A very interesting discussion of zoroastrianism, an ancient persian religion and how it influenced judaism and hence christianity and islam. In 1901, she continued the series with another four lectures on islam, jainism, sikhism, and theosophy or divine wisdom. The emergence of zoroastrianism was a turning point in humankinds ideological evolution, effectively shaping many important belief systems such as judaism, christianity and islam, which have billions of followers around the world. Eirciv 102a, spring 2006 vi february 7, 2006 basic bibliography some useful literature boyce, m. These revelations continued for 22 years, and were recorded in arabic in the quran, which is the holy book of islam. Persia fell to islam, and zoroastrianism largely disappeared. Zoroastrianism is a founding belief system acknowledged to have heavily influenced both abrahamic judaism, christianity, islam and dharmic hinduism, buddhism, jainism and sikhism religions. Seven great religions hinduism, zoroastrianism, jainism. The religious texts of the zoroastrian faith of ancient persia are referred to as the.
As with the jewish bar and bas mitzvah ceremonies, christian first communion and confirmation, the followers of zoroaster have a ritual performed before puberty which is called in the parsi gujarati language najvote, a term used by indian zoroastrians while iranians prefer the. The influence of zoroastrianism on christianity and islam. But some more recent researches date zoroastrianism to around 1200 b. This is a list of notable converts from zoroastrianism to the islamic faith abul hasan mihyar aldaylami persian poet from daylam abdullah ibn almuqaffa author and translator of kalila wa dimna from middle persian. What are the differences between christianity and zoroastrianism. According to this philosophy, not only are truth and goodness eternal, but falsehood and evil also share eternity with them. With the spread of islam in the midseventh century, the persianspeaking. As a monotheistic faith that originated in the middle east, islam holds many beliefs and practices in common with judaism and christianity. Al islam official website of ahmadiyya muslim community an islamic organization, international in its scope, with branches in over 206 countries. Christianity, and islam, as well as classical greek thought. Comparisons between zoroastrianism and christianity. The zoroastrianbiblical connections influence of zoroastrianism in other religions. I have not read that book it is in two volumes i believe, so i cannot judge its arguments, but from a purely historical point of view, if zoroastrianism really said all the aforementioned material before jesus was around and then it traveled to babylon, it does seem like a good argument against christianity.
Jan 19, 2018 zoroastrianism john waterhouse if you are caught excessively commenting, being disrespectful, insulting, or derailing then your comments will be removed. Founded more than 3,000 years ago by the prophet zarathustra, it flourished in ancient persia during the time of the persian empire. Nov 21, 2007 to me it seems more likely that zoroastrianism and other prechristian religions was influenced by christianity. Zoroastrianism is a religion founded in the late sixth century bc by a prophet name zoroaster. Choose from 45 different sets of zoroastrianism islam flashcards on quizlet. Only the hymns, or gathas, are attributable to zarathustra. Islam is the second largest religion in the world after christianity. A complete guide for developing your gift and finding your sense of self. It is a religion of tolerance and respect for environment that is dwindling in numbers because they neither evangelize nor allow conversion. The middle third of the book on the selucids and sassanids was of less interest i found it especially dull.
Apr 06, 2017 the idea of a single god was not the only essentially zoroastrian tenet to find its way into other major faiths, most notably the big three. On the one hand, it is certain that the ties between judaism, christianity, and islam, are very deep, as they are all descended from the prophet abraham. For a discussion of the context in which zoroastrianism arose, see ancient iranian religion. In the case of zoraostianism, even its very beginnings are intertwined with india, as zoroastrianism reformed a preexisting religion which had strong. Zoroastrianism underwent serious evolution after its contact with judaism and later christianity, if judaism and later christianity were the ones that evolved from zoroastrianism then youd expect to see major changes after the two faiths had contact. Unanswered questions what is the particular type of processor model and operating system on which a computer is based called. I did not know much about this religion, but after having read the book, i understand the.
