Q How has Zoroastrianism influenced major world religions?
A Historians and theologians note that Zoroastrianism deeply influenced Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Key concepts such as an ultimate good versus evil (God vs. Satan), heaven and hell, a messianic figure, a final judgment, and bodily resurrection originated or were heavily shaped within Zoroastrian thought.
A Historians and theologians note that Zoroastrianism deeply influenced Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Key concepts such as an ultimate good versus evil (God vs. Satan), heaven and hell, a messianic figure, a final judgment, and bodily resurrection originated or were heavily shaped within Zoroastrian thought.
Explore More
Zoroastrian Religions ONSSearch Google Search Explore Topics
What is Zoroastrian?Zoroastrianism is an Iranian religion and one of the world's oldest organized faiths, based on the teachings of the Iranian-speaking prophet Zoroaster. It has a dualistic cosmology of good and evil within the framework of a monotheistic ontology and an eschatology which predicts the ultimate conquest of evil by good. Zoroastrianism exalts an uncreated and benevolent deity of wisdom known as Ahura Mazda (Lord of Wisdom) as its supreme being. Historically, the unique features of Zoroastrianism, such as its monotheism, belief in free will and judgement after death, conception of heaven, hell, angels, and demons, among other concepts, may have influenced other religious and philosophical systems, including the Abrahamic religions.
What are Religions?Religion is a range of social-cultural systems, including designated behaviors and practices, ethics, morals, beliefs, worldviews, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, or organizations, that generally relate humanity to supernatural, transcendental, and spiritual elements. There is no scholarly consensus over what precisely constitutes a religion. It is an essentially contested concept. Different religions may or may not contain various elements ranging from the divine, sacredness, faith, and a supernatural being or beings. The origin of religious belief is an open question, with possible explanations including awareness of individual death, a sense of community, and dreams. Religions have sacred histories, narratives, and mythologies, preserved in oral traditions, sacred texts, symbols, and holy places, that may attempt to explain the origin of life, the universe, and other phenomena. Religious practice may include rituals, sermons, commemoration or veneration (of deities or saints), sacrifices, festivals, feasts, trances, initiations, matrimonial and funerary services, meditation, prayer, music, art, dance, or public service. There are an estimated 10,000 distinct religions worldwide, though nearly all of them have regionally based, relatively small followings. Four religions: Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism account for over 77% of the world's population, and 92% of the world either follows one of those four religions or identifies as non-religious, meaning that the vast majority of remaining religions account for only 8% of the population combined.
Who are ONS?The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is the official national statistical institute of the United Kingdom.
