I have been told that Zoroastranism could be one of the earliest religions that have similarities with the Abraham religions. It seems, however, that Abrahamic roots date further than Zoroastrianism. Could anyone clear this up for me.
If anyone feels like or knows, please enlighten me with some history and also the earliest dated religion you know of.
The AbrahamICCeligions as we know them today didn't become monolithic until after Zoroastrianism. I suspect that Zoroastrianism was just one source that contributed.
It would be more correct to say that Islam originates from Zoroastrianism. Although all of the Abrahamic religions share similar roots, Zoroastrianism acted more as an 'influence-from-the-east' upon Christianity than it did as a direct forebear.
Zoroastrianism is one of the earliest organized forms of religion that we know of. However one could argue that even that one came from the animistic and animisticICCelief systems before that, or even some of the goddess and ancestor worship that came first. Also, Christianity is a branch off of Judiism and from there I really don't know but look up some anthropological facts on line and stuff. I don't claim to know it all and neither do most anthropologists but at least they have a pretty good idea.
You have to divide Abrhamic religion into traditional Prue-exilic Hebrew religion (Sadducees), with no resurrection, devil, etc, and post-Babylonian Rabbinical Judaism (Pharisees). The Indo-Persian influence came back with the Pharisees from Babylon. No surprise that Zoroastrians in India still call themselves Parsis.
Zoroastrianism co-existed in the Middle East with Judaism. There is a strong indication that scholars of both religions respected each other and might have considered each other to be the same or similar religion with Zoroastrianism being more mystical (Kabalic).
Though there were several sects of the Egyptian faith that were practically monotheistic, Zoroastrianism is currently believed to be the earliest verifiable mono-theistic religion.
ADD: The "Three Kings" that visited the young Jesus are often believed to have been Zoroastrianian priests.
I actually know someone who is Zoroastrian (there are only about a couple hundred thousand left in the world). We know Zoroastrianism because of writings existed by 1000 BCE (making it if this is correct younger then Judiaism). However some claim it actually goes further back and the Hindu Vedas come from Zoroaster, making it close to 6000 BCE and therefore older, actually the oldest religion known if true.
No Christianity did not come out of Zoroastrianism, however the three "wise man" were believed to be Zoroastrian priests and their visit to the Christ child is recorded in Zoroastrian history. Zoroastrianism actually admits it was influenced more by other religious system es beliefs then others beliefs have been influenced by them. But really it's core is closest to It's Indo/Iranian culture.
I would find it hard to believe that Christianity was not some how influenced by Zoroatrianism. How could it not have, at least to some extent even if minute? I have heard it argued that animism is the oldest forms of religion and certainly the Egyptian religion would be one of the oldest as well. I am fairly certain that as far as the oldest religion that was ever recorded or written down would be Hinduism. There is my two cents!
Did christianity originate from Zoroastrianism?