The idea of a single god was not the only essentially zoroastrian tenet to find its way into other major faiths, most notably the big three. I especially loved this book because it focused on only zoroastrianism and only referred to christianity or judiasm as a source of references, maybe just a few times. Today, zoroastrianism is gradually becoming extinct from the world. List of converts to islam from zoroastrianism wikipedia. They are written in various metres and in a dialect different from the rest of the avesta, except for seven chapters, chiefly in prose, that appear to have been composed shortly after the prophets demise. It is seminal to the primary act of worship which is called yasna. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Religion a thousand years of the persian book exhibitions. Oct 11, 2000 on the one hand, it is certain that the ties between judaism, christianity, and islam, are very deep, as they are all descended from the prophet abraham. Therefore, it is evident that, by preceding christianity and islam, zoroastrianism influenced both of these religions. Many doctrines of the christian faith have parallels in zoroastrianism, e. All of these concepts were originally taught in zoroastrianism before christianity and islam existed zoroastrianism, 574.
Jun 07, 2011 all of these concepts were originally taught in zoroastrianism before christianity and islam existed zoroastrianism, 574. Are the ideas of jesus and christianity borrowed from mithra. You will find here a selected list of books on zoroastrianism, life and teachings of zoroaster or zarathushtra, zoroastrian beliefs, zend avesta, parsees, indo iranian connection, ancient history and persia. This book is useful for the later history of the zoroastrians.
There are many similarities between christianity and zoroastrianism, but also some differences. Zoroastrianism has been the segue for some other religions that we know today. A more distant relationship can be discerned between zoroastrianism and islam, as zoroastrianism seems likely to have, in turn, influenced judaism and christianity, then islam. What are some similarities between zoroastrianism and islam. The description of zoroastrianism reflects the authors personal. Zoroastrianism or mazdayasna is one of the worlds oldest continuously practiced religions. Islam, judaism, and zoroastrianism zayn kassam springer. In 1901, she continued the series with another four lectures on islam, jainism, sikhism, and. People of the bookscripture is an islamic term which refers to jews, christians, sabians, and zoroastrians. Individuals as diverse as voltaire, nietzsche and freddie mercury have been inspired by zoroastrianism. First taught on the inner asian steppes, zoroastrianism became the state religion of the three great iranian empires and, as such, had a remarkable influence on other world faiths. This is the most dynamic sect of islam in modern history, with membership exceeding tens of millions.
This is a list of notable converts from zoroastrianism to the islamic faith. The christian book of revelation, the last book in the new testament canon, is a later example of a form that goes back all the way through its jewish sources to the distant, ancient worlds of iran and mesopotamia. Zoroastrian refugees, called parsis, escaped muslim persecution in iran by. Arabic christianity conversion death extremism fasting gnosticism gospel of thomas gospels healing hebrew islam joshua judaism language law lgbt minorities prophets q sharia translation yusha follow people of the book on.
On the other hand, elements exist in christianity and islam that were first seen in zoroastrianism, and had no foundation in judaism. Did judaism and christianity borrow the messiah, the resurrection, and final judgment from zoroastrianism mithra. To me it seems more likely that zoroastrianism and other prechristian religions was influenced by christianity. Scholars have long acknowledged the contributions of zoroastrianism to other faiths, including judaism, christianity, islam, and buddhism. Zoroastrianisms influence on judaism, christianity, islam. Abul hasan mihyar aldaylami persian poet from daylam. I have not read that book it is in two volumes i believe, so i cannot judge its arguments, but from a purely historical point of view, if zoroastrianism really said all the aforementioned material before jesus was around and then it traveled to babylon. Marjan measured bahars unpredictable temperament according to the ancient and treasured zoroastrian practice of gastronomic balancing, which pitted light and against dark, good against evil, hot against cold. May 27, 2005 i have not read that book it is in two volumes i believe, so i cannot judge its arguments, but from a purely historical point of view, if zoroastrianism really said all the aforementioned material before jesus was around and then it traveled to babylon, it does seem like a good argument against christianity. Are the ideas of jesus and christianity borrowed from mithra and zoroastrianism. There are two groups of similarities between islam and zoroastrianism. How did zoroastrianism influence christianity and islam. List of books and articles about zoroastrianism online. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers.
A believer of zoroastrianism also believes that there is a constant, daily fight between a good force, spenta mainyu, and an evil force known as angra mainyu. Not only was it a cohort of the ancient vedic hinduism, but also had a huge influence on the development of judaism and christianity. Zoroastrianism is a founding belief system acknowledged to have heavily influenced both abrahamic judaism, christianity, islam and dharmic hinduism, buddhism, jainism. First, the pahlavi texts represent an ancient avestian tradition. Similarities between zoroastrianism and christianity. The religion of zoroastrianism and its impact on the world. Zoroastrianism, in spite of its small current number of adherents, has played a huge role in the study of comparative religion. The parallels of zoroastrianism on judiasm, christianity and islam are clearly deliniated here as well.
