Certain investigators have argued that Zoroaster (Zarathustra) never lived, that he and his ministry were part of a network of myth. It seems very probable, however, that Zoroaster was an historic personage, who sometime about 1000 B.C. passed among the rude Aryan tribes on the uplands of mid-Asia, preaching a stern high doctrine of righteousness, banishing the old Iranian superstitions, and developing a religion far nobler than almost all others in the East. Zoroaster seems to have taught a doctrine of dualism that formed a satisfactory rough-and-ready solution to the problem of sin and evil – quite sufficient to meet the questionings of an unenlightened age. Along with this went a firm insistence on the necessity of personal truth and uprightness. The certainty of ultimate reward for the righteous and punishment for the wicked is emphasized in no hesitant terms. The discourse, here quoted, attributed to Zoroaster, has been likened to the “Sermon on the Mount,” as giving the cardinal points of his notable gospel.
Now do I proclaim it: O ye that draw nigh — hear what the wise should receive in their hearts — even the songs of praise and the holy rites which men in piety pay unto Ahura [the Lord] and the holy truths and precepts. Hidden were they aforetime, now they appear in the light.
The two Spirits [there were], the Twain and skillfully created. Good and Evil were they in the beginning and thus in thought, in speech, in works. Betwixt these two rightly have the wise made choice: but not so the foolish.
When these two spirits had agreed to institute life and death, and had decreed that finally the followers of the Lie [the misbelievers] should receive misery, and the followers of Truth should receive happiness, then of these Twain, the lying one chose the Evil, while the holier one, — he who hath put on the firm heavens as a garment, — he hath elected the Bight, and with him all who desire to do right in the sight of Ahura-Mazda. . . .
The dævas [demons] also made not the right choice: for whilst they debated folly mastered them — therefore they chose the Evil. In the house of violence they gathered to destroy the life of human kind.
But when vengeance has requited their violence, then O Ahura-Mazda, surely the sovereign power will be given by thy Good Mind to those who have aided the Truth to win the mastery over the Lie. Therefore will we hold to those who do betimes lead this life even to perfect righteousness.
For then destruction shall smite the liar, while those who keep the good doctrine shall assemble unhindered in the beautiful abode [of the holy ones.]
If then, O men, ye lay in heart the laws established by Mazda, the good and the evil, the long torments for the lovers of falsehood, the bliss awaiting the true believers — well shall it be with you.