Did Zoroastrianism influence Christianity?

[Deidre]

I've finally looked into this a bit deeper, so would you say here that Zoroastrianism influenced Christianity? I've read mixed things about this, so just thought I'd ask. Obviously not in its entirety, but could it be said that there are some shades of it within Christianity? I also found this interesting that it is a monotheistic religion. (I don't know all that much about this, so...)

 

[Omega Green]

I read somewhere that the origins of the idea of hell were derivatives from Zoroastrianism; but without checking the books again; that's the most I can think of right now... I will try to refresh my memory..

 

[Deidre]

I read somewhere that the origins of the idea of hell were derivatives from Zoroastrianism; but without checking the books again; that's the most I can think of right now... I will try to refresh my memory..

Oh really? Hmmm, that is curious. I'd like to know more. I've been reading up on religions I know nothing about, and this one is on the list, and the Baha'i faith.

 

[Omega Green]

There's a book called The Christ: A Critical Review and Analysis of the Evidence for His Existence by John Remsberg, which was the first book on this subject that I ever read; I used to know of a site that stored an online copy for anyone to read but it seems the site has since closed down. From what I remember it talks about Zoroastrianism and a whole lot of paganism in early christian influence..

 

[Kuzcotopia]

I think I had read somewhere that the original traditions of the Abrahamic God suggested a very mixed character. He had qualities of being both good and evil, merciful and capricious.

However, the Zoastrianism concept suggested two gods, one good and one evil. Christianity may have borrowed this idea, and made their God absolutely good, and propped up Satan as being an evil counterpoint.

I am too unfamiliar with Zoastrianism however to be certain, and I cannot remember the source on that take on its influence on The God of Abraham.

 

[MD]

Yes a lot of concepts like the Resurrection, Salvation, Savior, Heaven and hell come from Zoroastrianism, or what Zoroastrianism became after the Gathas were introduced. There was also a lot of Mithraism in early Christianity as well, which is another Indo Iranian faith that influenced both Christianity and Zoroastrianism.

The Gathas are the original texts whose interpretations were included in the Avesta, as well as Indo Iranian myth. The Gathas were meant to be abstract, but the later additions of the Avesta seemed to have become more literal, and these concepts influenced Christianity and Islam a lot.

One of the biggest reasons Christianity seems to have been influenced by Zoroastrianism is Christianity's battle between good and evil. Since such a concept is paradoxical within an Abrahamic framework, it seems that it probably was borrowed from Zoroastrianism.

 

[Deidre]

I appreciate the insight you all provided, I'll be back tomorrow to ask you more specific questions. I feel rather naive that I didn't know much about this religion, and that it seemed to pave the way for others. That there are so many ''others'' it's very curious to me right now. Hmmm....

 

[arthra]

Baha

Oh really? Hmmm, that is curious. I'd like to know more. I've been reading up on religions I know nothing about, and this one is on the list, and the Baha'i faith.

Baha'is do accept Zoroaster as a Manifestation of God and also recognize Naw-Ruz the ancient Zoroastrian New Year.

 

[Knight of Albion]

Remember, that teachers of the Light are very wise men. They are not bound by narrow-minded Orthodox thinking. That is imposed by other less enlightened beings in following years.

Wisdom is to be found in many quarters, and wherever it is found it is a blessing.
True teachers recognise the value of such wisdom and incorporate it into their own teachings if they sense it to be in a pithy form that people will be able to readily embrace.

We know that the great Master Jesus travelled to the East and encountered Eastern doctrines and teachings. The Golden Rule for example was first uttered by Confucius.
So I think great souls gather wise teaching from many quarters and take it forwards as is, or in their own personalized variant.

 

[Deidre]

I think I had read somewhere that the original traditions of the Abrahamic God suggested a very mixed character. He had qualities of being both good and evil, merciful and capricious.

However, the Zoastrianism concept suggested two gods, one good and one evil. Christianity may have borrowed this idea, and made their God absolutely good, and propped up Satan as being an evil counterpoint.

I am too unfamiliar with Zoastrianism however to be certain, and I cannot remember the source on that take on its influence on The God of Abraham.

