"Zoroastrianism is one of the world's great ancient religions. In present-day Iran significant communities of Zoroastrians (who take their name from the founder of the faith, the remarkable religious reformer Zoroaster, or--in the old Avestan language--Zarathustra) still practice the rituals and teach the moral precepts that once undergirded the officially state-sanctioned faith of the mighty Sasanian empire. Beyond Iran, the Zoroastrian diaspora is significant especially in India. But there are also significant Zoroastrian communities to be found elsewhere, such as in the USA, Britain and Canada, where western cultural contexts have shaped the religion in intriguing ways and directions. This introduction will appeal to anyone interested in discovering more about the faith that bequeathed the contrasting words 'Mary' and 'magic', and whose adherents still live according to the code of Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds"--Publisher description, p. [4] of cover.