Secret History #18: Thus Spoke Zarathustra

Zoroaster (Zarathustra) was a Persian priest-prophet who lived during the Bronze Age, estimated between 2000-1000 BCE in northern Iran. He emerged during a time of war, patriarchy, and property conflicts at the height of the Bronze Age capital system.

Ahura Mazda is the supreme deity in Zoroastrianism, the top god in the new hierarchy Zoroaster created. He can be called the Monad and literally translates to “Lord of Wisdom.”

Ahura Mazda is represented by fire, which became the central symbol of Zoroastrianism. The religion itself translates in Chinese as the “religion of white fire,” emphasizing this connection.

Moral dualism affects all humans as they experience the internal war between Asha and Druj, heaven and hell within themselves. Zoroaster taught that this battle happens in each individual’s heart.

Asha represents the force discovered and taught by Zoroaster, embodied by those who choose virtue and truth. The Greeks admired Persians for three things: horsemanship, archery, and telling the truth, finding it abhorrent to lie.

Druj represents the force opposing Asha, embodied by those who move away from truth and virtue. It is one of two forces tearing at humans, dividing them in an internal war between heaven and hell.

Immanuel Kant introduced the categorical imperative in the 18th century, but its principles closely mirror concepts from Asha that Zoroaster taught three thousand years earlier. Both thinkers arrived at similar insights about universal moral law.

Zoroaster introduced free will as a fundamental principle that applies to all humans. This concept revolutionized human understanding by placing moral decision-making within individual consciousness rather than external authority.

Zoroaster introduced three revolutionary concepts that established individual responsibility: the individual (what matters is inside you), free choice (acting from your own will), and truth (you and the Monad will know your choices).

Zoroaster’s teachings gave birth to three world religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Together, these religions influence two to three billion people on earth, making Zoroaster arguably the most important individual who ever lived.

Plato created this allegory, but it powerfully illustrates Zoroastrian concepts of Asha. The Greeks held Zoroaster in reverence, considering him not just a poet-prophet but the first scientist, astronomer, philosopher, and magician.

Ahura Mazda (the Monad) is singing a song, and humans must sing along with him. This metaphor describes the relationship between divine wisdom and human moral action.