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To: bobjam
Why is it that Zoroastrians influenced Judaism? Wouldn't it be the other way around?

No. Most theological history puts Zoroastrianism as a sort of pre-cursor to Judaism from which Judaism acquired many of its modern characteristics, arguably the conceptual grandfather of the major Semitic religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam). The arguments are not whether Zoroastrianism influenced Judaism, but to the extent that Judaism is directly descended from Zoroastrianism in the same way that Christianity is descended from Judaism. It is well-established that many parts of Judaism were acquired from the Persians, but the exact relationship in pre-history is uncertain.

Zoroastrianism is an extremely old religion, older than recognizable modern Judaism for sure, though Islam pretty thoroughly eradicated it. Most major modern religions are at least partially descended from it.

8 posted on 09/06/2006 1:35:01 PM PDT by tortoise
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To: tortoise; bobjam; McGavin999; Alex Murphy

My mother is a Zoroastrian by birth. As the article mentions, traditionally, conversions aren't allowed but that has been changing in recent times due to diminishing numbers.

"Zoroastrianism is an extremely old religion, older than recognizable modern Judaism for sure,"

You are right. It is much older than Judaism and has had many influences on all major and so-called 'religions of the book' as well as even 'Feminism'.

"The wisemen were thought to be Zoroastrians (more than likely at least one of them was)."

The Magi were the wisemen you are referring to who travelled to Bethleham for the birth of Jesus Christ. Actually, the Magi weren't originally Zoroastrians but adopted the faith after it spread widely throughout Western Persia (Iran). The Magi became the so-called priests of the faith in ancient Persia.

Here is an interesting article on Zoroastrianism.

http://www.zoroaster.net/indexe.htm

Also, the site below has many interesting English Articles about Zoroastrianism.

http://www.derafsh-kaviyani.com/


9 posted on 09/06/2006 5:47:23 PM PDT by odds
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To: tortoise

According to the Scriptures, the people of the Fertile Crescent and surrounding areas are descended from one group that worshiped the Almighty. As time passed this people group spread out and evolved into different nations and cultures. Likewise, many of these new groups allowed their worship of the One True God to evolve into fertility cults, polytheism, etc. Genesis and Exodus describe how the Lord called Abraham out of this religious quagmire and taught him and his descendents to walk in His ways so that they may be an example to the rest of the world.

The reason Zoroastrianism looks similar to Judaism is that it did not stray from the the Truth as far as the Egyptians and Canaanites did.


10 posted on 09/07/2006 4:53:02 AM PDT by bobjam
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