Satan as an evil counterpoint? In Christianity, Satan is separate and away from God, but I don't get caught up in that part of Christianity. Interesting though about the idea of a duality type of God, although in Christianity, well most sects, God is thought of as triune. Thanks for your input.

 

[Deidre]

Yes a lot of concepts like the Resurrection, Salvation, Savior, Heaven and hell come from Zoroastrianism, or what Zoroastrianism became after the Gathas were introduced. There was also a lot of Mithraism in early Christianity as well, which is another Indo Iranian faith that influenced both Christianity and Zoroastrianism.

But, no one in Christian churches or circles is talking about this AT ALL. Hmmm....maybe because Christians don't like to think that anything was borrowed from anything else. lol Although, Christianity was influenced by Judaism, and Gnosticism. (Most Christians don't have a problem accepting this.)

The Gathas are the original texts whose interpretations were included in the Avesta, as well as Indo Iranian myth. The Gathas were meant to be abstract, but the later additions of the Avesta seemed to have become more literal, and these concepts influenced Christianity and Islam a lot.

One of the biggest reasons Christianity seems to have been Christianity's battle between good and evil. Since such a concept is paradoxical within an Abrahamic framework, it seems that it probably was borrowed from Zoroastrianism.

I see. What do you mean by 'battle between good and evil,' do you mean the battle that wages within us all ...between doing good and ''bad'' deeds?

 

[MD]

But, no one in Christian churches or circles is talking about this AT ALL. Hmmm....maybe because Christians don't like to think that anything was borrowed from anything else. lol Although, Christianity was influenced by Judaism, and Gnosticism. (Most Christians don't have a problem accepting this.)

No one in Zoroastrian circles talks about this either, these are academic topics that are coming to light now. Also Christianity was in Persia since its early days, so I am sure it had a small influence on Zoroastrianism. Zoroastrianism itself was influenced by prior Indo Iranian pagan faiths as well as Gnosticism, which is why it has some similarities with Hinduism. Zoroastrian philosophy influenced Greek thinking as well.

Christianity was influenced by many faiths imo, Judaism, Mithraism, Zoroastrianism and Gnosticism. But I think it was mostly Judaism and Zoroastrianism.

I see. What do you mean by 'battle between good and evil,' do you mean the battle that wages within us all ...between doing good and ''bad'' deeds?

Zoroastrians believe heavily that the purpose of existence is between good and evil. Good can be a metaphor for order, justice harmony and evil can be a metaphor for chaos, destruction, etc. There is an eternal battle between us and within the universe itself between these two forces of creation and destruction. Christianity also heavily focuses on that with the battle between God and Satan.

 

[Deidre]

Thank you for expanding on this, I'm fascinated by this religion that I never knew about.

Does it bring you peace? Do you pray in this religion?

 

[MD]

well I say that today when they want holocaust time worshiping sometimes had influence also many cultures even pagan ones did this, a people look very similar to those that call fire down from heaven. Jesus warned, and in revelation 13:13 which I find ironic, talking about the second beast calling fire down from heaven. Is warned, Jesus rebuked them telling them that you don't know what spirit ye are of. They also had prophets, the only thing I'm not sure of and there's in part is not really necessarily but maybe the 3 wise men could have been from one the ones of Zoroastrianism. Also when they want to jump start lies on a people maybe to even over throw them or tear down there country they talk all peace and love talk of fear in the old testament play Elijah games which isn't, while they send multiple influences of other religions as to confuse. The use a lot of that when they want "head quarters" they often times denounce paganism/druidism fire things with the old testament prophets send terrorist attack start flooding paganism or spiritualism down to not...like atheism until people run into what I call the prophet games.
12And this beast exercised all the authority of the first beast and caused the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose mortal wound had been healed. 13And the second beast performed great signs to cause even fire from heaven to come down to earth in the presence of the people. of the signs it was given to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived those who dwell on the earth, telling them to make an image to the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet had lived.
In typrical setting they sound judgy while doing the same on one-side while creating a mess of problems on the other. While doing this they usually increase the demands of people and immigration sometimes to magnify the bewilderment of people.

