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Zoroastianisms influence on Christianity

Zoroastianisms influence on Christianity Zoroastrianism's role in Christianity's Development: Christianity is one of the most popular religions of the early 21st century. Through the course of Christianity's first millennia it was able to rise from its original twelve followers to become the state religion of Rome and the mighty empire which it held. However, unbeknownst to many, the concepts that exist in Christianity and Judaism (the religion from which Christianity spawned) were initially conceived by the nearly dead religion of Zoroaster. Christianity is closely modeled after the Zoroastrain's beliefs in the afterlife, redemption, judgment, duality of deities, apocalypse and messiahs. Whether Christianity adopted or coincidentally shared the beliefs of the Zoroastrians is up for debate. Regardless, the similarities are staggering. Both Christians and Zoroastrians believe that there will be an apocalypse. When this apocalypse occurs it is believed that the world will be cleansed of non-believers and evil. This apocalypse will occur after a Messiah has arrived on earth. The Christians believe that Messiah will be Jesus, whereas the Zoroastrians believe that the messiah to spur the apocalypse will be the third Saoshyant. Both religions also share a critical component of their individual apocalyptic views. Zoroastrians and Christians both initially believed that the apocalypse would come quickly after the death of their founders. Obviously, that apocalypse never came and strangely enough, both religions adapted to this issue in the same way. They both took up a belief in millennialism. The Christians claimed that 1000A.D. would be the end. Of course that never happened, so they moved on to believe that 2000A.D. would be the date of the apocalypse, now they are somewhat undecided as to when the apocalypse will occur. The same plight occurred within the Zoroastrian faith. When Zoroaster died they waited patiently for the apocalypse to come. After a few years had passed they decided it would occur at the end of a millennia.1 Although Christians will argue that their religion is monotheistic, virtually all other religions argue to the contrary. Muslims and Jews both consider the Christian Holy Trinity to be clear evidence of tri-theism. This is a view which has great weight to it. If God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are all gods, then it seems logical to say that indeed the Christians are tri-theists. This is belief in three gods is shared by the Zoroastrians, who believe that Ahura Mazda, Spenta Mainyu and Anghra Mainyu are all gods. Christians and Zoroastrians both believe in a cosmic dualism. This dualism manifests itself in the struggle between two non-empirical beings which represent good and evil. This is a corner stone of both religions. The follower becomes a soldier in the struggle for good, whereas non-believers are told they are working for the evil deity. It is also promised that good will eventually triumph over evil at the onset of the apocalypse. All though the two religions both possess this dualism, there is one subtle difference between the two. In the Zoroastrian faith the two forces are represented entirely by gods. The evil Anghra Mainyu against the good Spenta Mainyu and Ahura Mazda. However, in Christianity the force of good is a god, whereas the evil force is a mere spirit (although it can be argued that this spirit [Lucifer] processes many of the characteristics of a deity). More similarities can be found between the two religions when one looks at the issue of the afterlife. Although Christianity's popularity is due to its concept of a morally driven afterlife, it was the Zoroastrians who first came up with this concept. According to Zoroastrian writings, when one dies they hover above their body for three days. After those three days they must cross a bridge, if they are virtuous they make it across to Ahura Mazda's paradise2. However, if they are not virtuous they will fall from the bridge into the perils of hell. The Christians believe that when one dies his entire life is judged, and according to his deeds he is sent to either heaven or hell. The two religions are nearly identical, although methods are different, the exact same purpose is served by the presence of two after lifes. Followers of either religion strive to do good in order to avoid hell. The one difference that exists between the two is the issue of finite versus infinite stays in hell. Christians believe that hell is eternal, whereas the Zoroastrians believe that hell can be escaped. In a way the Zoroastrians see hell as a form of purgatory that is torturous. One of the few major differences between the two religions is the issue of sin. If you are a Christian you must repent your sins by means of confession. In addition, up until a few centuries ago one was also expected to self-flagellate or pay for an indulgence3. Zoroastrianism is very different from these methods of absolving sin. To clear yourself of sins, all one must do is change the thought process which contributed to that sin in the first place. Thus the whole process is very personal, and completely private. Another major difference between Zoroastrianism and Christianity is the issue of hierarchy within those of faith. Christianity (at least before Martin Luther came about) had an extensive hierarchy which included many levels of command. The Zoroastrians on the other hand lacked this level of cohesiveness. This is probably due to their followers being mostly nomadic peoples, whereas the Christians had the benefit of a more static form of life. The similarities between these two religions are uncanny. It is truly shocking when one first compares the two, it is simply amazing that a religion that out dates Christianity by fifteen hundred years could be so similar. This amazement continues when one ponders why the similarities are rarely, if ever, discussed when the topic of Judaism or Christianity come up in an academic setting. It would seem as if the shared beliefs between the two are not simply a product of chance, it is quite the contrary. It is clear that Zoroastrian theology had an enormous effect on the formation and rise of Christianity. Bibliography:

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