Jason Reza Jorjani, PhD, is a philosopher and author of Prometheus and Atlas, World State of Emergency, Lovers of Sophia, Novel Folklore: The Blind Owl of Sadegh Hedayat, and Iranian Leviathan: A Monumental History of Mithra’s Abode.
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 property and of monogamous marriage. Both sects sects were initially supported and then suppressed violently by the state.
Many viewers will know that Jason Reza Jorjani has suffered from libel and persecution as a result of his, generally misunderstood, political views. He is a brilliant scholar who has now been unfairly disgraced and is forced to fight a legal battle, while continuing his research and writing, without any regular employment. Therefore we have set up this “Go Fund Me” page in order to assist this worthy individual. Please visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-fund-jason-reza-jorjani039s-next-project and contribute generously.
(Recorded on July 6, 2019)
Published on October 1, 2019