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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Brumar89 who wrote (96581)	4/28/2003 1:07:28 AM
From: Nadine Carroll	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 281500

Blood of the Lamb? Mysteries? Christianity has quite a few points in common with a mystery cult like Mithraism. The idea of sacraments and transubstantiation did not come from Judaism. The resurrection themes certainly have some borrowings from the cult of Isis and Osiris. The standard Christian icon of the Virgin with the Christ Child on her knee is straight out of Egyptian iconography.

To: Brumar89 who wrote (96581)	4/28/2003 1:29:19 AM
From: Sun Tzu	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 281500

I have read a few disputes of Mithra-Christian connection but not this one. Let me look at it and see what I find. For now let me say that it is true that modern Christianity portrays a very different feel than "pure" Mithraism. But that is not the whole story. If I were to talk about some faith being a derivative of say cult of Dionysus, then it would be wrong not to consider the effects that Zeus and Hera may have had on that religion as well. For example, as I understand it, the persona of Anahita in some sects is very close to that Mary. Unlike what that article says, Anahita had the title of " Immaculate Virgin Mother of the Lord Mithras, and Benefactor of Humanity". She did in fact have many titles and slightly varying roles from one sect to another. The Iranian sects (for lack of better term) considered her to be the goddess of flowing waters and purity, while the Indian sects added fertility to her reservoirs. The more western sects mingled her with Diana and made her also the goddess of war. As the article pointed out, Mithraism evolved and was mingled with Zoroastrianism. This is a closer perspective to the time of Christ and the one that should be emphasized. But the cult traditions they site does not take Zoroastrianism into account at all. So not only Anahita was ignored in this paper, they looked at the very narrow definition of Mithraism in other aspects too. True enough, Mithra did not have 12 companions. However, there were 12 saints (guardians, whatever) who were closely associated with Mithra and had a subservient role. For me the most convincing reason is not how closely Anahita and Mary are similar or whether a bull is slayed. It is what is the more reasonable course of events that mesh with the recorded history. Prior to Constantine, there were two Mithraist emperors: Aurelian and Diocletian. Aurelian declared December 25th as the birthday of Mithra. Diocletian, is the one who was most hostile to Christians and directly preceded Constantine. He burned much of the Christian scriptures in 307 A.D. This lack of true Christian works allowed the inclusion of much of Mithraism into Christianity (what was there to dispute them?). Constantine himself was closely associated with Mithraism. At the time that Constantine declared Christianity the official religion of Rome and made heresey akin to treason, Constantine himself was not a Christian! Constantine's coins were inscribed: "Sol Invicto comiti" which means, committed to the invincible sun. This was the cult of Mithra that was brought forward by Emperor Aurelian. In short, given that Mithraism was right there and Christianity had been under pressure for over 300 years. And given that much of Christian work had been destroyed but the Mithraist works were alive and kicking. And given that Constantine and the previous emperors were Mithraists (only partially true for Constantine). I find it very likely that when Constantine claimed himself to be "Pontifus Maximus" or "the high priest" (title given to Mithraists) and tried to recreate the "lost" Christian ways, he would have been very very likely to have borrowed liberally from Mithraism and its related gods and saints. ST PS, you may want to see if I make any sense here Message 18810623