Lol

 

[MD]

Thank you for expanding on this, I'm fascinated by this religion that I never knew about.

Does it bring you peace? Do you pray in this religion?

Peace? Sometimes, especially in my fire temple.
Purpose? Tremendous amount

Yes we have our own prayers in an ancient language called Avestan. As a Zoroastrian prayer is not as important as the act itself of bettering the universe.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Christianity was influenced by many faiths imo, Judaism, Mithraism, Zoroastrianism and Gnosticism. But I think it was mostly Judaism and Zoroastrianism.

Regarding Mithraism, note this post from April 2005.

 

[Deidre]

Peace? Sometimes, especially in my fire temple.
Purpose? Tremendous amount

Yes we have our own prayers in an ancient language called Avestan. As a Zoroastrian prayer is not as important as the act itself of bettering the universe.

How does it define a purpose for you, would you say? I'm not interviewing lol I'm genuinely curious as to why people choose to follow this, and I think if we're honest, we tend to follow things that do give us a purpose. Give us comfort and peace during difficult times in a volatile secular world.

No for real; that's why there is a prophecy written in Jesus time in the gospels, about the outside world and other faiths and or other monotheistic religions even baal "fire" believing that it is or isn't sounds real nice even with old testament stuff; though true could be deceptive but completely reworked having an influence over false prophecy in the church. How many times, really. Last time and hopefully no more......... It's harmed and even killed or attacked people. How many times have people gone to church and/or saw something online tv; and ummm was like don't know what that is but no. And they were preaching about God and stuff. They're doing fantastic things of wow but superstitious even sometimes applying it to old Judaism or just lol marshmellowing it in with judgments and swinging from chandeliers but it's like ummm no again. Common sense would tell you. For the love of mutant ninja turtles (that's deceptive not a rainbow) what is wrong with you and ya fire "gods" ugh; need to come back down a bit. When they realize that being honest in "some" points diffuses and sounds more convincing? Umm..what It's not is faith or ........ talking like that. Reality check the prophecy given in the gospel says that the outside would do that and they'd marshmellow it over fire... And puff the magic dragon (I'm not talking about weed, I'm not against weed with reason that's not what I was referring too) but the other magic dragon .

lol Hmmm...

I might have to go back and reread the OT to see if I glean the same things, as you have.

 

[MD]

How does it define a purpose for you, would you say? I'm not interviewing lol I'm genuinely curious as to why people choose to follow this, and I think if we're honest, we tend to follow things that do give us a purpose. Give us comfort and peace during difficult times in a volatile secular world.

Because it can be applied in a physical world. I can apply the idea of good vs evil into bettering the world or bettering humanity. This principle can be applied till the end of time, the idea that we must work with the creative force of the Universe to ensure our survival. It makes more sense to me to believe that good and evil are separate, and are two metaphysical forces, rather than emanating from one God.

I am more of a deist than a theist, but the principles of Zoroastrianism can be applied for atheists as well. The philosophy of the faith is what I tend to follow, rather than the religious aspects. This philosophy had a big influence on Greco Roman thinking as well.

 

[Deidre]

Because it can be applied in a physical world. I can apply the idea of good vs evil into bettering the world or bettering humanity. This principle can be applied till the end of time, the idea that we must work with the creative force of the Universe to ensure our survival. It makes more sense to me to believe that good and evil are separate, and are two metaphysical forces, rather than emanating from one God.

I am more of a deist than a theist, but the principles of Zoroastrianism can be applied for atheists as well. The philosophy of the faith is what I tend to follow, rather than the religious aspects. This philosophy had a big influence on Greco Roman thinking as well.

It seems more philosophical then, than ''religious,'' which is cool in my eyes. I really like the premise behind it. What do you believe about mortality and do you pay much mind to the idea of an after life? I don't personally get too into the idea of an after life in Christianity, although I believe that there is some type of heaven.

 

[Chakra]

MD, I think it would be highly enlightening if you also elaborated on some of the philosophical similarities between Zoroastrianism and Hinduism. Does it tend to be a bit Dharmic at times too?