Zoroastrianism by Owen Borville April 11, 2025
Ancient Persian Philosophy began with Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism is one of the oldest religions, emerging in Persia (Iran) as early as 2000 B.C., and based on the Avesta, the textual scriptures, of the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathustra).
Zoroastrians worshipped one supreme god, Ahura Mazda, who is opposed to evil and a common theme is good versus evil. Zoroastrianism is believed to be one of the world's first monotheistic religion by many scholars.
Although the religion was traced back to 2000 B.C., Zoroastrianism was the official religion of Persia (Iran) for a millennium (600 B.C. to 650 A.D.). After the Islamic invasion of Persia, many Zoroastrian Iranians fled to India and the number of followers is about 120,000 worldwide today.
As Zoroastrianism recognizes several angelic-beings in addition to the supreme god, some believe that Zoroastrianism is not monotheistic. However, most scholars believe that the figures recognized aside from Ahura Mazda are like angels or angelic beings created by the supreme god, which would make Zoroastrianism more in line with the Abrahamic religions.
As Zoroastrians fled eastward to India, the religion likely influenced Hindu beliefs in India and there are similarities in the two religions. The common themes of Zoroastrianism with Abrahamic religions include monotheism, dualism (i.e., a robust notion of a Devil—but with a positive appraisal of material creation), symbolism of the divine, heaven(s) and hell(s), angels and demons, eschatology and final judgment, a messianic figure and the idea of a savior, a holy spirit, concern with ritual purity, an idealization of wisdom and righteousness, and other doctrines, symbols, practices, and religious features.
Fredrickson, Nathan (January 2009). "Zoroastrian Influence on Post-Exilic Jewish Belief and Practice".
Ancient Persian Philosophy began with Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism is one of the oldest religions, emerging in Persia (Iran) as early as 2000 B.C., and based on the Avesta, the textual scriptures, of the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathustra).
Zoroastrians worshipped one supreme god, Ahura Mazda, who is opposed to evil and a common theme is good versus evil. Zoroastrianism is believed to be one of the world's first monotheistic religion by many scholars.
Although the religion was traced back to 2000 B.C., Zoroastrianism was the official religion of Persia (Iran) for a millennium (600 B.C. to 650 A.D.). After the Islamic invasion of Persia, many Zoroastrian Iranians fled to India and the number of followers is about 120,000 worldwide today.
As Zoroastrianism recognizes several angelic-beings in addition to the supreme god, some believe that Zoroastrianism is not monotheistic. However, most scholars believe that the figures recognized aside from Ahura Mazda are like angels or angelic beings created by the supreme god, which would make Zoroastrianism more in line with the Abrahamic religions.
As Zoroastrians fled eastward to India, the religion likely influenced Hindu beliefs in India and there are similarities in the two religions. The common themes of Zoroastrianism with Abrahamic religions include monotheism, dualism (i.e., a robust notion of a Devil—but with a positive appraisal of material creation), symbolism of the divine, heaven(s) and hell(s), angels and demons, eschatology and final judgment, a messianic figure and the idea of a savior, a holy spirit, concern with ritual purity, an idealization of wisdom and righteousness, and other doctrines, symbols, practices, and religious features.
Fredrickson, Nathan (January 2009). "Zoroastrian Influence on Post-Exilic Jewish Belief and Practice".