Zoroastrianism and the Jewish Faith

[shawn]

I couldn't really find a good section to talk about this subject.  I hope it's ok for this forum...if not please feel free to erase it.  But, over the years I have debated with a wide group of individuals.  I recently had a discussion with an atheist.  He brought up some points I wanted to research and felt a need to educate myself.  His point was that the Jews, Christians and many religions "took" beliefs from Zoroastrianism ie life after death, resurrection of the dead and restoration of earth.  He jumped to the conclusion that means our faith is a farce and has been stolen.  Since I was unfamiliar with that argument I refrained from commenting too much on that particular.

I was curious if anyone has run into this and opinions on the matter.  Any help would be appreciated.

[WhiteWings]

You should also ask the question: Who copied who?
For example is Christianity copied from Zoroasterism or the other way around?
http://bdsda.wordpress.com/2009/02/01/untimely-figs/

"Thomas Hyde, an eminent Orientalist (1636-1703), writing on the
ancient religion of the Persians, quotes from ABULFARAGIUS
(an Arab Christian Historian, 1126-1286), who says that ZOROASTER,
or ZERDUSHT, the Persian, was a pupil of Daniel the Prophet, and that
he predicted to the Magians (who were the astronomers of Persia), that
when they should see a new star appear it would notify the birth of a
mysterious child, whom they were to adore. It is further stated in the
Zend Avesta that this new star was to appear in the sign of the Virgin." (1)

http://www.biblicalfulfillment.org/id8.html

But how, we still may ask, did the heathen Magi, followers of the
 teachings of Zoroaster, hear about the prophecy Isaiah pronounced to
 the "house of David" more than seven hundred years before? Well,
 today we know for sure Zoroaster, the founder of the Persian
 religion that is called after him, lived in Babylon from about 560
 BC., at a time, when the Jews stayed in the Babylonian Captivity.
 The Jews obviously told Zoroaster about Isaiah's prophecy of the
 birth of the Messiah from a Jewish virgin of the house of David.
 Even the Syrian scholar Abu'l Faragius (1226-1286) states that when
 Zoroaster was in Babylon he became a pupil of the prophet Daniel,
 who was deported to Babylon from the land of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar
 II in 605 BC. And in his History of Dynasties Faragius further
 writes that Zoroaster had predicted to the Magi a "new star" would
 appear in the skies and signal the birth of a wonderful boy whom
 they were to adore. According to the Avesta, the bible of the
 Zoroastrians, the redeemer would be born of a virgin. When the new
 star appeared in the womb of the celestial Virgin (ERUA), the Magi
 knew the Messiah was born from a Jewish virgin, and immediately
 started on their long journey to Jerusalem in order to adore the
 new-born "King of the Jews."

BTW stay away from atheists; they infect your soul with lies  :tease:
(likely the source of his claim was this movie.

[shawn]

Very interesting.  Atheists have been playing these games for years. 

[Molly]

1Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

2Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

3When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

4And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

5And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

6And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

7Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

8And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

9When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

11And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

12And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

--Mat 2



"wise men"

G3097
μάγος
magos
mag'-os
Of foreign origin [H7248]; a Magian, that is, Oriental scientist; by implication a magician: - sorcerer, wise man.



11There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;

12Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.

--Daniel 5

[Molly]

BTW stay away from atheists; they infect your soul with lies 
(likely the source of his claim was this movie.

Mixing truth with a lie is the oldest trick in the Book.



1Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

--Gen 3