If you are among the approximately 32 percent of the world population that considers themselves Christian, you were probably raised to believe that the Bible was written in some sort of historical vacuum—the various authors being inspired by God alone and having no outside influences whatsoever. However, the many books that make up the Bible […]
Persia
Biblical Monotheism and the Persian Influence – Lewis Loflin
The early Jews were not monotheists, but followed henotheism or even outright polytheists. They had one central god but believed in other gods. “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3) indicates the belief there was other gods. This was the tribal god, often bloodthirsty and murderous who (they claimed) ordered the killing […]
The Mythology of Evil
FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS mankind has been enthralled, frustrated and terrified by the presence, nature and origin of evil. Virtually every religio-political power structure over the past 6,000 years has developed a mythology for the emergence of evil. This human concern not only has survived until today; it has intensified. Following are some selected explanations […]
How Persia Created Judaism: Persian and Jewish Religion – Dr Mike D. Magee
The Universal God The Influence of Exile Nehemiah and Ezra Judaism and Zoroastrianism Ahuramazda and Yehouah Eschatology Holy Spirits and Saviours Purity A Law for the Priests The traditional view is that Cyrus and successive Persian kings of the sixth and fifth centuries BC were being religiously liberal in allowing the Jews to reconstruct their […]