Zoroastrianism

Has anyone heard of this old religion? Do you know anyone who considers themselves a zoroastrian? I have found it is scarily in line with my beliefs/way of life. Here's what I know of it:

- Oldest known religion
- It was the dominant religion of Iran and much of Persia between roughly 600 BC and 500 CE
- Religion only survived as it was preserved in India after Islam swept through Persia and eradicated everything but Islam...about 200 000 followers to this day
- Was "founded" by Zarathustra, who recieved a message from Ahura Mazda
- It's philosophy is really simple and has three principles: good reflection, good word, and good deed.
- It's monotheistic and says that you can be brought to the realm of Ahura Mazda through the three principles, meaning....you are equal to God
- Very progressive for its time, and even in todays world where:

1.) Equivalence of men and women which is mentioned in the Gathas (Zarathustrian) hymns and also the ancient Iranian history are indicative of such a fact. Here, we have to allude to the fact that at the end of 1994, the United Nations' session took place in Cairo to initiate a solution for controlling childbirth. After a long term of negotiations, finally it was decided that one of the best ways to solve this complicated issue is to consider the equivalence of males and females.

2.) The purification of water, soil, air, and fire is also one of the characteristics of Zarathustrian philosophy. In section 138 of his first book, Herodotus has mentioned about cleanliness of running water in the ancient Iran . According to him, Iranians never urinate or spite in running water. They will never also wash themselves in such waters and never let the others do that. They value their rivers a lot.

3.) In Zarathustrian's philosophy and thought, there is no mention of slavery and dependency which is the inhumane trait of other religions.

4.) Zarathustrian philosophy is struggle to thrive and condemning laziness which is frequently mentioned in the Gathas. Sluggishness and subsisting on other's endeavors and robbing others properties are strongly condemned in the Zarathustrian philosophy and whoever is involved in such activities is considered oppressive. It is incumbent upon everybody to stand against such oppressors, fight against them and rescue the oppressed people form the oppressors. Everybody is supposed to depend upon his own endeavors and has to reap whatever he himself has sown.

5.) As it has been said before, idolatry, stone worshipping, and also worshipping human hand-made earthen houses, sun dried brick ones, could not be attributed to God. The “god's house” should be sought in the thought and the soul of the people.

6.) Zarathustrian philosophy, not only rejects any kind of oppression upon human beings and strongly fights against it, cruelty against the animals is also condemned and the sacrifice of animals is considered a kind of criminality.

Here's a good link where I got some info (like that ^^^)

zarathustra

Very interesting to say the least. Wondering what y'all think.