Are you aware of Mithraism?

Question

Please check out a site called "Christianity or Mithraism." Mithra was a deity who was born of a virgin, died and rose again. He was born on Dec 25th. Does any of this sound familiar?

Hey cupcake, would any of those scholars be Christians, i wonder?

Yes, unicorn,the story predates Jesus.

Maybe this is where Paul got his story. He had no imagination after all.

Thanks mudcat, heavily is an understatement. i love to go fishing too, by the way.

AJ you let your beliefs get in your way, obviously.

Answer 1

Actually he was not specifically born on December 25, that date not having been invented yet, but on the Winter solstice. Jesus birthday was moved as part a ploy by the Emperor of Rome in the 5th century to reconcile a conflict between the Mithrans and the Christians by declaring them to be two names for the same deity, he threw in his faith, he was a worshiper of Sol Invictus, by equating his god with the father of Jesus, Sol was a sun god, which is why the rays of the sun as a crown became a Christian symbol of holiness. The Greek deity Dionysos was also born of a virgin, and his feasts consisted of eating his flesh (bread) and drinking his blood (wine), that one goes back to at least the 4th century bce. Deities who die and rise again are hardly rare, Odin and Osirus both come readily to mind, as does the legend of the Year King who dies at the end of the growing season and rises again with the return of spring. Most of the Christian holidays come from Pagan origins, they took them over because they couldn't stop people from practicing them, consider the Pagan fertility festival of Oestara, now Easter. What do candy rabbits and decorated eggs have to do with the resurrection of Christ?

Answer 2

More examples of people's ignorance of history and willingness to believe anything that supports their absurd positions.

Mirthaism is a Greek development of Zoroastrianism which is Persian in origin. In the original Persian mythology Mithra occupied a mid point in the Persian pantheon considered to be the greatest of the "yazatas" created by Ahuramazda. In his original sense Mithra was considered a redeemer only in the sense that the Persians believed that Mirthra accompanied souls of the dead to the Zoroastrian land of the dead, protecting them from evil along the way.

In the early part of the 2nd century a new group, called the Manichians, adopted forms of Zoroastrianism and included several parts of Christian doctrine as well in order to attract new followers particularly from among Christian ranks which were fast growing at this time.

This is all well documented and not in dispute by any archeologist or historian if only you would actually read a subject and understand it before doing something to show your ignorance of history.

But by all means, don't let facts get in the way of your bigotry!!!

Answer 3

I am well researched on Mithraism. Few if any scholars on ancient religious history believe there is a substantial relationship between Mithraism and Christianity, even though the similarities are striking. If you know of any historians who argue the connection, I'd love to read their work.

[edit] I don't know the religious affiliation of every historian working on a topic. Do you?

[edit] Just curious. Why would refer us to an essay with no footnotes?

[edit] Here is a useful quote from a useful book:

"The only domain in which we can ascertain in detail the extent to which Christianity imitated Mithraism is that of art." [MS.508n]

Mithraic Studies: Proceedings of the First International Congress of Mithraic Studies. Manchester U. Press, 1975.

Answer 4

Mithraism was an ancient Roman mystery religion popular from the second century Bc until around 400 AD. It was the most important of the competitors to christianity and HEAVILY influenced it's doctrines and symbols......It began in Persia and spread westward throughout the Roman empire....

Answer 5

there's plenty of 'pagan copycats' like in the site i just looked at about mithra. and plz read this in wikipedia about the dates:

It is uncertain when it began; some say in the 1st century BC[1], some in the 1st century AD[2] to the 5th century AD.

no documentation just rumors, yet this is 'leading pagan copycat' for christianity. ty for the info anyways i guess?

Answer 6

There is not much genuine documentation to support this. Although the basic legend existed much of it came along after Christ. They sort of filled in the details later, in other words. And it's kind of funny that Christians know Christ was not born on dec. 25th

Answer 7

From what I can tell there is so much debate that no one can seem to agree on anything that has to do with Mithraism and then little is known. There is also a chance it was created much like the FSM to try and mock Christians. Oh well.

GOD bless ya.

Answer 8

Mithras was born of a virgin on Dec 25th, Mithras had twelve disciples, Mithras traveled as a teacher, Mithras came from heaven to be born as a man to save men from their sins.

Mithras was known as Savior, Son of God, Redeemer, and Lamb of God. Mithras died and rose again.

The followers remembered him with sacramental meals of bread and water or bread and wine, which represented the body and blood of the sacred bull.

On the wall of a Mithraic temple in Rome was found “And thou hast saved us by shedding the eternal blood"

And the list goes on and on and on...

Yeps, the Bible is pure plagiarism, I know...

Answer 9

Yeah. It's neat, but I like buddhism better.

Answer 10

Yes. Are you surprised that Christianity is a bastardization of many other religions from that time?