why not many follow this religion?
120186
Zoroastrian was arguably one of the earliest monotheistic religions- one which influenced Judaism(during the Persian Empire's golden era during the reigns of Cyrus and Darius), Christianity (through Judaism), and Islam (through the first two and alsodirectly through the Arab/PErsian trade routes).\n\nThebasic tenant of Zoroastrianism is that there is one God (Ahura Mazda) who is opposed by an evil being named Ahriman. In some sects of Zoroastrianism, it is more like "dualism"- both "gods" are of equal power, in others the good is more powerful than evil. \n\nThe religion which was native to Persia(Iran) spread throughout the middle east and Meditereanean, but basically was overtaken by Christianity in most areas, and eventually had its downfall when the Arab Muslim conquered Persia. The Muslims had an interesting strategy of getting the Zoroastrians to convert to Islam including strong coersion mixed with more gentle methods (telling Zoroastrians that Islam respected their religion- after all, they were"people of the book").\n\nZoroastrians are a small religion for several reasons. Most of the Zoroastrians migrated to India and were called "Parsees" locally. The Parsees do not allow others to convert to their religion. The religion mantains a small presence in its homeland of Iran, but it is doubtful whether they can survive under the Islamic Republic.
111648
One thing I take from this is that understanding religion is a difficult.  People fight because another person's religion is different. (Abdul Rahman in Afghanistan to be executed for wrong thinking?) and people fight within their own religion because someone interprets it differently (Catholic and Born Again, Shiite and Sunni.) Why don't we throw the whole thing out and start all over, with rational thought?
234353
Firstly distinguish between extremist , remember many believe in becoming a martyr and to question how much one believes in their own religion is not acceptable nor done.  This is also due to tradition, culture and I believe lack of education. \nIt all comes back to them believing it is gods will.
537589
Because they want to rule with fear. They appel to the weakness in people who are scared of making their own decisions and therefore prefer to follow orders. But I guess this is only one of many reasons. I myself don't follow any dogmatic religion, but like to find out more about them.
671801
No, because the people who cling to a religion are people who need discipline and restraint in their lives. Underneath all that "Jesus loves me!" euphoria they hang on to deep fears of divine wrath. Without their religion to hold them back, I honestly believe some of them would have no qualms about murder, rape, stealing, etc.
401479
I will never really be able to understand why people follow these people!  I have decided it must be because they are people who do not feel they have much self worth, people whose lives are not very happy and fulfilled, and they are desperately searching for someone to ''build them up''.\n\nCults reach out to people who are this way----------people who are needy in spirit and hope.  I think these Evangelical Christians reach out for the same type of people.  And, there are alot of them.\n\nP.S.  These are the same people who criticize Muslims---they have to feel there is someone beneath them, to give them a good feeling about themselves.
474938
Because the entire religion and its followers seem to have a fanatical element that far exceeds the fringes of any other religion in the history of the world.  The depth of this goes far beyond just Jihadists or Mujihadeen.\n\nThere are approximately 1.5 billion Muslims in the world. If only 10% believe in the very violent, very literal translation of the Qur'an and Sharia law, that means 150 million Muslims would just as soon decapitate or stone you as let you express a viewpoint that run counters to their own. \n\nI would challenge anyone to name 10 acts of global violence that have been perpetrated in the name of Christianity in the last 20 years. However, even completely omitting Iraq and Afghanistan, it would be quite easy to name 50 acts of Islamic violence that have occurred in the last 20 days. Christianity is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ. A man who embodied peace, humanity, and love towards all beings. Muhammad was a fierce warrior and military leader right up until his death. Is it so hard to believe that a religion established by someone with this background might have religious doctrine rooted in violence and aggression? \n\nSelf-proclaimed "moderate" Muslims continue to decry what they feel is anti-Islamic attitudes around the world. When a cartoon, a cartoon mind you, is found to be offensive, Muslims by the 10's of thousands take to the streets in violent protest. When the Pope alludes to the statements of a past Pope in pointing out that there needs to be a dialogue within the Muslim and non-Muslim faiths in order to facilitate peace and understanding between all religions, Muslims by the 10's of thousands take to the streets in violent protest. When the twin towers in New York City were disintegrated by Islamic terrorists, 10's of thousands of Muslims took to the streets in celebration. \n\nWhere are the tens of thousand, or even hundreds, of Muslims taking to the streets to protest Bin Laden, or the London bombers, or the Madrid bombers, or the Bali bombers, or the Indonesian Islamists who chop off the heads of Christian schoolgirls, or the Somalian Islamists who killed the Italian nun, or even the radical clerics who are supposedly "hijacking" their religion?
