_A._ The God who created the heavens, the earth, the angels, the stars, the sun, the moon, the fire, the water, or all the four elements, and all things of the two worlds; that God we believe in. Him we worship, him we invoke, him we adore. _Q._ Do we not believe in any other God? _A._ Whoever believes in any other God but this, is an infidel, and shall suffer the punishment of hell. _Q._ 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) Asphantamân Anoshirwân--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?