What is the form of our God?

_A._ Our God has neither face nor form, colour nor shape,
nor fixed place. There is no other like him. He is himself
singly such a glory that we cannot, praise or describe him;
nor our mind comprehend him.

So far, no one could object to this Catechism, and it must be clear
that the Dualism, which is generally mentioned as the distinguishing
feature of the Persian religion--the belief in two Gods, Ormuzd, the
principle of good, and Ahriman, the principle of evil--is not
countenanced by the modern Parsis. Whether it exists in the
Zend-Avesta is another question, which, however, cannot be discussed
at present.[51]

The Catechism continues:

_Q._ What is our religion?

_A._ Our religion is 'Worship of God.'

_Q._ Whence did we receive our religion?

_A._ God's true prophet--the true Zurthost (Zoroaster)
Asphantaman Anoshirwan--brought the religion to us from God.

Here it is curious to observe that not a single question is asked as
to the claim of Zoroaster to be considered a true prophet. He is not
treated as a divine being, nor even as the son of Ormuzd. Plato,
indeed, speaks of Zoroaster as the son of Oromazes (Alc. i. p. 122 a),
but this is a mistake, not countenanced, as far as we are aware, by
any of the Parsi writings, whether ancient or modern. With the Parsis,
Zoroaster is simply a wise man, a prophet favoured by God, and
admitted into God's immediate presence; but all this, on his own
showing only, and without any supernatural credentials, except some
few miracles recorded of him in books of doubtful authority. This
shows, at all events, how little the Parsis have been exposed to
controversial discussions; for, as this is so weak a point in their
system that it would have invited the attacks of every opponent, we
may be sure that the Dustoors would have framed some argument in
defence, if such defence had ever been needed.

* * * * *

The next extract from the Catechism treats of the canonical books:

[Footnote 51: See page 140.]

_Q._ What religion has our prophet brought us from God?

_A._ The disciples of our prophet have recorded in several
books that religion. Many of these books were destroyed
during Alexander's conquest; the remainder of the books were
preserved with great care and respect by the Sassanian
kings. Of these again, the greater portion we