Conversion to traditional Zoroastrian.

Phil25 said:

Not to derail this thread but in Orthodox Christianity, hell is seen as Separation from God rather than a lake of fire etc.

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If God is omnipotent and created everything, then how can one be separate from God?

Vishvavajra said:

So I'm getting the feeling that modern Zoroastrianism is strongly monotheistic and sees that as the original view, whereas what little we know about it under the Achaemenids, Arsacids, and Sassanids suggests it was not, at least in terms of practice. Is it the current view that the understanding of the religion in historical antiquity was imperfect and syncretic with traditional Iranian and other religious forms, or was it simply an alternative but valid way of approaching the teachings? Is worship of a being that is considered to be an aspect of the One God acceptable and still regarded as an expression of monotheism? Or should all reverence be reserved for Ahura Mazda under that name alone?

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Modern Zoroastrianism still follows the Avesta, but some like myself try to only focus on the Gathas which are Zoroasters words.

The Achaemenians, Parthians and Sassanians incorporated a lot of the pre-Zoroastrian culture and religion into the Avesta, which was similar to Hinduism in some ways. I don't deny Avestan rituals and traditions from a cultural perspective, but I only try to follow what is written in the Gathas.

The worship of Ahura Mazda isn't the most important thing, it is to do good and to help Ahura Mazda which is. Ahura Mazda is basically all that is good, while Ahriman is all that is bad. It doesn't matter what you call God, whether it be Jesus or Ahura Mazda or Allah, for as long as the qualities match those of supreme goodness that's all which matters. In fact most Zoroastrians call God Khuda more than Ahura Mazda, and this name for God was incorporated by the Muslim descendants of these regions.

Mazdaian said:

If God is omnipotent and created everything, then how can one be separate from God?

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From an Orthodox Christian website
Nothing exists outside God, making the concept of "separation from God" only a handy metaphor. "Whither shall I flee from thy presence? … If I make my bed in Sheol, thou art there" (Psalm 139:7-8). In this life, we perceive that presence pulsing through all material Creation. In the next life that materiality will be dissolved, and we’ll be irradiated by the living energy that sustains the universe.

Those who love God and prepare themselves to assimilate his light will begin to be transformed even in this life; they become "partakers of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4). But those who resist and ignore God "harden their hearts" (Hebrews 3:15). If they "love darkness rather than light" (John 3:19), they will find the inescapable brilliance to be searing misery and paradoxical blindness.

A Disgruntled Scotsman said:

But aren't we separated from God via sin right now? Doesn't that mean that our current existence is technically Hell?

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No we are not seperate from God. God is omnipotent. Even though I said "hell is separation from God" that is only a handy metaphor.
From an Orthodox website
Nothing exists outside God, making the concept of "separation from God" only a handy metaphor. "Whither shall I flee from thy presence? … If I make my bed in Sheol, thou art there" (Psalm 139:7-8). In this life, we perceive that presence pulsing through all material Creation. In the next life that materiality will be dissolved, and we’ll be irradiated by the living energy that sustains the universe.
Those who love God and prepare themselves to assimilate his light will begin to be transformed even in this life; they become "partakers of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4). But those who resist and ignore God "harden their hearts" (Hebrews 3:15). If they "love darkness rather than light" (John 3:19), they will find the inescapable brilliance to be searing misery and paradoxical blindness.

I've been reading up on the Navjote ceremony (or "sudreh pushi" if you're Iranian). Is it designed as a coming-of-age ceremony children go through to become a Zoroastrian adult? Or is it a general 'induction into the faith' ceremony all Zoroastrians (including converts) should/need to go through?