Sikhism and Zoroastrianism

No religion has exactly the same beliefs as other religions. Even within specific religions, there are sects, or denominations, that may have some different core beliefs. Regardless of this, in many different religions you may find some common themes, or schools of thought, that may be surprising. Sikhism and Zoroastrianism, for instance, do not strike people as having similar history or doctrines. However, both of these religions are similar in the founder’s religious awakening, belief in only one god, and religious piety over rituals, while differences lie in the founder’s birth stories, receptiveness of their message and what life after death meant to them.

The founder of Sikhism was named Guru Nanak. Born in 1469, to a Hindu family, Guru Nanak does not have a remarkable or miraculous birth story, unlike almost every other founder of a major world religion. As a child he made friends with both Hindu and Muslim children. Guru Nanak was sent to the village school at the appropriate age and was said to be very inquisitive, especially about the meaning of life. He learned quickly and would often question his teachers on various subjects. Zoroaster’s, the founder of Zoroastrianism, early life is cloaked in mystery and lies somewhere between myth and history. His date of birth is unable to be determined accurately and insufficient data is available on his childhood. Scholars place his birth anytime from 6000 BC to 100 BC. Zoroastrianism religious texts such as the Avesta and Gathas, as well as many commentaries and secondary works, shed some light on Zoroaster’s later life. Although, his life story is somewhat steeped in myth, it is said that angels came from heaven while his mother was pregnant to come worship and praise the unb...

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...e is shrouded in mystery so is his death. Some claim he died peacefully in his old age, while others claimed he was killed in one of his temples tending the sacred fire by an invading soldier.

Although these two religions have several fundamental differences, one cannot argue that there are many commonalities that are present, especially in the lives and teachings of their founders. The approach to one true God was radical in Zoroaster’s lifetime, as most religions were polytheistic. While monotheism was a more common in Guru Nanak lifetime, it was not as predominant as the belief in many gods. The reforms each tried to disseminate to the masses questioned existing religious beliefs and doctrines. The challenges these men brought to the established faiths laid the foundations for each of their respective religions and influenced many other religions as a result.