The NYT has an interesting article on Zorastrianism, the original monotheistic, dualistic, religion. The article interests me for the ways in which it shows how enlightened religious ideals can exist within a monotheistic religion while, at the same time, patriarchial and tribal tendencies can cause real conflicts for a religion struggling to survive.
Wikipedia lists the following as major precepts of Zorastrianism:
Equalism: Equality of all, irrespective of gender, race, or religion.
Respect and kindness towards all living things. Condemnation of the oppression of human beings, cruelty against animals and sacrifice of animals.
Environmentalism: Nature is central to the practice of Zoroastrianism and many important Zoroastrian annual festivals are in celebration of nature: new year on the first day of spring, the water festival in summer, the autumn festival at the end of the season, and the mid-winter fire festival.
Hard work and charity: Laziness and sloth are frowned upon. Zoroastrians are encouraged to part with a little of what would otherwise be their own.
Loyalty and faithfulness to "family, settlement, tribe, and country."
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