What does the followers of zoroastrianism basically believe?

Answer 1

The Zoroastrian religion is remarkably similar to Christianity, although almost two thousand years older. It is a monotheistic religion, with one god, Ahura Mazda, a 'devil' called Angra Mainyu, who rules over hell, while the righteous go to heaven. The Saoshyant will be born of a virgin and will conquer evil and rule over the last judgement. There is a Holy Spirit that sometimes seems to be Ahura Mazda and at other times seems to be independent, called Spenta Mainyu. The seven Amesha Spenta have close parallels in the seven archangels of Judaism and Christianity.

Judaism's first contact with Zoroastrianism was during the Babylonian Exile, when the Persians conquered Babylon and freed the Jews. This contact could explain the subsequent Jewish that the dead are defiled, and move to entombment of the bodies and subsequent interment of the bones in ossuaries, or bone boxes. Zoroastrians believed that the dead must not be allowed to defile the soil, and must not be cremated, but modern hygiene considerations are beginning to modify their mortuary practices.