EPISODE 10: The Theft of Light

How Zarathustra’s Ideas Were Stolen & Rebranded (539 BCE – Present)

“The simplest answer is, yes, there is a great deal of Zoroastrian influence on Judaism and Christianity.”
— Academic consensus

The Greatest Intellectual Theft in Human History

4.3 billion people practice Zarathustra’s beliefs.

Almost none of them know his name.

The Timeline of Systematic Theft

1700 BCE: Zarathustra Creates the Concepts

At age 30, by the Daitya River, Zarathustra received the vision that would create:

• Monotheism (One God: Ahura Mazda)
• Free will (You choose between Asha and Druj)
• Heaven and Hell (Eternal reward or punishment)
• Satan/Devil (Angra Mainyu – first cosmic adversary)
• Resurrection (The dead will rise)
• Final Judgment (All souls evaluated)
• Linear time (History moving toward Frashokereti)
• Ethics over ritual (“Good thoughts, words, deeds”)

For 35 years (age 42-77), he built the institutional structures:

• Fire temples
• The Magi (priestly class)
• Five daily prayers (Gah system)
• Sacred texts (Gathas)
• Initiation ceremonies (Navjote)
• Marriage rites

Everything was in place.

By the time Zarathustra died at age 77, Zoroastrianism was established across eastern Iran and poised to become the faith of the greatest empire the world had ever seen.

PHASE 1: Judaism Adopts Everything (586-539 BCE → Present)

The Babylonian Exile: Where It All Changed

586 BCE: Babylonians conquer Jerusalem, destroy the Temple, exile the Jews

539 BCE: Cyrus the Great (Zoroastrian) conquers Babylon, frees the Jews

70 years of living under Persian Zoroastrian rule.

In 586 BCE, the forces of the Babylonian Empire conquered the Jews, destroying their Temple and carrying off a proportion of the Jewish population into exile. The captives consisted especially of educated and upper-class people as well as the royal family. This “Babylonian captivity” lasted almost fifty years. In 539 BCE the Persians, under the leadership of the Achaemenid King Cyrus, conquered Babylon

What Judaism Looked Like BEFORE Persian Contact (Pre-586 BCE):

❌ No Satan as cosmic adversary – Just “ha-satan” meaning “the accuser” in God’s court (Book of Job)
❌ No Heaven or Hell – Only Sheol (neutral underworld for all dead)
❌ No Resurrection – Death was final
❌ No Final Judgment – No evaluation of souls
❌ No Named Angels – Just generic “messengers”
❌ No Apocalypse – No end times concept
❌ No Messiah as cosmic savior – Just “anointed king” (human ruler)
❌ No Linear time toward goal – Cyclical understanding

Prior to this period, the Hebrew Bible presents a more ambiguous view of the afterlife, often referring to Sheol, a shadowy existence after death

What Judaism Looked Like AFTER Persian Contact (Post-539 BCE):

✅ Satan as adversary – Cosmic force opposing God (adopted from Angra Mainyu)
✅ Heaven and Hell – Gan Eden (paradise) and Gehenna (punishment)
✅ Resurrection of the dead – Explicitly in Daniel 12:2
✅ Final Judgment – All souls evaluated
✅ Named Angels – Michael, Gabriel, Raphael (based on Amesha Spentas)
✅ Apocalyptic literature – Book of Daniel, Book of Enoch
✅ Messiah as savior – Cosmic redeemer (based on Saoshyant)
✅ Linear time – History moving toward messianic age

The Book of Daniel, one of the latest books of the Hebrew Bible, explicitly mentions the resurrection of the dead and a final judgment (Daniel 12:2). This eschatological framework, which later became central to both Rabbinic Judaism and Christianity, bears a resemblance to Zoroastrian eschatology

The Scholarly Consensus

The simplest answer to the first question is, yes, there is a great deal of Zoroastrian influence on Judaism and Christianity, but the problem is that it is hard to document this exactly, at least in the early stages of Judaism. The evidence is there, but it is all “circumstantial” evidence

