Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism - Essay Example

Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastranism Introduction If one takes a close look at the human civilization, one can not help noticing that religion plays an extremely important role in it. Indeed, the significance of spiritual beliefs can be traced up to the very dawn of the society. That is why a careful analysis of a particular religion might reveal a considerable amount of important information about the true nature of the people. What is more important is that the examination might benefit from comparison of religions that are connected in some way. This paper will analyze three religious systems: Zoroastrianism, Judaism and Christianity, pointing out some aspects that they have in common as well as elements which differ dramatically. Common elements To begin with, it must be noted that all three religions in question are monotheistic (Fisher, 2014). Indeed, it must be noted that several thousand years ago, the majority of religions that were spread in the world were polytheistic; that is why faith in one God should be seen as a rather progressive worldview. Thus, in the set of religious coordinates, Ahura Mazda is the supreme God that people should worship. In the view of Judaism, there is also one God that freed this nation from slavery in Egypt and led them to the Promised Land. Finally, Christianity is also monotheistic religion; however, it features the so-called Trinitarian monotheism which stands for one God in Three Persons. So, one might suggest that the first feature that these religions share is belief in one God. The second aspect that should be taken into account is the afterlife. Thus, Zoroastrianism, Judaism and Christianity believe that after death the soul of a person does not disappear, but goes to a different world. According to the former religion, the conditions in which a soul will find itself after death are determined by the manner on the early life. As one can clearly see, there is a similar aspect in Christianity when our deeds determine our afterlife. It must be noted that the position of Judaism on the issue of afterlife is not fully determined, but it would not be a mistake to suggest that as a religion it fully rejects it. That is why the existence of afterlife is another point that these religions share. Finally, the common ground of Zoroastrianism, Judaism and Christianity may also be found in what is usually referred to as the Golden Rule. In spite of the fact that I may be formulated in different ways, the original message behind it is similar: one should treat others in a way one wants to be treated. There is no doubt that this is a rather simple concept, yet it is extremely humanistic since it encourages people to behave properly and reinforce relationship with others. As a result, it would not be a mistake to note that ultimately all three religions want their followers to form one unified group where every member of it helps others and refrains from bringing any destructive elements into social environment. Points of difference Despite the fact that the three religions in question have numerous aspects that they share, there are also many other points which show that they are quite different. To begin with, one might mention that Zoroastrianism has a definite founder, namely the prophet Zarathustra (Fisher, 2014). In other words, if it had not been for him, the religion would never come into being. On the other hand, Judaism was not founded by a single person. Of course, it is possible to mention several key figures, such as prophets or kings, but they did not start this religion, they merely played an important role in its development. One might suggest that Jesus was the founder of Christianity. In a narrow sense, it may be true to a certain extent; however, Christians claim a connection to Judaism and emphasize the succession. That is why Jesus is the Son of God Who was sacrificed and showed people the new way, but He did not found a new completely new religion. The next point of difference is the connection to culture. As it can be easily understood from the very name, Judaism is the religion of the Jews. That is why conversion to it is a rather debatable subject. As a result, the major aspects of Judaism are closely connected to the Jewish culture and do not make sense outside it, like the significance of Exodus, for example. Similarly to that, Zoroastrianism was also extremely popular among the nations that inhabited the Ancient Persia. In spite of the fact that it did not make a particular emphasis on culture, the practices as well as experiences could be better understood by the people who come from that part of the world. Contrary to that, Christianity has always been a religion to denied significance of local customs and promoted universal love of God that can be shared by the people regardless of their cultural background. Finally, if one analyzes some elements of practice, one will be able to see that the spiritual traditions in question feature a different state of development of spiritual worldview. Thus, Zoroastrianism puts emphasis on several fundamental physical agents, such as fire and water. There are many rituals that focus on contemplation or interaction with them. Judaism and Christianity often engage water into their rituals, acknowledging the connection of fire and God; however, they often operate with abstract concepts, making these religions systems more mystic. Conclusion Having examined all the evidence, one might suggest that the three religions in question, namely Zoroastrianism, Judaism and Christianity have many points in common, yet they also differ in some. For example, they all share belief in only one God, existence of afterlife and the need to follow the Golden Rule. On the other hand, the former religion has an identifiable founder, it is best understood within a particular cultural framework and it features a close connection to various natural forces as oppose to more abstract religions of Judaism and Christianity that do not have founders. References Fisher, M. (2014). Living religions (9th ed.). London: Pearson. Read More