Experience life with
a new perspective.
Seek for truth
before you believe.
Open yourself to
new possibilities.
Renew yourself with
a fresh vision.
Strengthen your mind
with constructive thoughts.
Empower others through
positive words.
Enrich your community
by sustainable charity.
Message of the Day
Who We Are
Zarathushtrian Assembly was founded by a group of visionary Zoroastrians in 1990 to create a progressive platform for people of all backgrounds, regardless of current religious belief, world view, national origin, ethnicity, or personal interpretation of Zoroastrianism, to study the philosophy and teachings of Zoroaster (Zarathushtra), as taught in the Gathas (his thought-provoking mantras).
Back to the future
Back to the future
The teachings of Zarathushtra are perhaps among the very few belief systems in human history, where its older more fundamental form is non-prescriptive
Our Mission Statement
Do you desire to learn the teachings of
Zarathushtra as taught in his Gathas?
Donations
We welcome donations, which help us with our operational costs and assist in expanding our programs.
FAQs
Is Zoroastrianism a religion or a philosophy to live by?
Zoroaster (Zarathushtra), the ancient Iranian Prophet and teacher, proclaimed his message in late antiquity to teach humanity to transition from magical thinking to critical thinking and to accept responsibility for all actions in life without emotional dependence on a prescriptive belief system. Furthermore, he discouraged the notion of blind faith. However, over the past few thousand years, the fusion of the philosophical teachings of Zarathushtra with the cultural and ceremonial practices of the various Iranian peoples gave rise to the organized religion we know as Zoroastrianism today.
Does Zoroastrianism forbid “conversion”?
No. Zoroastrianism started as a missionary belief system and remains a universal message for all humanity, but historically majority of Parsis (Indian Zoroastrians) have discouraged proselytizing, inter-marriage with non-Zoroastrians, and accepting converts from other religions to retain their ethnic identity in the social context of the Indian sub-continent. In Iran, the theocratic government of the Islamic Republic forbids Muslims to “abandon” Islam based on the Sharia Law of apostasy, so the Zoroastrians of Iran have been forced to discourage Iranian citizens inside that country from reclaiming their pre-Islamic heritage.
Do I need to be a Zoroastrian to become a member of the Zarathushtrian Assembly?
No. The Zarathushtrian Assembly welcomes people of all religious backgrounds to participate in our activities and join as a member. We are happy to discuss and share the ethical philosophy of Zarathushtra with all who are interested.
Is Zoroastrianism a dualistic religion (believing in two opposing deities of Good and Evil)?
Zarathushtra’s original teachings only refer to one creator/life-force, namely Ahura Mazda (alternately, Mazda Ahura), the Wise Lord or Wise Bestower of Life. The only opposing forces are the abstract concepts of Angra Mainyu (destructive mentality) versus Spenta Mainyu (constructive mentality) that reside inside each person, who is faced with choices in life that lead to the respective consequences of one’s decisions. Angra Mainyu (Ahriman, in Middle Persian) was later interpreted by some later Zoroastrians as a literal embodiment of evil or the ‘devil’, which was dubbed as “Satan” in Abrahamic religions.