Zartus

Zartus is the short form of Zarathushtra, also spelled as Zarathustra and Zoroaster.

Zartians regard the ancient religious philosopher best known as Zoroaster as the original founder of their religion. Zoroaster whose name is also written as Zarathustra or Zartus is believed to have lived about 1000BC in ancient Iran, although the exact date of his birth is much disputed.

Zartus set out his thoughts in a number of hymns we call the Zartigathas or Songs of Zoroaster. These form the foundation scripture of Zartianism, and can also be called the Gospel of Zoroaster.

Zartus was concerned with the question of Good and Evil in human affairs and how Mankind might bring about the Good Society marked by righteous order and human flourishing. The Good News that he brought is that the world works according to logical principles and that if we can master these principles with our minds then we will be able to speak the good words and take the right actions that are needed to overcome evil and bring about the best state of existence.

Ancient Enlightenment

Zoroaster set an example of enlightenment thinking - of seeking to use reason to tease out the principles behind existence so that we may influence it for the better.

This example spread out from Iran - Southwards to inspire the Vedanta philosophy of India, Eastwards to influence the foundation of Buddhism and Westwards to influence the thinking of the Greek philosophers. Zartians are particularly interested in the thinking of the Greeks such as Plato and Aristotle whose ideas have been of such influence on European and Christian thought.

Jesu-Christian Era

Zoroastrian ideas were mainstream in the Persian empire that bordered Palestine around the time of Jesus, and there was a strong Zoroastrian influence on the development of Christian doctrine.

Thus Zartians have an interest in the wisdom encapsulated in the Christian tradition, whether from the Bible, especially the New Testament, or other non-orthodox scriptures of the same era, or later writings by influential Christians.
NB Zartians consider Zoroaster as the philosophical founder of their tradition but we don't regard him as fully divine in the way that Jesus is regarded by many Christians, and we don't worship him in the same way. Zoroaster's role could perhaps be compared to that of John the Baptist in Christianity.