Zoroastrianism In Greek Culture

Stephen Prothero’s “God Is Not One” is a survey of world religions, comprising vital information on a vast array of different sets of belief. As someone who has never studied religion before, nor belongs to a particular faith, the variability within these religions is staggering. One might be satisfied to define religion as “how a person goes about believing in God,” but soon finds that even that definition has its holes. Thankfully, “God Is Not One” does an amazing job of cluing its reader into the nuances that are sometimes forgotten about the religions it approaches.

Religion is a universal term that is widely used for a human’s belief system. The views on how religions compare to one another can be defined differently. One view explains religions using a united belief system by their common goals. Another view explains that different religions are just a shared essence and have vast differences between their specific traditions and customs. This shared essence, but vastly different theory, is explained by Stephen Prothero, using the term “pretend pluralism”. There are many major and minor religions that have guided people in their morals and beliefs. Religions, such as Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism. All five of these current, major religions have vast differences, but may have common goals in their morals, traditions, etc. Two of the most practiced religions, of these five, are Christianity and Islam. These two religions are constantly at battle with one another, but what many people don’t see is that there are just as many similarities between these two religions as there are differences. Through this paper we will discover the underlying similarities and differences between these two religions and, hopefully, conclude that supports either the common goal theory or the “pretend pluralism” theory.

Christianity, Judaism, and Islam all have similar origins, development, beliefs, and sacred texts. Contrary to popular belief all three of these religions share more common ground than one would think. The differences are present of course, but the similarities help one understand where all three were derived from and why. All of the religions share the common ground as to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, the belief of monotheism, and “ethical standards required social justice for individuals and for the community” (144). Judaism is the oldest religion out of the three, then falls Christianity, and lastly Islam.

Greeks thought about their gods more often than most people do nowadays. Over the course of the day the Greeks would think about the gods often. if they wanted something such as death of an enemy or a good harvest he would give a offering to a temple of the of the gods domain in which he wanted help in.

Zoroastrianism is a type of religion that Darius I and his successors most likely followed. It originated in ancient Iran, and the single god of goodness named Ahuramazda was believed to be in a constant struggle against evil.

In modern times when one thinks of Monotheism, the first religion that comes to mind is Christianity. But what is Monotheism? Monotheism is the belief that there is only one god. But is Christianity the first group of people to believe in one god? The answer is no, monotheism comes a long way. Zoroastrianism was the first monotheistic religion approximately 3500 years ago. The religion was founded by Prophet Zoroaster in ancient Iran. The second monotheistic religion known to man kind is Atenism founded by the Pharaoh Akhenaten. And the third Monotheistic religion is Judaism.

The scriptures have shown that there are similarities of Christianity, Judaism and Islamic beliefs. The major difference in the writings is the treatment of strangers. In examining the contentious behaviors of the people in the Middle East, both past and present, religious beliefs have played a part in the development of the realm’s history.

Zoroastrianism on the other hand is a monotheistic religion, originating in Iran, and has evolved throughout the ages. With approximately 130,000 remaining followers. Zoroastrianism’s early stage, is presumed to have influenced Buddhism, and introduces beliefs of Gods and Devils that have been adopted by other religions such as Christianity, and Islam. The Zoroastrian gods represented elements, aspects of nature, and principles such as justice and obedience. These gods were called daevas meaning (“shining ones”), with higher ranking gods called Ahuras or (“Lords”) with the supreme god Ahura Mazda, being worshipped above all the other gods as the divine creator; through good thoughts, words, and deeds, like the Jainism ahimsa. Zoroastrians believed there was a cosmic battle between good and evil and to support good one must dedicate themselves as spiritual warriors for good.

