Why King 810's "Ahura Mazda" Challenged My Christian Faith
- Joshua Kok
- Jul 23
- 7 min read
As a Christ Follower, in good faith, I cannot recommend the band King 810 to the average listener. However, if you enjoy visceral sound, raw thoughts, and intense lyrics, you will find King 810 to be a band wrestling with the brokenness of the world and humanity that challenged me to deepen my own faith.
David Gunn is the lead singer for King 810. A few summers ago, I read Gunn’s memoir “Summertime in Murdertown,” which explored his memories growing up in Flint, Michigan. After finishing it, Gunn rose to become one of my favorite artists.
He and King 810 are clearly inspired by many different art forms, from hip hop to nu metal to American literature to ancient mythology–and all these inspirations together collide for a very interesting look into the minds of marred souls who have found a way to use art to express the darkness they’ve experienced, perpetuated, and now remain mysteriously shackled to.
With all the stories woven into his art, I as a Christian am not surprised that someone like Gunn who has lived an objectively chaotic and difficult life would look to something outside himself–be it art or the Divine–to make sense of all that he has gone through.
In many ways, my own journey has been about seeking, finding, and coming to know YHWH more deeply—processing the wrongs I’ve endured, the mistakes I’ve made, and everything else I’d call ‘suffering.’
So when references to God, the Devil, Heaven, and Hell pop up in King 810’s lyrics, it’s not surprising. However, it wasn’t until I listened to one of their most recent tracks, “Hurry Hurry Ahura Mazda” that I felt some gears in my own soul collide. I felt challenged to think about my own life journey and how the relationship of pain and faith have led me towards YHWH, rather than away.
Sincerely, thanks David for the inspiration of a way to express something about God, faith, and different religions that I have always struggled to put into my own words.
From Heavy Metal to Ancient Religion: Discovering Ahura Mazda
Knowing Gunn’s lyrical style and taking in the words of the track, as soon as I heard the name Ahura Mazda, I knew it had to be some kind of religious or mythological call out.
As a Christian, I find it immensely important to study and learn about other religions. Without understanding the codes and creeds of my neighbors–near or far–I cannot journey with them in conversation down the line of things that we do agree on about life, the world, and spiritual matters, to then explore the depths of our intricate differences with patience and love.
Yes, I confess, I had no idea what to do immediately. So, I asked ChatGPT who then proceeded to teach me about Zoroastrianism. Ahura Mazda is the god of Zoroastrianism. Zoroastrianism is considered the oldest religion and is credited with influencing the Abrahamic religion–yes, Christianity included.
Both religions featured a creator figure, language about a cosmic battle between good and evil as clear enemies, and descriptions of a Heaven and Hell–one an eternal dwelling for the good souls, one for the evil.
Reading that this religion I had never heard of shared lots of similar ideas with Christianity made me pause because my ultimate desire is for the truth. I want to know who the one true God is. I want to know what it expects of me. I want to know what I need to do to avoid Hell. I want to know for certain that I will make it into Heaven. So, in this case where there are two different religions with very similar overarching ideas, it would be dishonest to not at least ask the very scary question: Which one is the correct one? Without being biased, how do I know?
As I dug into Zoroastrianism, like I suspected, yes–there were some high level connections between the two religions that shouldn’t be passed over: Good versus evil, the ultimate good being to see the world made better, accountability for your actions–lots of stuff I know most if not every Christian would agree with. But then, I found the detail I was looking for, where the stories of each religion diverged.
Zoroastrianism vs. Christianity: The Question of Salvation
In my high school philosophy and Christian thought classes, one of my favorite activities to do with my students is a slideshow where they are given three sports: Football, basketball, and soccer. Then, as the slides progress, they have to write down the statements that they think are true for which sport. For example: You can score three points, you play for the Superbowl, you were cleats when you play.
Some of the statements are easy to assign a sport to, while others, depending on how you interpret the statement, may or may not be true. Football and basketball both have easy ways to score three points (a field goal and a three-point shot), but technically, you CAN also score three points in soccer, right?
And that is where the conversations with people of other faiths get interesting.
There is a lot that the many religions humans can choose from agree with. That is why it is important for us to not make statements like “all religions are the same” or “they all want us to do the same things and lead to the same place, so pick whichever one.”
That’s like saying all sports are the same.
Sure, you score points, there is a winner and loser, and cool uniforms–but people would look at me sideways if I, with deep conviction, said hockey and soccer are practically the same thing. In this case as I am comparing religions, that is like saying Christianity and Zoroastrianism are the same.
When King 810 crafted their song “Hurry Hurry Ahura Mazda,” they invoked the name of a god–a god, who according to their religion, wants humanity to make good choices. A god who desires humanity to put out good thoughts, words, and deeds. A god, who according to his omniscient standards, will judge humanity for their righteousness and the unrighteousness. They called on his name to help. (At least, according to my personal interpretation of the song)
YHWH, the God that I believe in, also desires humanity to make good choices, to put out good thoughts, words, and deeds, and who will judge humanity according to his omniscient standard. If we were to take the song’s title as a literal statement of King 810’s religious affiliation (which I don’t believe it is–it’s art and a creative image), then I might see that we are not too far apart from each other in religious beliefs–until we get to the details.
Grace, Judgment, and YHWH of the Bible
As I said at the start of the article, I am a fan of King 810. However, as I continued processing the differences between Christianity and Zoroastrianism, I can’t help but to turn my head when I think of the band aligning with a god like Ahura Mazda. I’ve listened to their lyrics–the things Gunn has done, the things he witnessed–I am hard pressed to imagine that a god like Ahura Mazda would send a man like David Gunn to Heaven.
And while we’re checking the list of Heaven entrants, I also would not make it in. No, I haven’t had shootouts in the street, sold drugs, slept with multiple women, or killed anyone–but according to either Ahura Mazda or YHWH, I am not good enough to be in their presence. I have lied and lusted. I have hated a brother or sister. I have numbed my anxious heart with TV and sugar and porn and unnecessary business.
Overall, I am guilty of creating chaos and therefore am without a prayer to be in any god’s Heaven.
Except in the story of the Hebrew Bible.
The Bible distinguishes the character of its God, YHWH, as a God who loved His creations enough to make a way for them to be right with Him–regardless of how perfect my life was on earth–If, and only if, they trust that the path that He made for them to be in right relationship with Him can only be found and received in the life, death, and resurrection of the God-man: Jesus of Nazareth.
Essentially, laying claim to this statement: There is no amount of good I can do in the world that will set right all the bad I have done. And because of this bad that I have done, because of its lasting consequences across time and space, I am rightfully disqualified from being in YHWH’s presence. Unless I admit that someone else could possibly set right all the wrongs I have done. That someone, according to the Hebrew Bible, can only be Jesus Christ.
I have heard Gunn write to, towards, or about “God” in his songs. Perhaps he always meant Ahura Mazda. Maybe sometimes he too meant YHWH. Perhaps other times it was a nameless and faceless god. Regardless, my prayer is for David and all the artists of the world to have their lives impacted by the story of YHWH. In my own life, truly I have witnessed how His grace has covered everything I have done, have done but forgotten, and will do–with grace and mercy.
David Gunn, if you ever read this article, know that every word is out of love and respect. I am thankful for how your music has made me sit and think deeply about my own life and the faith I have. I would love to collaborate someday. If you’re ever in Milwaukee, send me an email. We can get lunch and swap stories. Fair warning–Mine won’t be nearly as interesting as yours.
God Bless,
Josh
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