Proof by LORD Almighty GOD: non-christians berserking over the implications of 1 Cor 12:3

> http://groups.google.com/group/sci.med.cardiology/msg/bf3a310935993ed4?
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> http://groups.google.com/group/sci.med.cardiology/msg/43acbc5ea248ceee?

Your bible is a copy.

History/Founder: Founded in Persia around 1200-1600 BC by the prophet Zoroaster
(Zarathustra), Zoroastrianism is the world's oldest continuing monotheistic
religion. Some scholars believe that Zoroastrian doctrines - those of heaven and
hell, the struggle of good versus evil, and a redeeming messiah- have deeply
influenced the Jewish and Christian religions.

Current leader/governing body: The leaders of the Zoroastrian hierarchy in
Bombay, India, are the current decision making body.

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Number of Adherents: Only a few hundred thousand Zoroastrian believers are left,
and the majority live in India and Iran. [note: at this time, census numbers
reflect a decline in hte Parsi population so severe that less than eighty
thousand believers may remain.]
Clergy: Priests, who officiate temple worship and other common rites.

Requirements to join: How one becomes a Zoroastrian is an ongoing controversy.
According to the prevailing view, one must be born into the faith, of a
Zoroastrian father- converts are unacceptable. However, due to dwindling numbers
of faithful, some believe that converts should be admitted. The survival of the
religion may depend on it.

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Church/temple: Zoroastrians worship and share communion in a temple, often
referred to as a "fire temple," where an eternal fire burns continuously.
Scripture: The main Zoroastrian Holy Scriptures are called the Avestas, written
in an ancient text (Avestan) that is similar to Sanskrit. A portion of the
Avestas known as the Gathas, consist of hymns written by Zoroaster. Religious
law is contained in another text, the Vendidad. Many of the original texts are
missing.

Required observances, dietary restrictions: Five daily prayers, preceded by
ablutions, are required of every believer above the age of seven. A sacred cord,
or kushti, is retied around the waist with each prayer. Physical cleanliness is
important. An initiation ceremony similar to the Jewish Bar/Bat mitzvah, called
a Navjot, is performed when a believer comes of age. Zoroastrian dead are not
buried, but placed in the open air in structures called "towers of silence," to
be devoured by vultures.

Code of conduct: The last book of the Avestas, the Vendidad, contains
Zoroastrian civil and religious law. The Vendidad is complex, and covers
subjects as diverse as the way prayers are to be recited to the treatment of
pets and livestock. The Jewish book of law, Leviticus, contains many
similarities to the Vendidad, and was likely based on it.

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Basic teachings and Beliefs of Zoroastrianism: Zoroastrianism is one of two
remaining dualist religions (the other being the Manicheans). At the center of
Zoroastrian belief is a duality of conflicting forces- Ahura-Mazda (Ormahzd),
the supreme entity and the force of good, versus Ahriman, the force of evil and
darkness. These forces are locked in a constant struggle, but good, as always,
is expected to prevail.
Zoroastrians believe that time is divided into three ages, those of creation,
the current era of mixed good and evil, and the coming era, when Ahura-Mazda
will triumph, evildoers will be punished, and the good will go to heaven. It is
an apocalyptic religion, like Christianity. However, unlike most Christian views
of hell, Zoroastrians believe it to be a temporary abode, where sinners are
cleansed by fire. (much like the Catholic concept of purgatory.)

Ahurah-Mazda is worshipped through a sacred fire, which is said to contain his
presence. (leading some scholars to the conclusion that Moses of the Old
Testament was Zoroastrian). The impending appearance of the Sayoshant, or
savior, is expected to usher in the final judgement of man, resurrect the
faithful, and defeat evil for eternity. This savior is expected of the line of
Zoroaster, and to be born of a virgin.

Holidays: Zoroastrian holidays include No Ruz (literally, new day), or the New
Year, celebrated at the Spring Equinox, and Farvardigan, or ten days of the
dead, honoring and remembering Zoroastrians of the past, and Khordad Sal,
Zoroaster's birthday.

Symbols: A living flame, symbolizing the manifested presence of God, and the
Farohar (Fravashi, Farahvahar), an emblem of the faith:

Myths and misconceptions: The most usual misconception is that Zoroastrians are
fire-worshippers; they are not. In zoroastrian worship, fire is simply a symbol
of the manifested power of Ahura-mazda.

Famous Zoroastrians: Musician Eddie Mercury