Many of the earliest Christian churchs met in old Mithraic temples in the Roman underground.
2007-08-21 02:37:03 · 13 answers · asked by Top Cat 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Dec 25th was Mithras's birthday. Remember that and wish your loved ones a Merry Mithrasmas!
2007-08-21 02:41:32 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
A lot of myth and ritual was adopted from Mithraism into the syncretic Roman cult of Christianity, which make the similarities between the Jesus and Mithras seem more than they actually are. It is probable that the Roman church emphasized the similarities and adopted Mithraic rituals in order to win converts from Mithraism.
After removing those influences, there are still similarities in their stories - the 12 disicples, working of miracles, and also some similarities in the cultic rituals - baptism, ritual meals, but then there are also similar similarities with many other religions.
Another interesting similarity is that between the Moses birth story and the birth story of Sargon of Akkad.
2007-08-21 10:09:30 · answer #2 · answered by Beng T 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most belief systems didn't arise out of nothing or at a specific point in time with the epiphany or a specific person. The ideas (teaching as well as legends) were known and being modified and codified until they became a movement in their own right. Legends surrounding Jesus of Nazareth naturally mirrored legends and beliefs about redemptive solar deities. It was not a "conspiracy" is was an "inspiration" for followers of the then new (and subversive) belief system--Christianity. Futher, the moralistic and devotional ideas that Christ were not novel. He may have been affiliated with a certain Judaic Gnostic sect, the Essenes, who espoused the ideas he preached. Different cultures where strongly influenced by surrounding cultures, just as they are today.
2007-08-21 09:47:29 · answer #3 · answered by philosophyangel 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is true that Mithras pre-dated Christianity by some 600 years. It is also true that the early church adopted some dates and rituals to correspond with pagan holidays to get more converts. What is not true is that Christ is based on Mithra. Christ is based on the Old Testament prophesies in Isaiah, which pre-dates Mithra. So is it possible that Mithra was borrowed from that text?
2007-08-21 10:19:46 · answer #4 · answered by keoh6 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a comment........... I am surprised that many of the Christians keep calling others names like "meat head" I am a Christian and I try to answer these questions the best I can, not belittle others. We need to take the high road and stop insulting others. Others not just the Christians should do this too. Please explain who Mithras is. I have never heard of him. Dec 25th is the Winter solstice that is why the Catholic church (not the early Christians) made the holiday to get pagans to come over to their religeon.
2007-08-21 09:52:23 · answer #5 · answered by budleit2 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Very true. But christians work hard to ignore their pagan roots.
2007-08-21 09:53:00 · answer #6 · answered by Cheryl E 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Oh and Horus, hmmmmmmmm, and Dionysus
2007-08-21 09:42:21 · answer #7 · answered by Zappster (Deep Thunker) 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Not any wonder at all.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ApdDHUL6X3EA2yOYKM96pwHsy6IX?qid=20070820084923AAE56yh
2007-08-21 09:40:26 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
merry mithrasmas... that's new.
how about horusmas?
dionysmas?
2007-08-21 09:47:15 · answer #9 · answered by Pisces 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
That is a well known fact.
BB
2007-08-21 09:45:25 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