The Neo-Zoroastrian PathThis is the path of realising the importance of Zoroaster in the development of our civilization, and how he still has a relevance to us today.It involves engaging with his teachings and the scriptures which embody them. He taught that the ongoing battle of Good and Evil is the most important thing for us to pay attention to, and that to achieve the good existence we need to play our part as an active warrior on the side of the good. Zoroaster explained the nature of this cosmic battle in rational philosophical terms rather than in superstitious stories, but married it to religious language which gave it more power to energize people than a dry philosophical text. His rational way of thinking may have been the spark which started the Axial Age , or First Enlightenment in recorded history, which led to a wave of rational thinking in the world - in the West in Greece, in the South in India and in the East in China. The influence of his ideas on the pre-existing Iranian religion of his time brought about the traditional Zoroastrian religion known as Mazdayasna - the worship of the Wise One . This had a big influence on the development of later religions especially Christianity, Islam and Mahayana. Today in Europe, though, there has been a failure of good religion. The traditional Christianity is found unappealing to many who have no suitable replacement to guide them in good values and good behaviour . Also many of those claiming to be Christians seem to have lost their way, and don't self-evidently form a strong enough force for good that they can save society from its downward spiral. Thus we say we need a radical refreshing of our moral philosophy and religion. To do that we need to start back at the religious beginnings of our culture , which was our original pagan religion coming into contact with the teachings of Zoroaster. From these foundations we can start to re-build a new teaching to re-birth our civilization. ZartianismZartianism or neo-Zoroastrianism is a particular project that attempts to provide the outline of a way forward. Zartianism is currently only an idea, as sketched out on this website, and perhaps some of those ideas will not past the test of history. However we hope it provides inspiration that will lead to something worthwhile.Panta ZartianaThis is the main path of orientating ourselves as Zartian Agathists and promoting this to others.Secondarily it is about engaging in one or more of several subsidiary paths which strengthen our ability to be a force for good in the world. We don't expect people to follow all the paths at once. At the time of writing the subsidiary paths we promote are the: Panta Palaia - the 'Old Path' of Traditional Zoroastrianism. We study the scriptures and other manifestations of the zoroastrian tradition and seek to model our religious practice in alignment with them. Panta Mitrayasna - Worship of Mithras which may involve creating and engaging in small Mithraic societies ("brotherhoods") usually revolving around a common ritual practice. Panta Kristiana - Zorochristian Path, creating and engaging in the life of a 'gnostic' christian church. Panta Andria is the path of developing courage and steadfastness in meeting challenging situations. Panta Sophika - study of the writings and teachings of seven great philosophers including Zoroaster, Plato and Aristotle. Panta Sophista - the 'sophistication of the mind' . This might include making us more able to see how the world works, and of how our own mind works. It may include making us more sensitive to beauty, harmony and good order. As a starting point we go to the teachings of the Tetramagi: Zartus, Gotama, Socrates and Jesus. However there are various schools that are suitable for the Panta Sophista. They are not specific to Zartianism but drawn from world traditions, most typically from the Stoic, Buddhist or Sufi traditions. Panta Sociala - Social Agathist Path - is about educating ourselves on the workings of society and taking action towards creating and improving social activity. July/Aug 4026 ZHE |