Zoroastrianism, the mysterious religion that changed the West

Zarathustrareligious reformer of Persia, also known as Zoroaster.

Zarathustra

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Brief biography of Zarathustra - Zarathustra (also called Zoroaster) is a great thinker of the ancient world. He is said to have been born in a region corresponding to present-day Iran or Afghanistan in the 7th century BC.

He is the creator of Zoroastrianism, a monotheistic religion. Little is known about this character, who is considered a prophet and the source of many myths.

Zarathustra fought notably against the worship of multiple gods and for a purer faith, focused on the fight between good and evil.

According to Zarathustra, there is in each man a part of good and a part of evil, and it is up to each one to choose the side of good.

According to legend, he was killed at the age of 77, while in the midst of meditation.

Europe discovers Zarathustra's ideas at the end of the 17th century. The wise men of the Enlightenment in particular became very interested in Zoroastrianism, which they considered a form of enlightened deism in contrast to Catholicism, which was considered too dogmatic.

Zarathustra's name became famous thanks to the book of the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, entitled "Thus Spoke Zarathustra", in which he speaks of this character in a parodic way.

The composer Richard Strauss also uses this title to title one of his works, "Also Sprach Zarathustra".

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