Some modern scholars of Zoroastrianism, a faith still practiced in Iran and India today, are convinced that the doctrines of post-exilic Judaism and Christianity concerning monotheism, righteousness, and the final judgment and resurrection have roots in this ancient religion. Beginning with Martin Haug, a 19th centurey German philologist, the prevailing theory has been that Zoroastrianism was rooted in a strict monotheism, an idea that evolved from his study of the Avesta (the Zoroastric sacred book) and the Gathas (the 17 hymns) as he erroneously claimed that the Hostile Spirit, representing evil, and the Holy Immortals, created by God to aid in his battles against evil on earth, were later added by followers to Zoroaster's teaching of monotheism. Haug's theory, unquestioningly accepted by later scholars, only adds to the confusion surrounding the actual tenets of the faith. Due to centuries of oppression of the Zoroastrians, known as the Zardushtis in Iran and the Parsis in India, the priests have only recently begun to cooperate with scholars, to produce their prayers and rituals in written form, and to publish other manuscripts that enable researchers to comprehend Zoroastrian dogma. Additionally, through the linguistic study of ancient Persian dialects, in which are written the Avesta, the Gathas, and the Pahlavi literature, the translations of Vedic and Pahlavi (Middle Persian) are revealing the true teachings of Zoroaster which are based on: (1) God as the supreme being; (2) the ardent pursuit of righteousness; and (3) a final judgment and resurrection. The document concludes with a 20-item bibliography. (DJC)