Compiled by Lewis Loflin
Introduction by Lewis Loflin: I’m pro-Jewish and pro-Zoroastrian—both traditions offer rich insights into human ethics and reason. Yet, I stumble over concepts like angels, demons, and cosmic battles. I lean toward Rambam (Maimonides), who saw these as forces of nature, not winged beings—God works through the natural order, not supernatural gimmicks. This lens shapes my take: parallels between these faiths fascinate, but reason sifts myth from reality.
Extracts from *Jewish Encyclopedia* (1904):
Zoroastrianism and Judaism share stark parallels. Ahuramazda—supreme, eternal, creator via Spenta Mainyu (*Yasna 31*)—mirrors Yhwh (*Exodus 3:14*). Ahriman, his foe, doomed like Satan (*Vendidad 19*, *Revelation 20*), frames a cosmic duel. My note: Reason asks—coincidence or cribbing? Nature’s laws, not spirits, may explain.
Angelology and demonology align—Amesha Spentas (*Yasna 1*) vs. angels (*Daniel 10*), daevas vs. demons (*Vendidad 10*, *Leviticus 17:7*). Eschatology matches: Saoshyant/Messiah (*Yasht 19*, *Isaiah 11*), resurrection (*Bundahishn 30*, *Daniel 12:2*), eternal life (*Isaiah 25:8*). Both are revealed—Zarathustra’s mountain (*Yasna 43*), Moses’ Sinai (*Exodus 19*). Purification laws echo—*Vendidad* (*Fargard 5*) vs. Leviticus (*11–15*). My note: Deism wonders—who borrowed? Rambam’s nature trims the fluff.
Cosmology parallels: six creation stages (*Bundahishn 1*, *Genesis 1*); Mashya/Mashyana, Adam/Eve (*Bundahishn 14*, *Genesis 2*); Yima’s enclosure, Noah’s ark (*Vendidad 2*, *Genesis 6*); triadic heirs—Erij/Selm/Tur, Shem/Ham/Japheth (*Yasht 13*, *Genesis 10*). Rituals, lawgivers (Zoroaster, Moses) overlap too. My note: Reason flags human hands—God via nature, not magic, fits Rambam.
Jews met Persians post-Exile (539 BCE, *Ezra 1*). Most scholars—Kohut, Stave—say Judaism took angelology, resurrection, monotheism from Zoroastrianism (*Lang*). Darmesteter (d. 1894) flipped it—Avesta borrowed from Jews, Philo (*Sacred Books*)—a view trashed since (*Moulton*). My note: Reason holds—proof’s thin both ways. Nature’s influence beats divine whispers.
Truth’s murky—mutual influence likely (*Frye*). Babylonian exile (587–539 BCE) may hint at a shared root (*Kuhrt*). Until then, it’s guesswork. My note: Deism shrugs—dogma’s source matters less than reason’s light. Rambam cuts through.
