Zoroastrianism

Zarathustra, a religious leader in Persia during the 6th Century BCE, led a movement away from polytheism to a dualism based in Aryan folk religion. Ahura-Mazda, the force of good as symbolized by the Sun, was juxtaposed to Ahriman, the force of evil as symbolized by the Dark. Those who followed this religion were slaughtered by the Muslims in the 7th Century during the Muslim invasion of Persia. The pivotal message of Zoroastrianism was the goodness of truthfulness based in an objective study of reality. "The Lie" was another symbol of absolute evil. I must observe that today's world politics are still acting out this duality. Christianity and Islam, though both monotheistic, are really dualistic in principle. And neither is based in truthful interpretation of an objective reality (ie, science). Both act barbarously in the name of superstition and ancient prejudice, based in good-evil concepts of two millennia ago. So, religion has become "The Lie". Practice is about putting truth and honesty into daily action despite the consequences.