Blog Post 22 - Ancient Western Religions

Kiaya Nickens

Mr. Sanchez

Christian in the World – p.8

March 14, 2013

Blog Post 22 - Ancient Western Religions

 

1. When and where did Zoroastrianism begin to flourish?

Zoroastrianism began to flourish throughout Iran  during the Persian Empire, which occurred during the 5^th and 4^th centuries.

 

2. How did Zoroastrianism spread beyond its place of origin?

Alexander the Great conquered Persia which resulted in the culture of Zoroastrianism to spread among Persia and other countries.

 

3. Briefly describe the religious experience Zarathustra had at age 30.

Zarathustra at the age of thirty years old came in contact with an angel called Good Thought, Good Thought brought him a soul called Ahura Mazda. From that point on Zarathustra recognized Ahura Mazda as the only true God.

 

4. Name the sacred text of Zoroastrianism. What is the oldest material in this text, and who wrote it?

Avesta is the sacred text of Zoroastrianism. The oldest material within the Avesta is the Gathas. Zarathustra wrote the Gathas.

 

5. Summarize the characteristics and actions associated with the Ahura Mazda.

The Ahura Mazda is characterized as eternal and universal goodness. The Ahura Mazda controls all cosmos and the destiny of all human beings, the Ahura Mazda is the father of the pathway of the sun. “By whom the moos waxes and wanes”, is how Zarathustra characterized the Ahura Mazda.

 

6.  What is Ethical Dualism?

Ethical Dualism is the belief in universal forces of good and evil. In Zoroastrianism, Ethical Dualism is the most distinctive feature.

 

7.  What is the LIE, and how does is relate to the Ahura Mazda?

The LIE is a belief that evil really exists, and that the LIE is really present in the world. This challenges monotheism of the Ahura Mazda. If an evil force really is this powerful to be among us than the Ahura Mazda may not really exist.

 

8. What must humans choose between in the Zoroastrianism comic scheme?

Humans much choose between truth and the LIE, which is the beneficent of the spirit and the hostile spirit.

 

9. Summarize Zarathustra’s understanding of human destiny.

Zarathustra’s understanding of human destiny is that after death individuals undergo Judgement. Which requires a crossing the Bridge Separator, which starts out as torment then leads to paradise.

10. Where are the general ethical demands of traditional Zoroastrianism life?

The general demands are caring for the livestock and fields. Generally one is to lead a simple life of always telling the truth and doing what is right.  Great care should be taken to avoid evil and the LIE.

 

11. Who are the Parsis’, and where do most of them live today?

The Parsis’ are the modern Zoroastrianism practices, most of them reside in India in today’s world.

 

12. What are commonly regarded as having been the Bible of the ancient Greeks?

The epic poems of Homer entitled Illiad and Odyssey are the books that were regarded as the Bible of the ancient Greeks.

 

13. Explain the meaning of this sentence: The Gods of the Olympian pantheon  are anthropomorphic?

The meaning of this sentence means that the gods of the Olympian pantheon have or are in human form and human characteristics.

 

14. What was Aeschylus’ main contribution to the understanding of the gods of the Olympian pantheon? Give an example.

Aeschylus’ contributed to the new ideas of Homeric religion. He became concerned particularly with the idea of Divine justice.  The play Agamemnom explain humans suffering as the divine plan of Zeus.

 

15. What is an oracle? What is the most famous oracle of ancient Greece, and why was it consulted?

An oracle was a sanctuary favored by a particular god, which was communicated by those who visited the site of the god. The most famous oracle was Delphi, Delphi was consulted because his wisdom was sought out.

 

16. Briefly identify the three basic aspects of the mystery religions:

- Individuals had to choose to become initiates, and they went through some form of initiation ritual .

- Initiates experienced a personal encounter with the deity.

- Initiates gained spiritual renewal through participation in the religion and, as with most mystery religions, hope for a better afterlife.

 

17. What mystery religion honored Demeter and Persephone?

The mystery religion of Eleusion (religion par excellence) honored Demeter as well as his daughter Persephone.

18. What is the god Dionysus associated with , and how is he often depicted as in Greek art?

Dionysus is classified as the god of fertility. Dionysus is often depicted through Greek art with grapes and vines. Dionysus often appeared in art of wild vegetation of hills and mountains.

 

19. Name the goal of the ascetic practices of the Orphics.

The goals of the ascetic practices on the Orhics was that the soul might eventually escape the body and realize the divinity of Dionysus nature.

 

20. What is Plato’s theory of knowledge?

Plato’s theory of knowledge is that we have knowledge of things because we have had that experience in a previous life.

 

21. What is Platonic Dualism?

Platonic Dualism is the connection between the mind and the body, in which both become one.

 

22. Why did Jesus seem to have much in common with the ancient Asclepius?

Jesus seemed to have much in common with the ancient inhabit because both were referred to as Saviors and the closeness of the worshippers and Asclepius which resembles the relationship between Christians and Christ.

 

23. What were numina, and what sorts of things were they thought to inhabit?

Numina are supernatural powers. These powers were thought to populate homes, towns, and the countryside.

 

24. Who was the most powerful Roman deity?

The most powerful Romans deity was Jupiter, the sky god.

25. Identify the 6 planets of our solar system that are named after Roman deities.

The 6 planets that are named after our solar system are the following: Jupiter, Venus, Mars, Neptune, Mercury, and Saturn.

 

26. Why did the Roman state consider it essential to maintain official worship practice?

It was believed to help ensure the welfare of the Roman state.

 

27. Which mystery religions were the main rivals of Christianity in the later Roman Empire?

The mystery religion that was the main rival with Christianity in the later Roman Empire was the Mithraism mystery religion.

 

28. Briefly summarize the Egyptian  myth of Iris and Osiris.

The Egyptian myth of Iris and Osiris was that Osiris (Iris’ husband) was killed and cut into pieces by Iris’ evil brother. Iris looked for Osiris’ body parts, and when she found them she mummified his body parts and that brought him back to life. And when Osiris came back to life he became the god of the underworld.

 

29.  Briefly describe the sort of emperor worship encouraged by Augustus.

The type of emperor worship that was encouraged by Augustus was not on himself but on the genius guardian spirit that he designed.

30.  Why did Christians and Roman rulers clash over emperor worship?

The Christians and the Romans clashed over emperor worship because Romans believed that Christians did not support the state by not worshipping the emperor, and Christians did not worship the emperor because that would go against their entire belief of only worshipping the one true God.