Zoroastrianism, or more natively Mazdayasna, is one of the world's oldest extant religions, "combining a cosmogonic dualism and eschatological monotheism in a manner unique [...] among the major religions of the world". Ascribed to the teachings of the Iranian prophet Zoroaster (or Zarathustra), it exalts a deity of wisdom, Ahura Mazda ("Wise Lord"), as its Supreme Being. Major features of Zoroastrianism, such as messianism, heaven and hell, and free will have, some believe, influenced other religious systems, including Second Temple Judaism, Gnosticism, Christianity, and Islam. 

With possible roots dating back to the second millennium BCE, Zoroastrianism enters recorded history in the 5th-century BCE, and along with a Mithraic Median prototype and a Zurvanist Sassanid successor it served as the state religion of the pre-Islamic Iranian empires from around 600 BCE to 650 CE. Zoroastrianism was suppressed from the 7th century onwards following the Muslim conquest of Persia of 633–654. Recent estimates place the current number of Zoroastrians at around 190000, with most living in India and in Iran and their number is declining. Besides the Zoroastrian diaspora, the older Mithraic faith Yazdânism is still practised amongst Kurds. 

The most important texts of the religion are those of the Avesta, which includes the writings of Zoroaster known as the Gathas, enigmatic poems that define the religion's precepts, and the Yasna, the scripture. The full name by which Zoroaster addressed the deity is: Ahura, The Lord Creator, and Mazda, Supremely Wise. The religious philosophy of Zoroaster divided the early Iranian gods of Proto-Indo-Iranian tradition, but focused on responsibility, and did not create a devil per-se. Zoroaster proclaimed that there is only one God, the singularly creative and sustaining force of the Universe, and that human beings are given a right of choice, and because of cause and effect are also responsible for the consequences of their choices. The contesting force to Ahura Mazda was called Angra Mainyu, or angry spirit. Post-Zoroastrian scripture introduced the concept of Ahriman, the Devil, which was effectively a personification of Angra Mainyu. QUESTIONS:

Q1:
1. What is Zoroastrianism a combination of?
2. What is Zoroastrianism a mix of?
3. What is combined in the Zoroastrian religion?
Q2:
1. What are the most important Zoroastrian texts?
2. Which texts are most important in Zoroastrianism
3. What are the fundamental texts of Zoroastrianism?
Q3:
1. Whose musings are contained in the Avesta?
2. Whose writings does the Avesta contain?
3. Who does the Avesta include writing from?
Q4:
1. When may the roots of Zoroastrianism date back to?
2. When is it possible that Zoroastrianism dates back to?
3. How far back might Zoroastrianism date?
Q5:
1. Which Iranian prophet do Zoroastrians follow?
2. To what Iranian prophet are the teachings of Zoroastrianism ascribed?
3. What holy man do all of Zoroastrianism's teachings go back to?
Q6:
1. When was Zoroastrianism the state religion of pre-Islamic Iran?
2. When did Zoroastrianism serve as state religion to the empires of pre-Islamic Iran?
3. When was Zoroastrianism the state religion of Iranian empires, prior to the arrival of Islam?
Q7:
1. When did the suppression of Zoroastrianism begin?
2. When was Zoroastrianism stamped out?
3. When did Iran begin suppressing Zoroastrianism?
Q8:
1. What diety is exalted in Zoroastrianism?
2. Which god does Zoroastrianism worship?
3. Who is exalted in Zoroastrian belief?
Q9:
1. How many Zoroastrians are currently believed to exist?
2. What is the current estimated number of Zoroastrians worldwide?
3. How many Zoroastrians are there currently in the world, roughly speaking?
Q10:
1. What is the number of gods worshipped in Zoroastrianism?
2. How many gods does Zoroastrianism proclaim?
3. How many dieties are worshipped by the Zoroastrians?
Q11:
1. What force opposes Ahura Mazda?
2. What is the force that works against Ahura Mazda?
3. What is Ahura Mazda contested by?
Q12:
1. Does Zoroastrianism have any major features?
2. Are there any defining characteristics of Zoroastrianism?
3. Are there any qualities in particular that define Zoroastrianism?
Q13:
1. What are some major features of Zoroastrianism?
2. What are the defining characteristics of Zoroastrianism?
3. What major qualities define Zoroastrianism?
Q14:
1. What are some religious systems that have been influenced by Zoroastrianism?
2. Which religions has Zoroastrianism had an influence on?
3. What are some examples of belief systems that Zoroastrianism has impacted?
