Zoroastrianism vs Confucianism - Ideas of Creation - Essay Example

It is interesting to note how the Zoroastrians revere fire as a symbol of their God and how they differentiate the sacred fire into different “grades” (Pyracantha, par 10).
B. Choose one component of that religion or spiritual path. (Examples: Scripture, daily rituals, etc.)

One component of the Zoroastrian religion is their belief about the universe has to go through three eras, namely, creation, the present world where good and evil are mixed and the last era is the final state where good and evil will be separated (Robinson, par 7). In the last era, it is believed that everything will be purified and those in hell will be released.

C. Describe how that component relates to universal needs and concerns.
This component relates to the universal needs and concerns in that the second era which is a world where the good and bad mix is very real to our existence today. This is the era where the world is now. Most people today believe that there is still another world, which Zoroastrians identify as the third era, where the good and the evil will be separated. The concept of hell as being a place where evil men will ultimately go is one factor in why people do good.

D. Choose another religion or spiritual path we have addressed that has captured your interest.
Another religion that has captured my interest is Confucianism. I am impressed with the teachings of Confucius about morality and ethics. Although it can be considered more of a philosophy, Confucianism has a huge impact on the culture, politics, education, and social structure in East Asia (Tucker, par 1). The Confucian values include promoting harmony amidst change.

E. Compare your two choices in terms of the component you selected in #2.
Unlike Zoroastrianism, Confucianism does not emphasize the afterlife. In Zoroastrianism, the afterlife is seen in their concept of a third era where everything will be purified and good and evil will be separated. According to Confucius, the afterlife is beyond human comprehension; thus, men should live in ways that are ideal for social relations instead of living based on rewards and punishment. Unlike Zoroastrianism, Confucianism emphasizes life here on earth (FindYourFate, par 5). They believe though that the spirits are immortal and that they do not die with their bodies. 

In Zoroastrianism, it is believed that God created the invisible and visible worlds using His astral body and his light (Jayaram, par 4).

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