زرتشتیگری — نخستین دین توحیدی جهان از ایران باستان
Zoroastrianism, founded by the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathustra) in ancient Iran between 1500 and 500 BC, is widely considered the world's first truly monotheistic religion. Its central teaching: the universe is an eternal struggle between Ahura Mazda (Wise Lord, ultimate good) and Angra Mainyu (Destructive Spirit, ultimate evil). Humans choose their side through good thoughts, good words, and good deeds (Humata, Hukhta, Hvarshta).
Zoroastrianism's theological innovations — one supreme deity, a cosmic struggle between good and evil, judgment of souls after death, heaven and hell, a final apocalyptic battle, and eventual renovation of the world (Frashokereti) — profoundly influenced the Abrahamic religions. Jewish theology after the Babylonian Exile shows clear Zoroastrian influence, transmitted to Christianity and Islam.
The Achaemenid Persian kings were Zoroastrians, and their inscriptions invoke Ahura Mazda. The religion became a Sassanid state religion. After the Arab conquest, most Iranians converted to Islam, but Zoroastrian communities (Parsis) preserved the faith in Iran and India. Today, 100,000-200,000 Zoroastrians remain worldwide, with Yazd, Iran serving as the tradition's heartland.
Zoroastrianism contributed: monotheism, the concept of a cosmic struggle between good and evil (God vs Satan), heaven and hell, judgment after death, resurrection of the dead, and an apocalyptic end-time — all of which profoundly influenced Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Yes — approximately 100,000-200,000 Zoroastrians exist worldwide: the Parsis of India (who fled the Arab conquest in the 7th-10th centuries), Iranian Zoroastrians (centered in Yazd), and diaspora communities. Yazd, Iran hosts the oldest continuously burning sacred fire.