Zoroastrianism is particularly interesting because of its similarities to Christianity. Considering they both originate from the same region of the world, you have to wonder how much influence there was there.
There are a bunch of theories about the Jews comming into contact with Zoroastranism during The Babylonian Exile.
What's so emphazised in Zoroastrianism is moral dualism. Good/Evil. God/Anti-God. Paradise/Hell, etc. There are theories that this rather dualistic point-of-view was intregrated into Judaism (and therefore, into Christianity/Islam).
In contrast, in the early parts of the Old Testament, God is all about rulling like a monarch . He lays down laws, hold court with his angels, and guides his loyal subjects. But there isn't really any heavy emphasis on "dualism". God in the early parts of the Old Testament has no "Anti-God" (ie: Devil) that is present and actively opposing him. Neither is the heaven/hell afterlife talked about much at all. It's theoriezed that these elements that emerge in the later parts of the OT/NT was due to the effect of Zoroastrian influences.
Any interest in this subject? Anyone have any insight or comments or articles they would like to link us too?
Mircea Eliade made an insightful comment on the nature of "dead pagan religions" and how they compare to Abrahamic religions (ie: Judaism, Christianity, Islam) on a systematic level.
What is the point of pagan religions? If you look at their myths, rituals and beliefs, it's fundementally about the perpetual rebirth of nature. Ancient people performed their rituals so to keep the cycle of nature going, to perserve the balance of the Universe (a lack of balance was indicated by drought, floods, etc). The cycle of seasons was heavily emphasized in their religion. (Think Persefone bringing winter and summer by climbing out of the Underworld. ) Pagan religions are, basically, nature religion. They performed rituals to keep natures
status quo intact.
In contrast, Eliade called, say... Christianity, a "history religion". The point about Christianity is that after Jesus crucifixion , the rules changed. There where new rules about what an individual had to do with their life, ie: become Christian and live the Christian way.
Jesus did not die to "ensure that winter turned into summer and summer into winter". He died to create a new convant with men, which meant that new rules came into affect as he died. So, Christianity is a "history religion" defined by the historical moment that Jesus died. When the crucifixion happened, everything changed, and it was no longer about perserving the status quo of the Universe.
So... nature religions are defined by an emphasis to preserve the balance of the Universe, while Historical religions are defined by a specific historical event of momentous impact.
(This is, of course, a very abridged retelling of Eliade's argument. He provided much more details and examples in his works).
