Hi. I read that the ideas of good and evil as found in Judaism and thereby Christianity were taken originaly from Zoroastrianism. Does anyone know any information reguarding this? What I read was that the Jews were the slaves of the Zoroastrianists and were practacing a form of animism before they were exposed to the ideas/cosmology of Zoroastrianism.
Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!
From Infoplease : Zoroastrianism
"Zoroaster appears to have incorporated in his religion the old Persian pantheon, although very much refined. Instead of tolerating the worship of all the deities, however, he divided them into those who were beneficent and truthful and those whose malevolence and falseness made them abhorrent.
Heading the good spirits was Ahura Mazdah (also Ormazd or Ormuzd) [sovereign knowledge], in primitive Zoroastrianism the only god. Six attendant deities, the Amesha Spentas, surround him. These abstract representations, formerly the personal aspects of Ahura Mazdah, are Vohu Manah [good thought], Asha Vahista [highest righteousness], Khshathra Vairya [divine kingdom], Spenta Armaiti [pious devotion], Haurvatat [salvation], and Ameretat [immortality]. In time the Amesha Spentas became archangelic in character and less abstract. Opposing the good ahuras were the evil spirits, the daevas or divs, led by Ahriman. The war between these two supernatural hosts is the subject matter of the fully developed cosmogony and eschatology of Zoroastrianism."
Incidentally most of what I remember of Zoroastrianism from my college History of Religion course was that it was considered the first monotheistic religion.
Isn’t this exact thread, by the same person over at GD?
I don’t know, haven’t been to GD in ages.
A short answer to your question: no.
Now, here’s a longer answer. 
It’s pretty commonly agreed that the Jews, before they had anything to do with the Persians were monotheistic, or at least henotheistic, and not animist. If you read the Torah, which, again, everyone agrees dates to before the Persians, you read about a G-d that’s concerned with a moral and legal framework of good and evil, and you also read that G-d is a definate power for good who involves himself in human life. He wants human beings to do good, also. That’s why I’d have to say no.