Do you think that Paul adapted the story of Mithra to fit a man named Jesus.?

Question

Paul was supposedly born and raised in the city of Tarsus, a region in SE Asia-Minor (now called Turkey) where Mithras was well known. Biblical scholars are now saying that Paul, the alleged author of 13 out of the 27 (maybe more) books of the New Testament, may have been influenced in his writings by this strong religion of Mithraism. We can see a profound kinship between Mithraism and Christianity.



In-as-much as Mithraism was so popular in Rome, it is no wonder why the pagan Emperor Constantine, who believed in the sun god, Mithras, designated a certain day of the week to him, Sunday, which means, “the day of the sun.”



The original "Christian" faith became a mix of pagan, Mithramic, Jeudeo/Christian teaching. This lead to the confusing mix of theology that we have today within the "Christian" community. This apostacy from the original simple and plain teachings of Christ was accelerated by the persecutions and killings of any who tried to support the "old" ways.

Maybe this solves the mystery of the “ungodly” marriage between Mithraism and the cult of Jesus. As it turns out, it was all for political convenience! But, Christians think they are better than that today. In short: The "Christianity" they have today has almost no relationship, in doctrine or in way of life, to the "the original teachings of Jesus."

http://jdstone.org/cr/files/mithraschris...

Answer 1

I've read about this too. Information about Mithras is sparse. But it's worth pointing out that the Egyptian God, Horus, was...

* Born of a virgin on Dec 25
* Was seen as wise
* Had disciples -- usually 12
* Was executed. On a hill.
* Was resurrected three days later, on Easter Sunday.

It's a common theme...

Don't forget the notion of the divine, sin, and redemption, from Zoroaster.

See also:
http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_jcpa5.htm

Answer 2

A bunch of elephant hurling with no facts to back up the statements he makes.

"Paul was supposedly born and raised in the city of Tarsus"
Poisoning the well. No reason is given as to why one should disbelieve Paul's claim.

"a region in SE Asia-Minor (now called Turkey) where Mithras was well known."
Fallacy of the general rule. Just because many people in Tarsus were Mithraites (or at least were affected by Mithraism) doesn't mean all were.

"Biblical scholars are now saying that Paul...."
Appeal to (unnamed) authority. Who are these "scholars", what are their qualifications?

Answer 3

Mithras was a God of war and of contracts. That I remember off hand.

The romans had his symbol on their shields, pointed down sword in the shape of a cross. Well, that's easy enough to change into a christian cross, ain't it?

http://www.meta-religion.com/World_Religions/Ancient_religions/Mesopotamia/Mithraism/mithraism_and_christianity_i.htm

Here is another link about Jesus and Mithras.

**ADDED**

Don't you just love that when presented with EARLIER pagan mystery cults that have the same details as christianity, they say that the pagan cults borrowed from christianity?

When in fact, it was the other way around.


Mithras/Mithra/Mitre existed in present day Turkey/Persian area. It was imported into the roman soldiers life because of the god of war deal.....just read the link.

Answer 4

Paul as a Roman citizen, would have had knowledge of the other mythos of the day. Many rabbinic sects were vying for preeminence in Jerusalem at that time. Paul's sect was much closer to the Essenes than to any other. I don't believe he was speaking about a literal 'jesus' though.. I think he was dealing with a mystical messiah figure, and not a physical one. Regardless, once this sect's teachings were married with Paganism by Rome, the lines were too blurred to see the difference between the popular god Mithra, and Jesus.

Answer 5

The influence of Mithra in the Roman world post-dates Paul's writings by at least 200 years. It is also worth noting that the only writings describing Mithraism were written as polemics by Christians themselves. Why are these easy facts never mentioned?

Answer 6

Let's back up for a moment. Paul (Saul) was a Jewish Pharisee. Now, start the line of reasoning all over again.
You don't know very many Biblical scholars if you believe the Christian ones would ever support your wild notions of subversion.

Is this really the best you can do? Similarities between religions no more indicate that one came from the other than the similarities between species support evolution from a single specy. What a simple minded crew that has only one argument for which there is no beginning.

Answer 7

No, I think there were similarities inherent in both traditions that became easily mixed by later thinkers.

I think the commonalities between the two traditions, which are many of the same beliefs held by all religions of the region, come from the same source. The Gospel of Jesus Christ was taught from the beginning. Other traditions borrowed from the true teachings of God to mankind.

Answer 8

Read "The Mythmaker, Paul and the Invention of Christianity" by Hyam Maccoby
.

Answer 9

Paul was a highly educated Jew, well up in the ranks of the leaders of the priesthood when he was active in 'bounty hunting' on Christians until Jesus 'bushwhacked him' on the road to Damascus. Hardly one to believe in some myth. Good luck.

Answer 10

Yep, and a splash of Egyptian, Hindu, Zoraster, Buddhist just to add enough flavor to get the biggest crowd he could for his cult.