RE: ZOROASTER:

Randy Black quotes this: "ZOROASTER c.630 - c.550 BC. Persian Prophet.  Zoroaster, also called Zarathustra, was an ancient Persian prophet who founded the first world religion - Zoroastrianism. According to the Zend Avesta, the sacred book of Zoroastrianism, he was born in Azerbaijan, in northern Persia. He is said to have received a vision from Ahura Mazda, the Wise Lord, who appointed him to preach the truth. Zoroaster began preaching his message of cosmic strife between Ahura Mazda, the God of Light, and Ahriman, the principle of evil. According to the prophet, man had been given the power to choose between good and evil. The end of the world would come when the forces of light would triumph and the saved souls rejoice in its victory. This dualism was part of an evolution towards monotheism in the Middle East. Zoroaster's teaching became the guiding light of Persian civilization. After Alexander the Great conquered Persia, Zoroastrianism began to die out in Persia, but it survived in India where it became the basis of the Parsi religion".

RH: This raises two questions.  That Zoroaster was born in Azerbaijan is "a legend. Modern scholarship does not support this legend".  See P, M. Sykes, History of Persia. The Azeri language is Turkic, whereas the Zend AAvesta is written in Persian. It is commonly  said that the Arabs crushed Zoroastrianism, which however declined after the conquest by Alexander the Great.  The history of that period is very confused, but presumably Alexander brought the Greek religion with him.  An expert on the Persia of that period may  have some comment.