Zoroastrianism belief includes a savior figure similar to the Messiah in Judaism called the Saoshyant, who Zoroastrians believe will bring about the Frashokereti, the final renovation of the world, in which good will finally triumph over evil forever. Would it have been possible for someone identified as the Saoshyant to found or inspire a new religion based on Zoroastrianism in the same way that Jesus was identified as the Messiah and inspired a religion based on Judaism? What would that religion look like? Could it become as widespread as Christianity? What would have been the reception of the new religion by the state and society in different periods (Acahemenid, Hellenistic, Parthian, Sassanid, Muslim, etc.)? Or what if a historical figure like Jesus or Mani was viewed as the Saoshyant by Zoroastrians?
WI: Christianity analog based on Zoroastrianism?
- Thread starter Keperry
- Start date
One problem is a lot of the theology of the Saoshyant seems to have developed fairly late in Zoroastrian history (as in, possibly even post-Islamic conquest). So identifying an earlier figure with him might be difficult. For that matter, I doubt any of the Zoroastrian empires would be thrilled with such a movement being associated with any of their subjects, and would probably suppress it. Certainly you could imagine a small cult following around some charismatic leader who claimed he was the Saoshyant (both Islam and Judaism had tons of people claiming to be either the Mahdi or the Messiah, respectively), but having it be widespread would be difficult.
I suppose you could have some sort of Messianic Jewish analog as a conversion tool; "Zoroastrians for Jesus," anyone?
I suppose you could have some sort of Messianic Jewish analog as a conversion tool; "Zoroastrians for Jesus," anyone?
Or, CK2 style, you could have a late POD with some Persian dynast restoring the Persian Empire after the fall of the Sassanids, then claiming the title of Saoshyant.
That's just CK2, as much as we enjoy it. Saoshyant is more of a theological term then political as CK2 depicts it.
You see there is an opinion that Judaism is heavily influenced by Zoroastrianism. And Christianity borrowed even more from Zoroastrianism in its' turn.
So you may consider Christianity a religion including a light version of Zoroastrianism as an integral part and spreading in the Roman Empire by the Jews
Imperator Maximilianius
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You see there is an opinion that Judaism is heavily influenced by Zoroastrianism. And Christianity borrowed even more from Zoroastrianism in its' turn.
So you may consider Christianity a religion including a light version of Zoroastrianism as an integral part and spreading in the Roman Empire by the Jews
That's an interesting way of looking at it.
2nd saoshyant
The Zoroastrian tradition developed the idea of three saoshyants. There would be two of them before the final restoration. While Christians claimed that Jesus was the first Saoshyant, who could have been the second?
In about 1200 Joachim of Fiore wrote that Jesus began the age of the Son, and that the age of the Spirit was about to begin. Along came Saint Francis of Assisi. After he died, some of his followers, called the spirituals claimed that Saint Francis had begun the age of the spirit. He would be the equivalent of the second saoshyant. When the catholic hierarchy heard about it the Franciscans had to backpedal in a hurry.
Now suppose that the spirituals had been able to maintain their position.
The Zoroastrian tradition developed the idea of three saoshyants. There would be two of them before the final restoration. While Christians claimed that Jesus was the first Saoshyant, who could have been the second?
In about 1200 Joachim of Fiore wrote that Jesus began the age of the Son, and that the age of the Spirit was about to begin. Along came Saint Francis of Assisi. After he died, some of his followers, called the spirituals claimed that Saint Francis had begun the age of the spirit. He would be the equivalent of the second saoshyant. When the catholic hierarchy heard about it the Franciscans had to backpedal in a hurry.
Now suppose that the spirituals had been able to maintain their position.
One could argue Mithraism or even Manicheism were "Zoroastrianism's Christianity".
Mithraism took a figure of Iranian origin and gave it many mystical and even messianic attributes. Although Mithraism never really had adherents in Iran, you could conjure up a PoD where it does, and Mithra is understood as a Saoshyant.
Manicheism doesn't have a clear Saoshyant figure either, but it's an evolution of Zoroastrianism, given mystical and messianic attributes. Even without a Saoshyant, it had a shot at being a large world religion. In another world, it might coexist with or even supplant Christianity.
Re: comments that Zoroastrian authorities would obviously suppress such a faith. Of course they would, but Christianity was suppressed in its time as well and look where it's now.
Mithraism took a figure of Iranian origin and gave it many mystical and even messianic attributes. Although Mithraism never really had adherents in Iran, you could conjure up a PoD where it does, and Mithra is understood as a Saoshyant.
Manicheism doesn't have a clear Saoshyant figure either, but it's an evolution of Zoroastrianism, given mystical and messianic attributes. Even without a Saoshyant, it had a shot at being a large world religion. In another world, it might coexist with or even supplant Christianity.
Re: comments that Zoroastrian authorities would obviously suppress such a faith. Of course they would, but Christianity was suppressed in its time as well and look where it's now.