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Article: Man's role in conflict between good, evil remains focus of Zoroastrian theology.(NEWS)
- Article from:
- Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN)
- Article date:
- November 7, 1998
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1998 Star Tribune Co. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Zoroastrian theology revolves around the conflict of two spirits, Ahura Mazda, the wise lord, and Anghra Mainyu, who represents evil. Ahuru Mazda created the material world - with its human beings - to defeat evil.
"One of the beauties of this ethical dualism is that you don't have to ask the question `How can an all-powerful god create evil?' " said William Malandra, an expert in ancient religions of the Indian subcontinent at the University of Minnesota. Zoroastrians think that monotheistic religions create an irrational god because they say that an all-powerful, all-knowing, `good' god allows evil.
It is the duty of believers to live ethically to help ...