food. Eating "tree food" is taught to be especially healthy, or spiritual.
Zoroasterism advocates a healthy lifestyle and exercise as a spiritual duty for a spiritually pure life.
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I find it astounding that the demi-god named "Satan" is introduced in this text which was written perhaps before Genesis was written.
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