It dominated the world from 559 BCE to 651 CE. Just by reading the basics, we have seen many similarities in all three of these religions. The most important one is of course the shared belief of an almighty God, Ahura Mazda, Yehowa. The holy father is the one and only God in all three of these regions. All three religions recognize the evil forces of the earth being led by one specific entity. Resurrection, final judgment, hell, haven, and immortal soul, all of those elements essentially come from Zoroastrian teachings and are very prevalent in Christianity and Judaism. The element of fire, if you read how the bible describes judgment day, it is very similar to the Zoroastrian vision of the final purification revelation, 20:11-15 speaking of the lake of fire. Christianity adopted several rituals from Zoroastrianism, consisting of baptism, known in Zoroastrianism as a haoma ceremony, worshiping on Sunday, and celibate priests that mediate between man and God http://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/Religions/iranian/Zarathushtrian/zoroastrianism_influence.htm. This religion has influenced more of human kind than any other religion, philosophy or political movement. It is the direct route to Abrameiac religion and Indian religion. http://altreligion.about.com/od/alternativereligionsaz/a/zoroastrianism.htm http://view.ebookplus.pearsoncmg.com/ebook/launcheText

"The Navjote is also known as Sedreh-Pushi. This is the initiation ceremony where a child, between the ages of seven and twelve, receives his or her sudreh and kusti and performs the 'Kusti Ritual' for the first time." (BBC) In this ceremony the young person is accepted into the faith, much like a first Communion in Catholicism, or Bar Mitzvah in Judaism the tradition of faith is passed down to the younger generation as they are recognized for the first time as part of the religion's community for the first time.

The Achaemenid Empire was one of the strongest empires in Southwest Asia during the first millennium B.C.E. Courageous and skilled Persian conquerors allowed Persian rule to spread beyond Persian territory, creating one of the largest early empires (Dunn & Mitchell, 2014). However, across the Mediterranean Sea was dwelled a more advanced empire with a stronger military, the Greeks (Dunn & Mitchell, 2014). These prominent early empires possessed many similarities and held the ultimate goal of building and maintaining an advanced empire and society. Yet, their Southwestern and Afro-Eurasian cultures consisted of several different beliefs and ways of life. The 5th and 6th century B.C.E polytheistic Greek traditions tremendously differed from the religion of the Achaemenid Empire, which believed solely in Ahu Mazda, “the supreme god” (Dunn & Mitchell, 2014). The political structures of the Achaemenid and Greek Empires were also vastly dissimilar, unlike the united Achammenid Empire; Greece consisted of several poleis’ (city states) (Dunn & Mitchell, 2014).

The book written by author “Peter Clark” mainly for general public and students to give them brief idea about how Zoroastrianism was founded and along the way it also gives the detail explanation of their principal of the religion. Author Peter Clark also briefly explains the influence of Zoroastrianism on other religion such as Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Author Peter Clark also talks about “A living faith – Zoroastrianism

Zoroastrianism is a religion founded by a priest named Zarathustra Spitma or Zoroaster far back in the 1200BCE, with the principle belief of an almighty God or “the One” Ahura Mazda and the context of a cosmic battle between the good and evil forces.

Continuously Religion has partaken and will constantly stay essential in our lives, whether we whole heartily have great faith in it or we do not. Yet, what exactly is Religion? Religion is having the certainly in a God or in a group of Gods. As well as, a structured system that takes into account strict beliefs, rituals, and guidelines that must be followed. In addition, carried out to worship a God or a group of Gods who are idolized. Today across the world there is nearly 4,200 Religions which are present. They include Christianity, Catholicism, Hinduism, and many more. Religions followers who remain dedicated to the Christian and Catholic faith are identified for following one God. In an Article called Incommensurability, Incomparability,

On this vast planet religions are becoming more prevalent and are being studied more frequently in recent times. Many individuals want to study and learn about the origins of some religions, on where they were developed and what was the cause of this glorification of a divine. The art of religion is processed by many ideologies, background, beliefs, myths, and rituals. The five major religions of the world include: Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism are solely based on these ideologies, and ultimately leads to one goal, to follow the path of god, or to seek a euphoric state of salvation. In spite of all the differences among the world’s five major religions, they have very similar ethical constructs, which should encourage more mutual respect among them.