Here he explains what “novel folklore” is and why it is needed in any authentic renaissance movement. Sadegh Hedayat has sometimes been mischaracterized as an advocate for the restoration of Zoroastrianism in Iran. This discussion of Jorjani’s exegesis of The Blind Owl reveals the much more complex vision that Hedayat had for the evolution of [...]

Here he explains why he views Iranian civilization as comparable to Western civilization in that it encompasses multiple nations and linguistic variations. Persian, at one time, was the official language of a region extending from Delhi to Istanbul. He voices his opinion that a renaissance of Iranian culture is in process and that it could [...]

Here he discusses the process by which the earlier Mazdakite movement evolved, via Sufi mysticism, into Iranian Shiism. In fact, Shah Ismail Safavi, founder of the first Shiite Iranian dynasty, was himself the leader of a Sufi order. Under Safavi rule, Iranian art and architecture excelled. The great poets — Rumi and Hafez — wrote [...]

Here he explains his hypotheses concerning the relationship between early Islam and the Parthian House of Karen in Iran. This occurred at a time when the Parthian dynasty had been overthrown by the Sassanids, who instituted a rigid form of Zoroastrian orthodoxy as the state religion. He speculates that the House of Karen hoped that [...]

Here he discusses the effects of orthodox Zoroastrianism, the state religion of the Sasanian Persian Dynasty, upon the Manichaean and Mazdakite gnostic traditions in Iran. Mani was a talented physician, artist, and religious figure who endeavored to construct a world religion combining Buddhism, Christianity, and Zoroastrianism. The Mazdakite tradition promoted both the abolishment of private [...]

Here he describes the first appearance of “the Leviathan” in the biblical Book of Job, where it is described as a terrifying agent of divine power. In the seventeenth century, Thomas Hobbes used the metaphor of the Leviathan in his classic text arguing for monarchy and the divine right of sovereigns. Ironically, Hobbes’ desire to [...]

Here he maintains that the Persian emperors of the Achaemenid dynasty organized and paid for the building of the second temple in Jerusalem. He envisions this as part of a long-term project of the ancient Iranians to use religion as a tool in their quest for a global empire. He notes that the codification of [...]

Here he describes the complex relationship between Mithraism and Zoroastrianism. Over time, each of these traditions have incorporated the other, while also standing opposed to key principles in the other. The god, Mithra, is typically symbolized slaying a bull — and is considered to embody a consciousness beyond the restrictions of time and fate. At [...]

Here he presents a narrative concerning the possible Scythian/Iranian origin of Buddhism. He points out that the appelation “Sakamuni” is a likely reference to Gautama’s Scythian origins. His bold hypothesis suggests that Gautama is one and the same with Lao Tzu, the ostensible founder of Taoism. Further Jorjani suggests that Gautama may have also been [...]