Similarities and Dissimilarities

Judaism and Zoroastrianism

Similarities

• For Zoroastrian God created Human in his own spiritual image
• For Jews Humanity is made in G-D’s image
• One God the Unique the Supreme the creator of all things
• Monotheistic religions
• Gathas is the Zoroastrianism’s sacred book and Torah is the Jews’ sacred book
• Strict Obedience to the Gathas and Torah
• Humans are not born sinful
• Same Demonology universe
• God created both Good and Evil
• Satan idea present in both religion
• Messiah for Jews is the Saoshyant for Zoroastrianism
• Both believe in resurrection judgment of the soul heaven and hell
• Both believe in angels and demons
• Both believe in heavenly book where all the humans actions are inscribed
• Both Zoroastrianism and Judaism are eschatological religions
• Zarathustra and Moses are both prophets
• World created ex nihilo by God
• The concept of time is linear
• Six days of creation

· No ascetic aspect for both

· Both worship consists mainly of prayers offered to God

· Zoroastrianism and Judaism separated themselves from the others Zoroastrian will not married a person from another religion

Jews called the non-Jews “gentiles”

· Both has the concept of “Limited Time”

· Evil will be eradicated at the end of time

· Purifications rituals are identical in the Pentateuch and the older Vendidad

Dissimilarities

· Zoroastrianism identifies six archangels

· Judaism mentioned two: Gabriel and Michael

· Zoroastrian are not a chosen people like the Jews are in the Bible

· Covenant is the basis for Judaism history

· Jews do not work on Sabbath Day but the Zoroastrian work

· Jews are Kosher but the Zoroastrian are not

· Zoroastrian do not bury the dead on earth but the Jews do

· Zoroastrian must have the sacred fire on their Temple but Jews do not

· Zoroastrian believe that earth, fire, water, and air are sacred

· Jews do not think so

· Jews prays three times a day and Zoroastrians pray five times a day