Zoroastrianism zoroastrianism beliefs and mythology. They were published in 1897 with a foreword from her as four great religious. Zoroastrianism contains both monotheistic and dualistic features. Waterhouse outlines the basic tenets of zoroastrianism and then points out the many similarities between this most ancient of religions and judaism. The bases of the religion state that there is an existence of a supreme, above all ruler, ahura mazda. Zoroastrianism is an ancient persian religion that may have originated as early as 4,000 years ago. One monotheistic religion that predated all these religions is zoroastrianism. On the other hand the religious text of zoroastrianism is known as avesta. Arguably the worlds first monotheistic faith, its one of the oldest religions still in. It is a multitendency faith centered on a dualistic cosmology of good and evil and an eschatology predicting the ultimate conquest of evil with theological elements of henotheism, monotheismmonism, and polytheism. There is another text in islam called hadish that contains stories as told by other prophets of islam.
Zoroastrianism john waterhouse if you are caught excessively commenting, being disrespectful, insulting, or derailing then your comments will. Zoroastrianism, ancient preislamic religion of iran that likely influenced the. You will find here a selected list of books on zoroastrianism, life and teachings of zoroaster or zarathushtra, zoroastrian beliefs, zend avesta, parsees, indo. All these texts are embedded in the yasna, which is one of the main. So far we can see that zoroastrianism contains a mixture of beliefs, on one hand it embraces some of the monotheism of islam, and the dualism of christianity, and that the zoroastrian concept of heaven and hell has moral elements in common with judaism, christianity and islam. Are the ideas of jesus and christianity borrowed from. To the latter three, zoroastrianism bequeathed such concepts as a cosmic struggle between right and wrong, the primacy of ethical choice in human life, monotheism, a celestial hierarchy of spiritual beings angels, archangels that. Zoroastrianism declined from the 7th century onwards following the muslim conquest of persia of 633654. It is interesting to note that of the three pre islamic religions of the near east judaism, christianity and zoroastrianism only the followers of zoroaster embraced islam in large numbers. Centuries before dantes divine comedy, the book of arda viraf described in. The most important texts of the religion are those of the avesta, which includes as central the writings of zoroaster known.
Even the idea of satan is a fundamentally zoroastrian one. In connecting these two faiths it is of prime importance to understand that both agree that in gods essentia there is unity of multas personas, that is, that he is simultaneously selfunited and multipersonal. This encyclopaedia covers zoroastrianism, judaism, and islam, and how. Difference between zoroastrianism and islam difference. Characteristics of middle east religion judaism, christianity, islam, zoroastrianism, bahai rigid monotheism. Bbc culture the obscure religion that shaped the west. Zoroastrianism apologetics catholic answers forums. Similarities between zoroastrianism and christianity although these are two different religions, they have many things in common. Apr 11, 2007 zoroastrianism is a founding belief system acknowledged to have heavily influenced both abrahamic judaism, christianity, islam and dharmic hinduism, buddhism, jainism and sikhism religions. Learn zoroastrianism islam with free interactive flashcards. Here is where zoroastrianism and christianity part ways with rabbinic judaism and islam. In 1896, dr annie besant gave four convention lectures on hinduism, zoroastrianism, buddhism, and christianity.
Im not sure if some small remnant of it existed well into the first few centuries, though if it did at that point it wouldnt have much influence the way it did at its height. Christians believe in god, whereas followers of zoroastrianism believe in ahura mazda. Zoroastrianism is an ancient persian religion that may have. The book was completed during the sassanid dynasty. The book contains the hymns in praise of ahura mazda and rituals to be performed during festival. Zoroastrianism was a major religion before christianity and islam were founded. For four centuries zoroastrianism was the state religion of the sassanids, and it successfully met the challenge of nascent christianity and, later, of heretical manichaeism. Zoroastrianism, christianity, judaism and islam 951 words 4 pages. Culture the obscure religion that shaped the west bbc. I did not know much about this religion, but after having read the book, i understand the key tenets and philosophies of the teachings. Pdf a history of zoroastrianism download full pdf book. Zoroastrianism, christianity, judaism and islam 951. With the conquest of iran by the muslim arabs, zoroastrianism lost its secular power, but continued to survive as. N persian history, the most noteworthy contribution to religious philosophy is made by zoroastrianism.
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