Zoroastrianism and its influence

I will confess that I knew virtually nothing about Zoroastrianism before going through the readings from this past week in the course reader - as always, it's quite an enjoyable experience to learn something new.

What struck me as the most interesting thing was the similarities that I was able to draw from this ancient tradition to more 'recent', mass-practised religions.  There is in Zoroastrianism the belief of creation from a Higher Being or Authority, much like the three Abrahamic traditions - these are apparently evident in the themes laid out in the Gathas and seem to be followed, more or less, in the Bible, Quran and Torah.  The basic principals and concepts is spread out between all four of these traditions - the idea of purity, good and evil in the universe, life and death, which involves the idea of an afterlife, are just a few of the main themes that can be seen in Zoroastrianism, and in turn in the Abrahamic traditions.  In that way, it would seem like Zoroastrianism has a degree of influence upon those traditions, perhaps in a manner by which they can trace their roots back up to it.

Just looking at this picture, I can't help but

find it quite reminiscent to Christian artistic portrayals of Jesus Christ

It's interesting drawing up these sort of connections between seemingly different religious practises and examining similar themes and ideas that come up.  In that way it's a pretty unique way to examine the history of a religion - backtracking and seeing what sort of other traditions may have had some sort of influence on how said tradition is shaped and practised.  Similarities are clearly seen in this way, and I think it wouldn't be too far from the truth to draw up this sort of connection.  Doctrinal similarities from the Gathas, and even some of their prescribed practises are somewhat similar in manner to some of the Abrahamic tradtions' practises.  Emphasis on cleanliness, prayer, purity and goodness - these can be traced up and seen in the older Zoroastrian tradition.  It's just interesting to see how a tradition, now a minority in terms of practise, has had such an incredible influence on traditions that are now far more dominant, in practise.

Zoroastrian Sadah Feast