Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Clivedurdle · 03-28-2007, 11:39 AM

Quote:

In the later Avesta, Zoroaster is depicted wrestling with the Daēvas (Pahlavi Dēwān), or "evil immortals," and is tempted by Ahriman to renounce his faith (Yasht, 17,19). This account is comparable to the story of the Temptation of Christ in the Synoptic Gospels.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroaster

Is this connection agreed?

Toto · 03-28-2007, 12:39 PM

Catholics accept the parallels

JP Holding says there is only a superficial resemblance

Quote:

-- after 10 years (not 40 days!) of visionary experiences, a sub-demon named J. Buiti was sent by Ahriman (the functional devil-equivalent in this context -- he didn't come himself) "to deceive and overthrow the holy messenger." [Jack.ZP, 51] This temptation involved an attempt to persuade Zoro to renounce the "good religion" of Mazdeism and worship evil spirits -- no bread to stones, no leaps from towers, just talking back and forth with Zoro quoting Persian scriptures. Jackson and Waterhouse indicate no location for this; it could have been the wilderness, but it might have been MacDonald's in Tehran. The story has some roots to the 2nd century BC [Wat.Z, 54] but it bears at best a superficial similarity to the temptation of Jesus.

Clivedurdle · 03-28-2007, 01:28 PM

Wonderful propaganda, ignoring the Albigensian Crusade!

Quote:

Although there are marked differences between the demons of the Avesta and the devil in Scripture and Christian theology (for Christian doctrine is free from the dualism of the Mazdean system), the essential struggle between good and evil is still the same in both cases. And the pictures of the holiness and fidelity of Zoroaster when he is assailed by the temptations and persecutions of Anro Mainyus and his demons may well recall the trials of saints under the assaults of Satan or suggest some faint analogy with the great scene of the temptation of Christ in the wilderness

Am I being clear - was Zarathustra the source of the Temptation story?

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