“That’s the period when certain elements of Zoroastrianism entered into Judaism,” including the increased importance of the Devil figure and the idea of a Final Judgment

The Transformation of Satan

In early Jewish texts, Satan was not an evil figure, as the Hebrew term ha-satan means the accuser or the adversary. In the Hebrew Book of Job, Satan was a member of God’s heavenly court who worked for God because his job was to test the faith of humans. As such, he was not God’s enemy

After the Babylonian Exile, the perception of Satan began to change and he slowly transformed into a more malevolent figure. He was now a force of evil who actively opposed God and tempted humanity. The newer version of Satan was much closer to the Zoroastrian Angra Mainyu

The Dead Sea Scrolls Prove It

For instance, the Dead Sea Scrolls, particularly the War Scroll and the Community Rule, describe a cosmic battle between the forces of light and darkness, a theme reminiscent of Zoroastrian dualism

Light vs. Darkness.
Good vs. Evil.
Cosmic dualism.

All Zoroastrian. All adopted post-Exile. All now considered “Jewish.”

The Linguistic Evidence

From efiretemple’s own research:

Paradise:

• Hebrew: “Pardes” (borrowed from Persian)
• Avestan: “Pairidaēza” (walled garden)
• When a Jew says “Gan Eden” (Garden of Eden), they’re describing a Persian concept using a Persian word that entered Hebrew only after Babylonian Exile

Amen:

• Used in Judaism post-Exile
• Absent in pre-Exile texts
• Possible Persian origin from “Asha” (truth)

The Pharisees:

• Hebrew: “Perushim/Farooshiym”
• Literally means: “The Persians”
• Pharisees = Literally named “Persians” (Farooshiym)

The sect that accepted Persian concepts called themselves “The Persians.”

Then hid the source.

PHASE 2: Christianity Inherits It All (30 CE → Present)

Jesus Teaches Zarathustra’s Concepts (Without Knowing It)

Jesus of Nazareth (c. 4 BCE – 30 CE) preached:

• One God (Father)
• Heaven and Hell
• Satan as cosmic adversary
• Resurrection of the dead
• Final judgment
• Personal salvation through moral choice
• Ethics (“Love your neighbor”)

Every single concept = Zoroastrian, adopted by Judaism post-Exile, inherited by Christianity.

Following the Great Persian influence, cosmic fights between the forces of good and evil began to feature more prominently in Christian texts. The archangels Michael and Gabriel also assumed bigger and more defined roles after the exile and the idea of Satan as a separate, evil entity who fought God and tempted people also seems to have grown stronger during this period

The Magi Visit Jesus (Matthew 2:1-12)

“Wise men from the East” came to visit the infant Jesus.

Who were they?

The Magi – Zoroastrian priests.

The same Magi that Zarathustra trained at King Vishtaspa’s court 1,700 years earlier.

Furthermore, the Three Wise Men who visit Jesus after his birth in the Gospel of Matthew are described as magi, a term used in ancient Persia to refer to priests, suggesting a Zoroastrian influence

Why did they come?

Because they recognized their own prophecy: The Saoshyant (savior figure).

Zarathustra taught:

• A savior will be born
• Born of a virgin (third Saoshyant from sacred lake)
• Will bring final judgment
• Will resurrect the dead
• Will defeat evil permanently (Frashokereti)

Saoshyant, the future savior figure in Zoroastrianism, invites comparison. Saoshyant was said to have been born of a virgin and would lead people in the final remake of the world and help Ahura Mazda in the final defeat of Angra Mainyu, the opposing force. According to Zoroastrianism, he would bring about the resurrection of the dead and oversee the final judgment

The Magi weren’t random visitors. They were Zoroastrian priests recognizing the fulfillment of their own prophecy.

The Resurrection Concept

Zoroastrianism features a clear belief in the resurrection of the dead and a final judgment. These notions are apparent in the Frashokereti, the final renovation of the universe, when evil will be destroyed, and everything else will be in perfect unity with God. This concept profoundly influenced Jewish apocalypticism, and, through it, Christian and Islamic beliefs in the resurrection of the dead at the end of the world

Christianity’s central claim – resurrection – is Zoroastrian.

