Having existed since the 6th century BC, Zoroastrianism is one of the oldest religions in the world, and among the first monotheistic religions. Facets of Zoroastrianism, such as a single god, the notion of free will, and the concepts of heaven and hell, inspired some of the world's most successful religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Meanwhile, Zoroastrianism itself has mutated over the course of thousands of years and, as practiced (predominantly) in India and Iran in the 21st century, is different from its ancient form.

The ancient religion has some eastern philosophical underpinnings, because of which Zoroastrianism sex beliefs can, at times, take on an air of the mystic, while maintaining a distinctly Middle Eastern feel.

For the modern Zoroastrian, religion and sex are forever intertwined. From perpetuating faith through procreation to trying to remain free of sin, the rules of Zoroastrianism when it comes to sex can be somewhat confusing. The conflicted nature of Zoroastrian sex beliefs isn't aided by the fact that it's a pre-Judeo Christian religion struggling to maintain relevance in a world increasingly indifferent to folk beliefs. Zoroastrian religion and sex aren't always easy bedfellows, but there's a lot to learn about the religion's relationship with sexuality.

Read on to learn all about sex in Zoroastrianism.