A large part of Abrahamic traditions has similarities with Zoroastrianism, especially within the core texts of these religions. In his study, Akbar extensively compares Islamic and Zoroastrian teachings and points out substantial similarities, especially about the afterlife and the journey of a human soul (91-93). The same paper also found that even the descriptions of hell show remarkable resemblance in a way that «the form of punishment inflicted on the wicked corresponds to the crimes they committed in this world» (Akbar 98). This concept appears in Judaism as well in the form of hanging punishments. It is also evident that Zoroastrianism was in contact with Christianity, in terms of universalism in particular. According to Ramelli, the Christian concept of «apokatastasis» and Zoroastrian eschatology have a lot of common perceptions of universal restoration and reestablishment (357). With this in mind, the impact of Zoroastrianism on early religions is relatively clear.
Despite all those facts, some critical analyses doubt that the borrowings were single-sided. Since the religions were historically and geographically close, there is a strong possibility of mutual influence of traditions and beliefs. Substantial evidence of this is the same strategy of national unification Christianity and Zoroastrianism had in the Roman and Persian empires, respectively (Ramelli 354). It is, however, difficult to identify the single origin of this idea to unify the nation through religion, so the discussion remains unresolved. Regarding my point of view on Abrahamic religions borrowing concepts from Zoroastrianism, I believe it is somewhat natural. Since all those beliefs are built upon the same basic concepts, such as the afterlife, it is predictable for them to invent similar details. I think it is very much possible that early religions exchanged ideas and were inspired, probably, by some even more ancient traditions.
Works Cited
Akbar, Ali. “The Zoroastrian Provenance of Some Islamic Eschatological Doctrines.” Studies in Religion/Sciences Religieuses, vol. 49, no. 1, Mar. 2020, pp. 86–108. .
Ramelli, Ilaria LE. “Christian Apokatastasis and Zoroastrian Frashegird: The Birth of Eschatological Universalism.” Religion and Theology vol. 24, no. 3-4, 2017, pp. 350-406.