The Apocalypse

The concept of the end times provides another striking link. Before the Great Persian influence era, Jewish ideas about the end times were less clear about the return of the dead and lacked a detailed final judgment phase. The specific parts of a mass resurrection and a cosmic judgment seem to have become clearer after the Persian influence

Book of Revelation = Christian apocalyptic vision

Based on Frashokereti = Zarathustra’s final renovation

PHASE 3: Islam Receives the Same Framework (610 CE → Present)

Muhammad Preaches What Zarathustra Taught 2,300 Years Earlier

Muhammad (570-632 CE) received revelation in Arabia, teaching:

• One God (Allah)
• Heaven (Jannah) and Hell (Jahannam)
• Satan (Iblis/Shaytan) as adversary
• Resurrection of the dead (Qiyamah)
• Final judgment (Yawm ad-Din)
• Five daily prayers
• Ethical living determines fate

Every concept = Zoroastrian

Zoroastrian influence on Islam is seen in elements such as the concepts of heaven and hell, the day of judgment, and the bridge of the separator, all of which feature in both religions. Like Zoroastrianism, Islam is strictly monotheistic and emphasizes ethical responsibility. The Islamic prayer times and the practice of praying five times a day may have been adopted from the Zoroastrian faith

The Five Daily Prayers

Islam’s most visible practice:

• Fajr (dawn)
• Dhuhr (noon)
• Asr (afternoon)
• Maghrib (sunset)
• Isha (night)

Zarathustra’s Gah system (1700 BCE):

• Havan (dawn)
• Rapithwin (noon)
• Uziren (afternoon)
• Aiwisruthrem (evening)
• Ushahin (midnight)

Direct copy. 2,300 years later.

Ritual Washing Before Prayer

Islam: Wudu (washing hands, face, arms, feet before prayer)

Zoroastrianism: Padyab (ritual purification before approaching fire)

Same practice. Same purpose. Persian origin.

The Bridge of Judgment

Islam: Sirat Bridge – souls cross after death; righteous pass easily, sinful fall into hell

Zoroastrianism: Chinvat Bridge – souls cross after death; righteous pass easily, sinful fall into hell

In Zoroastrianism, the soul departs the body four days after death, at which point it crosses the Chinvat Bridge or Bridge of Judgment

Moreover, the Zoroastrian idea of a bridge of judgment that all souls must cross that allows good people to pass with ease and the bad people falling also has a strong resemblance to later Christian concepts of heaven and hell

Identical concept. Persian original.

PHASE 4: Greek Philosophy Learns From the Magi (600-300 BCE)

Pythagoras Taught By Zoroastrian Priests

Pythagoras (c. 570-495 BCE):

• Studied in Babylon
• Taught by the Magi (Zoroastrian priests)
• Brought back concepts of:
  • Transmigration of souls
  • Mathematical order (reflecting Asha – cosmic order)
  • Ethical living determining afterlife
  • “Philosophy” (love of wisdom = influenced by Mazda-yasna)

The “Father of Western Philosophy” was taught by Zarathustra’s priests.

Heraclitus and Fire

Heraclitus (c. 535-475 BCE):

• “All things are an exchange for fire”
• Fire as cosmic principle
• Logos (universal reason) = similar to Asha (cosmic order)

Where did he get the fire obsession?

From Zoroastrian Magi who taught that fire represents truth and divine order.

Plato’s Forms

Plato (428-348 BCE):

• Eternal forms/ideals
• The Good (supreme principle)
• Dualism (material vs. spiritual)
• Immortality of the soul
• Judgment after death

All concepts present in Zoroastrianism 1,000+ years earlier.

The Magi who influenced Greek thought brought Zarathustra’s teachings west.

Then Greeks got credited with “inventing” Western philosophy.

