Mithras = Christianity? (Jesus, priests, rituals, morals, virgin) - Page 4

crystalonyx · #32 05-21-2008, 10:09 AM

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Originally Posted by gnostic

There have been other religions which Christians have copied.

The Osirisian religion for one.

The story of resurrection have existed in Egyptian religion/myth, since the 6th dynasty of Old Kingdom. By the time, of the Middle Kingdom and New Kingdom,

A century or 3 before that, the 4th dynasty, the king is resurrected and ascended into heaven, and take his place in the solar boat of Re (or Re-Atum) in the Heliopolitian cult.

By the time of Ptolemaic period or Hellenistic period in Egypt, the cult of Osiris and Isis have spread into Greece, and by the time Rome have taken over Egypt, the goddess Isis became the most powerful figure about the resurrection of her brother-husband, that was eclipsed until the Virgin Mary gained prominence in Rome in AD 4th century. Isis with the infant child Horus, became the symbol of love between mother and child, which Christians would later copied with Mary and Jesus.

The Sumerian myth of Inana's descent to the Netherworld and of Inana and Dumuzi are about changing seasons, life-death-rebirth as well.

There were also 3-4 popular Greek mystery religions developed during classical period and Hellenistic periods, centuries before Jesus, and each one had to do life, death and rebirth, or resurrection/ascension, and these are usually related to the seasons and agriculture.

These are:-

Eleusinian mysteries, about Demeter and Kore (Persephone) is much older than the later mystery religions, but it remained popular right up to 2nd century AD.
Phrygian cult of Kybele, particularly about this goddess and Attis, is also older than the religion cults of Hellenistic period.
Orphic mysteries, about Dionysus, who was said to have reincarnated and resurrected 3 times. The believers believed that they would be reincarnated also 3 times, and if they lived virtuous lives in all 3 incarnation, then Persephone would judge, and the people can lived in Elysian Fields.
Gnosticism - the pagan version, developed in Egypt, with mixture of Greek and Egyptian elements. The main god is Hermes or Thoth, and the main theme is about resurrection. Traces of the pagan Gnosticism can also be found in Christian Gnosticism, for example, the gnosis.

Since both the Egyptian and the various Greek religions have spread both east and west during the Hellenistic period, no doubt that Paul and the gospel authors would know of such legends when Israel/Judaea was under the rule of Rome.

With figures like Dumuzi, Osiris, Horus, Dionysus, Orpheus and Attis...and of course, Mithras....Jesus was hardly unique, and upon investigation of these religions, neither is Christianity.

The problem here is some people's strong determination to ignore history before the advent of Christianity, like there was no other religious thought or philosophies worthy of recognition,or that could have had a major influence on Christianity. Somehow, I feel that these people think that Christianity becomes "tainted" with such associations.

angellous_evangellous · #33 05-21-2008, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crystalonyx

The problem here is some people's strong determination to ignore history before the advent of Christianity, like there was no other religious thought or philosophies worthy of recognition,or that could have had a major influence on Christianity. Somehow, I feel that these people think that Christianity becomes "tainted" with such associations.

... or ignore history altogether...

angellous_evangellous · #34 05-21-2008, 10:28 AM

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