Zoroastrianism has often been compared to Judaism and Christianity, and some secular scholars even claim that Zoroastrianism was the precursor for Judaism.  However, the two religions are completely separate despite a few similarities.

Zoroastrianism and Christianity are similar because of the emphasis on good versus evil, angelology and demonology, their holy writings, and the ties of being worldwide religions.

  • Both religions have an emphasis on good versus evil.  Zoroastrianism focuses on light and darkness while Christianity contrasts God with Satan.
  • Both religions also have angelology and demonology.  Zoroastrianism sees these as opposing forces in nature which must be conquered by man.  Christianity sees angels as servants and messengers of God while demons are Satan’s servants.
  • Both religions are unique for having old written religious teachings.  Zoroastrians have the Avesta and Christianity has the Bible.
  • Both religions are worldwide religions.  Zoroastrianism had its climax during the Persian and Roman Empires, but is limited to a few regions in India today.  Christianity has been a worldwide religion since its roots in Judaism and continues to be one today.

Zoroastrianism and Christianity are different in their basis for salvation, their basic structure, their priesthoods, and the authors of the holy books.

  • Zoroastrianism is a works based religion in which man goes to heaven (paradise) if he is good or to a fiery hell if he is bad.  Christianity understands that man was born with a sin nature which condemns him to death and hell because a holy God cannot allow sin into heaven.  Jesus Christ, God’s Son, came to earth in human form and died on the cross to pay for man’s sin.  His resurrection from the dead offers the way for man to have forgiveness of his sin if he will only repent and believe on Jesus’ name.
  • The basic structure for each religion is different.  Zoroastrianism is a true dualism with a touch of henotheism.  Christianity is a triune monotheism with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.
  • Zoroastrianism has a special priesthood called the Magi who are elite, mystical kind of men.  Christianity believes that every Christian has direct access to God through Jesus who acts as our High Priest.
  • Although the two religions were similar in having ancient holy writings, the authors of those writings contrast.  The Avesta was based on the beliefs of Zoroaster who founded the religion.  It is a book of man’s words only.  The Bible was inspired by God who told men what to write through divine inspiration.  It is therefore a truly divine book with no error.

Secular scholars truly cannot claim that these two religions were tied to each other.  Although they are similar in some underlying themes, the contrasts are too great for them to be related.  Zoroastrianism is a religion devised by man to keep him in bondage.  Christianity is a work of love by God to set man free from his sin.

– Hannah S. Bowers

Christianity holds God’s greatest gift to mankind:  forgiveness of sin and eternal life in heaven through the shed blood of Jesus Christ!

  • Romans 3:10-12  “As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.'”
  • Romans 3:23-26  “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
  • Romans 5:12  “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned–“
  • Romans 6:23  “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
  • Romans 5:8  “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
  • John 3:16  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
  • Ephesians 2:8-9  “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
  • Romans 10:9-11  “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”