391300
i had difficulty with this issue for a long time, till i came to realize, that in some religions, the basic tenets of their faith only have/show, one way to God,,, a certain/one path, and while i can read some of the writings their faith is based on and see how it allows for other paths, their religion doesnt focus on that, they are not taught that, and i guess just dont see it.       if you belong to a religion that feels there is only one way, certain steps, to salvation,,, then you must feel the others are wrong,,,,,\n\nand as to the comment above about baby-boomers, hun we are some of the most free thinkers ever!
27369
I wish they would. I think each person has their own path and a right to that path and if it makes them a better person who are we to try and judge them or convert them. I think if people really lived according to the basis of most religions they would respect others and love their neighbor without prejudice. It would be a wonderful world if we all would seek first to understand, then to be understood. Not have to insist on being right or seeing their way as the only way or others seeing people of other religions as a threat or some sort of abomination to their religion. I find it quite hypocritical and ironic.
73054
You are not wrong. But understand that Christianity is a religion based on fear.  Follow me or burn in hell for all eternity!  Believe or be damned!  It is been my experience that many Christian believers will not even listen to another religion's argument or concepts with anything other that complete disregard.  Brainwashing at birth.  Ask the majority of people why they follow there particular religion, the answer will most likely be that it is the only thing that they have ever known.  I only speak English because it is the only language my parents and peers ever spoke to me.  Most major religions believe in the same basic principles.  Be good and the end result will be good or better for you.  Don't let someone bully you into thinking their way.  Explore all religions and find the one that speaks to you.  There are millions of good people out there who do not believe in Jesus Christ - I find it hard to believe that they will feel the wrath of God because they have not accepted Jesus into their hearts.
571706
Not all religions are, just a lot of them. And yes, it's a great way to control people, I'm sure that's partly why they were created.
594368
A lot of religions share similar themes. Most have taken ideas from past religions and sort of reformed them.  It can be confusing with so many religions out there.  I take a anthropological mostly agnostic view on religion.  I know there is something, but who knows what, and who knows which religion is the one to follow.
55709
For most it is actually a drive to be closer to something because the obsessed ones are always fairly clingy and lonely.\nFor others they join religions hoping to get a quick path to the answers to their questions, allowing them to evlove faster. Proof of that is in the constant praying for private desires to come.\nAnd then the last group are the ones who believe just because of tradition. (Got to believe in something, right?) that's what my friend said to me the other week on his way to church.\n\nanyway. Hope i cleared something up
254702
agreed.\n\nhowever, it's not the guys who are being followed as such, it's the mass-marketing done by the early followers that the religions have lasted so long. It's engrained in the culture and the fear of being the non-conformist, the guy who questions and doesn't blindly follow with the rest of the herd and becoming therefore an outcast was strong enough to ensure that entire nations have gone on to revere one person or the other without thinking too hard about it - and passed it on to their children of course.
256049
This is very true. Most modern religious folks are not willing to step outside of their normal perspective on things. I find it a little sad that so many people refuse to think for themselves.
371700
I agree with most of the above. The things you say hold true for most believers ( in any religion). Their religion seems to make them intolerant. You are able to discern between what is reality and what is said in a very old book. Times change but the religions do not change with them, thus making a lot of religious people stay behind in the doctrines of their religion which were made thousands of years ago.
526820
Firstly I think your question is slightly misleading, "most people" do not believe in the Bible let alone take it as literal. Within the Christan community I think that the basic tenants of Christianity are regarded as enough i.e do unto others as would be done to you, it is a small but vocal and powerful minority that are fanatical  (the same is true of Islam and there is interesting parells). There is also quite a difference between the European (where I live) views and some of the more evangelistic US versions. I think the fanatics that preach literal interpretations (although missing out all the bits they don't agree with) do so as a means of social control, to gain political power  and make money. But I also think that peole like this, Father K above makes a very valid point; when the Church of Rome was supreme people where able to follow i's rules and doctroines without question. When the reforamation came along and removed that, humanity lost some of its certainty in life, we as a society became lost; there was no objective truth in the world anymore. we have been trying to get back to that certainity ever since, with some of the more fundamental christains this had been be adpoting The Bible as a literal infaliable truth (Father K's "Paper Pope". there is a famous painting of Martin Luther overlooking a church and crying out "My God what have I done", a question Protestants have struggled with, to replace the security of the Papacy they have put their faith in The Bible