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Zoroastrianism, in spite of its small current number of adherents, has played a huge role in the study of comparative religion. Not only was it a cohort of the ancient Vedic Hinduism, but also had a huge influence on the development of Judaism and Christianity.
This part of the site has complete online editions of the Sacred Books of the East's Zoroastrian texts: the three volume Avesta series, as well as the five volume Pahlavi series. - Zoroastrian Sacred Texts
There is certainly a strong suspicion that Persian Zoroastrianism played no small part in the evolution of the Opponent of hebrew theology into Satan and a concept of hell.
Zoroastianism not only influenced the Jewish religion.
It also influenced the New Testament (centuries later) in the resurrection story. Particularly about the messiah rising, hanging around a few days, and then leaving the earth a few days later.
Zoroastianism not only influenced the Jewish religion.
It also influenced the New Testament (centuries later) in the resurrection story. Particularly about the messiah rising, hanging around a few days, and then leaving the earth a few days later.
Scholar Bart Ehrman doubts that Zoroastianism influenced Judaism with regard to the issue of resurrection.
Quoting Ehrman;
So the idea that the idea came into Israel from somewhere else is certainly possible. But there doesn’t seem to be much evidence of it.
And there are even bigger problems. It turns out we don’t actually know much about Zoroastrianism during the period we are interested in (say, 200 BCE to 200 CE). That’s because we have lousy sources of information. I first discovered this by reading one of the most learned discussions of the afterlife in Jewish and Christian traditions, by Dutch historian Jan Bremmer (his book: The Rise and Fall of the Afterlife [New York: Routledge, 2002]).
Bremmer points out that our oldest manuscript of the Zoroastrian texts in question, the Avestas, dates from 1288 CE, and all the surviving manuscripts appear to go back to a copy that had been produced in the 9th or 10th century CE. Since the Zoroastrian tradition was living and constantly changing over time, there is no assurance that the teachings of the later Avestan manuscripts were ancient. Moreover, there is only one reference in all the oldest forms of the Avestan writings to the glories of a later life, and this reference doesn’t say anything about a future day of judgment (as in Jewish apocalyptic thought).
After some detailed comments, Bremmer concludes: “There … is little reason to derive Jewish ideas about resurrection from Persian sources. Their origin(s) may well lie in intra-Jewish developments” (p. 59). [Bolding mine]
Since the earliest extant manuscripts of the Zoroastrian religion date to AD 1288 which is long after New Testament times, it could very well be that Zoroastianism was influenced by Judaism and by Christianity rather than Judaism and Christianity having been influenced by Zoroastrian.
Last edited by Michael Way; 03-10-2018 at 08:36 AM..
Indeed, it is said that the Muslim persecuted the Zoroastrians because they found them to be henotheistic rather than monotheistic (sort of like: the Zoroastrians thanked good angels (lower gods) and talked about them or sacrificed to them).
So then the strict monotheism of Judea (as described by the books that remain, although they also describe that the Jews weren't often prone to follow such strict monotheism) would have been influenced more by ancient Egyptian/NearEastern monotheist-like henotheists more like Akhenaten and/or the Hyksos.
More likely the Zoroastrians borrowed ideas from God , and the demons also influenced this religions , as it was laced with pantheism, and gnostic ideas , still old religions were brought some truth from archangels of the Lord Almighty as there were four who ruled over the four corners of the earth bring truth is some way to control wickedness
More likely the Zoroastrians borrowed ideas from God , and the demons also influenced this religions , as it was laced with pantheism, and gnostic ideas , still old religions were brought some truth from archangels of the Lord Almighty as there were four who ruled over the four corners of the earth bring truth is some way to control wickedness
No, the demon-haunted world is only yours. The Zoroastrians believe they get all of their ideas directly from God, the Creator, the Creative Principle of Goodness. The Zoroastrians (as it were the Persians), saved the Jews from Babylon because their empire was better than Jewish kingdoms that fell because their Kings' and Priests' religion was always false and wrong (bloody and heavily evil-influenced) and killing animals (including baby animals) for life-sacrifice (instead of for food) was wrong too. But the Zoroastrians were the ones that gave Bibliolatry to the Jewish people since the good Samaritans knew that there were no books before to tell the stories to the people, just the oral teachings from the priests. Then the Jewish elite class came back from Babylon thanks to the Zoroastrians and read the Jewish stories from their books to prove they were indeed Jewish.
Scholar Bart Ehrman doubts that Zoroastianism influenced Judaism with regard to the issue of resurrection.
Quoting Ehrman;
So the idea that the idea came into Israel from somewhere else is certainly possible. But there doesn’t seem to be much evidence of it.
And there are even bigger problems. It turns out we don’t actually know much about Zoroastrianism during the period we are interested in (say, 200 BCE to 200 CE). That’s because we have lousy sources of information. I first discovered this by reading one of the most learned discussions of the afterlife in Jewish and Christian traditions, by Dutch historian Jan Bremmer (his book: The Rise and Fall of the Afterlife [New York: Routledge, 2002]).
Bremmer points out that our oldest manuscript of the Zoroastrian texts in question, the Avestas, dates from 1288 CE, and all the surviving manuscripts appear to go back to a copy that had been produced in the 9th or 10th century CE. Since the Zoroastrian tradition was living and constantly changing over time, there is no assurance that the teachings of the later Avestan manuscripts were ancient. Moreover, there is only one reference in all the oldest forms of the Avestan writings to the glories of a later life, and this reference doesn’t say anything about a future day of judgment (as in Jewish apocalyptic thought).
After some detailed comments, Bremmer concludes: “There … is little reason to derive Jewish ideas about resurrection from Persian sources. Their origin(s) may well lie in intra-Jewish developments” (p. 59). [Bolding mine]
Since the earliest extant manuscripts of the Zoroastrian religion date to AD 1288 which is long after New Testament times, it could very well be that Zoroastianism was influenced by Judaism and by Christianity rather than Judaism and Christianity having been influenced by Zoroastrian.
I heard it argued that Zoroastrianism with the more dual aspect of two rival gods, rather than the hebrew view that Satan was at times a sort of saboteur of God's works (though sometimes he looks like God's gofor) might have influenced Gnostic duality, which was of course declared heretical.
More likely the Zoroastrians borrowed ideas from God , and the demons also influenced this religions , as it was laced with pantheism, and gnostic ideas , still old religions were brought some truth from archangels of the Lord Almighty as there were four who ruled over the four corners of the earth bring truth is some way to control wickedness
I have never been very convinced by the Jewish stories in Daniel and Esther that the Jews pretty much ended up running the Persian empire. So i don't see any reason to suppose that they amended their religion to accommodate Hebrew religious ideas. Nor, incidentally, that God is masterminding the whole shebang, anyway.
But you are entitled to believe what you like.
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