THE COMPLETE THEFT: Side-By-Side Comparison

Every. Single. Concept. = Zoroastrian.

Timeline: All appear AFTER contact with Zoroastrianism.

Source credit: ZERO.

The Numbers

Who Practices Zarathustra’s Beliefs Today?

• 2.4 billion Christians (monotheism, heaven/hell, Satan, resurrection, final judgment, Savior)
• 1.9 billion Muslims (monotheism, heaven/hell, Satan, resurrection, final judgment, five daily prayers)
• 15 million Jews (monotheism, heaven/hell, Satan, resurrection, final judgment, Messiah concept)
• Secular Western ethics (billions more – individual responsibility, free will, progress toward goal)

Total: 4.3+ billion people

How Many Know the Source?

Zoroastrians worldwide: 100,000-200,000

Today, there are fewer than 140,000 Zoroastrians worldwide

Percentage of humanity practicing Zarathustra’s beliefs: ~55%

Percentage who know his name: <0.01%

Why This Happened: The Mechanics of Theft

1. Oral Transmission (Not Written)

But most of Zoroastrianism, known and practiced among the people, existed in oral tradition: through word of mouth, not by the study of written scriptures. This oral tradition included stories about God, the Creation, the ethical and cosmic conflict of Good and Evil, the divine Judgment and the end of the world

Ideas spread through conversation, not scripture study.

Easier to adopt without acknowledging source.

2. The Persians Didn’t Evangelize

Unlike Christianity and Islam, Zoroastrianism wasn’t missionary.

The Persians:

• Ruled tolerantly (let conquered peoples keep their religions)
• Freed the Jews (Cyrus Cylinder – first human rights declaration)
• Influenced through example, not force

Result: Ideas spread, but credit wasn’t demanded.

3. The Source Was Later Demonized

After Alexander conquered Persia (330 BCE):

• Greek sources portrayed Persians negatively
• Zoroastrian texts were destroyed
• “Magi” became associated with “magic” (negative connotation)

After Islam conquered Persia (7th century CE):

• Zoroastrians persecuted
• Forced conversions
• Fire temples destroyed
• Community driven underground

The source religion was systematically suppressed.

4. Later Religions Claimed Divine Origin

Judaism: “Moses received these teachings at Sinai” (1300 BCE – before Persian contact)

But the evidence: These concepts only appear post-539 BCE in Jewish texts

Christianity: “Jesus brought new revelation”

But the evidence: Jesus taught concepts 1,700 years old

Islam: “Muhammad is the final prophet with ultimate truth”

But the evidence: Quranic concepts are Zoroastrian, transmitted through Judeo-Christian tradition

Greek Philosophy: “We invented Western thought”

But the evidence: Pythagoras, Heraclitus, Plato all learned from the Magi

The Modern Erasure

Why Most People Don’t Know

1. Western Education Credits Greeks and Jews

• “Western philosophy began in Athens”
• “Monotheism began with Abraham”
• No mention of Zarathustra

2. Religious Education Protects the Narrative

• Christianity teaches: “Jesus brought new revelation”
• Islam teaches: “Muhammad is final prophet”
• Acknowledging Zarathustra threatens foundational claims

3. Geopolitical Interests

• Modern Iran sanctioned, demonized
• Acknowledging Persian contributions humanizes “the enemy”
• Easier to maintain hostility if history is erased

4. The Zoroastrian Community Is Tiny

• Only 100,000-200,000 worldwide
• No political power
• No lobbying force
• No one to correct the record

What Was Stolen

RELIGIOUS CONCEPTS:

✅ Monotheism (one God)
✅ Free will (moral choice)
✅ Heaven and Hell
✅ Satan/Devil (cosmic adversary)
✅ Resurrection of the dead
✅ Final Judgment
✅ Angels and demons
✅ Apocalypse (end times)
✅ Messiah/Savior figure
✅ Linear time (history toward goal)

ETHICAL FRAMEWORK:

