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What does Zoroastrianism teach us about ecology?
The first ecologists
Zoroastrianism claims to be the world’s oldest revealed religion and also the world’s first proponent of ecology, through caring for the elements and the earth.
The Zoroastrian faith enjoins the caring of the physical world not merely to seek spiritual salvation. Human beings, as the purposeful creation of God, are seen as the natural motivators or overseers of the Seven Creations. As the only conscious creation, it is humanity’s ultimate task to care for the universe.
The faith endorses the caring of Seven Creations (sky, water, earth, plant, animal, human and fire), as part of a symbiotic relationship. Zoroastrianism sees the physical world as a natural matrix of Seven Creations in which life and growth are inter-dependent if harmony and perfection is to be the final goal.
Purity
The sacredness of the creations demands a greater awareness on the part of Zoroastrians, for at the end of time humanity must give to Ahura Mazda a world in its original perfect state. As an example of their concern, it is a tradition that Zoroastrians never enter a river, to wash in it or pollute it in any way. Purity of nature in their tradition is seen as the greatest good.
The Crisis
Zoroastrians in India remembered their traditional story of how, once upon a time, Mother Earth was in trouble. She asked God – Ahura Mazda – if He could send her a prince, with warriors, to stop the people from hurting her, using force. But Ahura Mazda said he could not. Instead he would send Her a holy man, to stop the people from hurting her, using words and inspirational ideas. And thus was born the prophet, Zoroaster.
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South China Morning Post, 29 July 2003:
Church heads can help environment: Prince Philip
In a recent interview, Prince Philip said religious leaders had an important role to play in educating the masses about environmental protection. |
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Zoroastrian Faith Statement
A formal statement of Zoroastrian beliefs about ecology: “Whoever teaches care for all these seven creations, does well and
pleases the Bounteous Immortals."
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