bard converted to the iranian original branch of zoroastrianism in 1992 after years of intense religious studies. he explains his decision to convert in his book "syntheism - creating god in the internet age" with jan söderqvist by stating that without a solid foundation in philosophical and theological history, the idea of syntheism as a set of new religious ideas for a globalized and digitalized world in the 21st century, would not carry its necessary weight. the conversion could also be understood when bard and söderqvist place zoroastrianism next to taoism and buddhism in their work in what they refer to as "the silk route triad", as the historical peak of religious thought and practice.