✅ “Good thoughts, words, deeds”
✅ Personal responsibility
✅ Ethics over ritual
✅ Choosing good vs. evil
✅ Individual accountability

INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURES:

✅ Fire temples (model for synagogues, churches, mosques)
✅ Priestly class (Magi → rabbis, priests, imams)
✅ Five daily prayers
✅ Ritual washing before prayer
✅ Initiation ceremonies
✅ Marriage rites
✅ Sacred texts

PHILOSOPHICAL CONCEPTS:

✅ Dualism (good vs. evil)
✅ Cosmic order (Asha → Logos)
✅ Fire as divine symbol
✅ The examined life
✅ Virtue ethics

Everything modern religion and philosophy claims as original = Zarathustra’s legacy.

The Irony

Iran Today

• Sanctioned by the West
• Portrayed as “evil”
• Isolated internationally
• Zoroastrians persecuted by Islamic government

The World Today

• Practices Zarathustra’s theology (4.3 billion people)
• Uses Zarathustra’s ethics (billions more in secular West)
• Adopted Zarathustra’s institutions (churches, mosques, temples)
• Built on Zarathustra’s philosophy (Western thought)

The greatest contributor to human consciousness is unknown.

His homeland is demonized.

His religion has almost vanished.

While half of humanity practices what he taught.

The Question That Remains

If Zarathustra:

• Invented monotheism (1700 BCE)
• Created the concept of free will
• Defined heaven and hell
• Introduced Satan as cosmic adversary
• Taught resurrection and final judgment
• Established ethical monotheism
• Built institutional structures every religion copied

Why don’t the 4.3 billion people who practice his beliefs know his name?

The Answer

Because Acknowledging Zarathustra Means Acknowledging:

1. That Judaism isn’t original – Its core concepts were adopted from Persia after 539 BCE
2. That Christianity isn’t new – Jesus taught 1,700-year-old Persian theology
3. That Islam isn’t final – Muhammad’s revelation transmitted 2,300-year-old Persian concepts
4. That Greek philosophy isn’t Western – Pythagoras, Heraclitus, Plato learned from Persian Magi
5. That Western civilization owes its foundation to Iran – Not Athens, not Jerusalem, not Rome
6. That the “clash of civilizations” narrative is backwards – The West practices Persian wisdom while sanctioning Persia

So the source is erased. The theft is complete. The fire burns—but no one remembers who lit it.

The Fire Never Went Out

Every time you:

• Believe in one God → Zarathustra
• Choose between good and evil → Zarathustra
• Hope for heaven, fear hell → Zarathustra
• Acknowledge Satan exists → Zarathustra (Angra Mainyu)
• Believe in resurrection → Zarathustra
• Expect final judgment → Zarathustra
• Think history has purpose → Zarathustra (Frashokereti)
• Pray five times daily → Zarathustra (Gah system)
• Value personal responsibility → Zarathustra
• Practice “good thoughts, words, deeds” → Zarathustra

You’re practicing what a Persian prophet taught 3,700 years ago.

You just don’t know his name.

Conclusion: The Greatest Theft in History

What was stolen: The most important ideas humanity ever received

Who stole it: Judaism (post-Exile), Christianity, Islam, Greek philosophy

How it was stolen: Oral transmission, cultural exchange, then claiming divine origin

Why it matters: 4.3 billion people deserve to know the source of their beliefs

What remains: The fire still burns in every prayer, every moral choice, every hope for justice

The man who laughed at birth gave you everything you believe about God, morality, and eternity.

The least we can do is know his name.

ZARATHUSTRA SPITAMA

c. 1700 BCE – c. 1623 BCE

First philosopher in human history.

Founder of monotheism.

Inventor of free will.

Creator of heaven and hell.

Teacher of “Good thoughts, good words, good deeds.”

The source of 4.3 billion people’s theology.

The fire never went out.

They just stopped saying who lit it.

For the complete Zarathustra series and more on the systematic theft of Persian contributions to human civilization, visit efiretemple.com

Now you know.

What will you do with this knowledge?