Some anti-Christian scholars claim Christianity derives from Zoroastrianism or Buddhism. Yet, as Wikipedia notes, "Almost nothing is known of the status of Zoroastrianism under the Seleucids and Parthians, who ruled Persia after Alexander’s invasion in 330 BC." This gap makes a Jesus-Zoroaster connection unlikely—no traditional Zoroastrian sources suggest it.
As a non-Christian, I seek historical facts, not to defame faiths. The extent of Zoroastrianism’s influence on Judaism or Christianity remains uncertain. My focus is history, not belief promotion. Below are edited Wikipedia extracts on early Zoroastrianism—use cautiously, comparing to other sources.
Zoroastrianism arose from an Indo-Iranian system (~2nd millennium BCE). Tradition says Zoroaster elevated Ahura Mazda as Supreme Creator, demoting other deities and curbing some rituals.
It enters history mid-5th century BCE. Herodotus’ *Histories* (~440 BCE) describes Iranian society with possible Zoroastrian traits, like corpse exposure.
Herodotus (1.101) lists Magi as a Median tribe, likely priests, possibly linked to Zurvanism, influential in Median courts until Cyrus the Great’s unification (550 BCE).
Cyrus and Cambyses II curbed Magi power after dissent. In 522 BCE, Magi installed pseudo-Smerdis (Gaumata), who ruled seven months (Herodotus 3.68) until Darius I’s coup (521 BCE, Behistun Inscription). A second coup by Vahyazdata failed a year later.
Cyrus’ Zoroastrianism is debated. His tolerance, possibly influenced by it, freed Jews to Judea (539 BCE). Darius I revered Ahura Mazda (Behistun), but his adherence to Zoroaster’s teachings is unclear.
Achaemenid rulers allowed religious coexistence. Zoroastrianism grew then; some Avesta texts possibly date to this period, alongside the calendar and yazatas (angels) used today (Dhalla, 1938).
Acknowledgment: I’d like to thank Grok, an AI by xAI, for refining this article. The perspective is mine.
