An Analysis of the Influence of Zoroastrianism on Judaism

The influence of religions on each other has always been a matter of dispute between the researchers in the field of religious studies scholars. One of the topics in religion which has been the special concern of scholars is the influence of Zoroastrian beliefs on Judaism in the era of Babylonian Captivity. Most scholars believe that Judaism has been influenced by the teachings of Zoroastrianism. Others reject this view. Still others express their uncertainty about it. The first group of researchers believes that the Resurrection, the belief in the promised Savior, angelology and general final judgment are among the teachings which have been taken from Zoroastrianism.After investigating the existing views, this paper puts forward that this kind of influence is natural and due to the divine-based roots of each of the two religions and the existence of Israelites’ prophets, we cannot ascribe the stated instances to the influence of Zoroastrianism on Judaism.