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What marked Zoroastrianism as unique among religious traditions in Late Antiquity?

a) Its emphasis on dualistic concepts of good and evil.
b) The absence of a central religious .
c) Its monotheistic nature.
d) Zoroastrianism's exclusivity to one geographical region.

1 Answer

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Final answer:

Zoroastrianism was unique for its emphasis on dualistic concepts of good and evil, its monotheistic and dualistic elements, and its ethical code rejecting slavery and proclaiming equality before God.

Step-by-step explanation:

What marked Zoroastrianism as unique among religious traditions in Late Antiquity was a) Its emphasis on dualistic concepts of good and evil. Unlike the polytheism common in Near East religions, Zoroastrianism revolved around a single god, Ahura Mazda, who represented goodness and light, opposing an evil spirit, Ahriman, symbolizing darkness and evil. Thus, human choices in pursuing righteousness actively contributed to the cosmic struggle between good and evil, setting apart Zoroastrian beliefs from other contemporaneous religious traditions.

Zoroastrianism was unique in its combination of monotheistic and dualistic elements, portraying a cosmic battle between good and evil. This perspective deeply influenced other monotheistic religions of the Middle East, such as Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, particularly in concepts like the afterlife and the final judgment. Moreover, Zoroastrianism was distinctive for its ethical code, its lack of slavery, and its assertion that all people were equal before God.

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