Zoroastrianism is an ancient Iranian religion characterized by a value-based view of the cosmos, a preference for truth over power, and a deep engagement with the natural world. As an ancient, living, and embodied tradition, Zoroastrianism is many things, but these fundamental characteristics give it distinction among the world’s religions.

My personal encounter with Zoroastrianism began as I grew disenchanted with Abrahamic monotheism (having been raised in the Bahá’í faith). Though Zoroastrianism is monotheistic in its focused reverence for Mazda, it is not fundamentally a monotheistic faith, meaning that it is not characterized by worship of omnipotence. This is a key benefit as it means that Zoroastrianism does not focus its reverence on power. Instead of power, Mazdeans worship what is worthy of worship, that is to say, they worship the goodness deep within existence (Mazda).

More can be found of this view of Zoroastrianism in my book, Zarathustra and the Morality of Things.

The following is a video recorded during a short backpacking trip wherein I [eventually] chat about what Mazda means to me: