what do you think of mithraism?
598789
It is not unnatural to suppose that a religion which filled the whole world, should have been copied at least in some details by another religion which was quite popular during the third century. Moreover the resemblances pointed out are superficial and external. Similarity in words and names is nothing; it is the sense that matters. During these centuries Christianity was coining its own technical terms, and naturally took names, terms, and expressions current in that day; and so did Mithraism. But under identical terms each system thought its own thoughts. Mithra is called a mediator; and so is Christ; but Mithra originally only in a cosmogonic or astronomical sense; Christ, being God and man, is by nature the Mediator between God and man. And so in similar instances. Mithraism had a Eucharist, but the idea of a sacred banquet is as old as the human race and existed at all ages and amongst all peoples. Mithra saved the world by sacrificing a bull; Christ by sacrificing Himself. It is hardly possible to conceive a more radical difference than that between Mithra taurochtonos and Christ crucified. Christ was born of a Virgin; there is nothing to prove that the same was believed of Mithra born from the rock. Christ was born in a cave; and Mithraists worshipped in a cave, but Mithra was born under a tree near a river. Much as been made of the presence of adoring shepherds; but their existence on sculptures has not been proven, and considering that man had not yet appeared, it is an anachronism to suppose their presence. (3) Christ was an historical personage, recently born in a well known town of Judea, and crucified under a Roman governor, whose name figured in the ordinary official lists. Mithra was an abstraction, a personification not even of the sun but of the diffused daylight; his incarnation, if such it may be called, was supposed to have happened before the creation of the human race, before all history. The small Mithraic congregations were like masonic lodges for a few and for men only and even those mostly of one class, the military; a religion that excludes the half of the human race bears no comparison to the religion of Christ. Mithraism was all comprehensive and tolerant of every other cult, the Pater Patrum himself was an adept in a number of other religions; Christianity was essential exclusive, condemning every other religion in the world, alone and unique in its majesty ....sorry its such a cut and paste job..i still have not fully researched it yet, i will get back to you
509993
God raped Mary?\nThat is an interesting way to interpret the historical event.\n\nRape is a serious charge and will fire up Christians everywhere!\n\nI am a Christian and find your statement painful. I never considered that God did anything wrong, but your opinion will make me think.
1047245
I've read them all.  I think they are great mythology with similar and overlapping themes.  They also have a lot in common with the spiritual beliefs and practices of religions that have come before them, such as Greek and Roman Polytheism, etc..   \n\nTaken together as a whole they paint a very clear picture of the evolution of of human philosophical thought and law over the centuries and different parts of the world.
470908
The original was Mithraism ... the called their priest father
54626
Yes, definitely. You must do research about the the "dying & resurrecting" god. Long before Jesus, there were traditions all over the world of a god who died and was resurrected! Mithras is one of the most famous. Jesus is just the latest in a long line of gods/kings who sacrificed their lives for the land/people. Do a search on GOOGLE for: Osiris, Adonis, Tamuz/Tamuzi, Mithra, Iao, Hesus, Quexalcote, Quirinus, Prometheus, Thulis, Indra, Alcestos, Atys, Crite, and Bali. You can participate in the mass as a ceremony of worshipping the most recent "Dying and Resurrecting" God. And, of course, Mother Mary is the Mother Goddess. The mass is still a very potent spiritual ceremony if you understand how Jesus connects with so many other gods in the past!
423499
As a Jew, and because he would have died as a Jew, he would have thought that Christianity was pagan, with all of its similarities to the Pagan faiths that were so common in Jesus's day. Even Hercules had a human mother, Alcmene, and Zeus for a father, and Dionysus had a human mother, Semele, and Zeus for a father. Mithra died for the sins of the people, and on and on....
923478
I disagree with them, I think it is rather fanatical for my taste.\n\n\nGod Bless You
682680
Nice article. Carole Mikita always does a decent job or representing the facts.\n\nThis isn't really a big deal. I mean, people have been writing stories about the Mormons as long as they've been around (see Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's collected tales of Sherlock Holmes, especially one very ridiculous story about the Mormons).\n\nYes, several of the early church leaders had strong ties to Freemasonry. I've never been able to figure out exactly what anyone thinks is wrong with Freemasonry, but I probably just don't delve into conspiracy theories enough. Anyway, I just don't really see the connection as anything particularly shocking or disturbing.\n\nAs far as access to the church archives, I think that is a fairly common practice. I believe that if someone has a legitimate curiosity, they'll let just about anyone in to study and research. None of it is a secret, you know. Even the temple goings-on aren't secret. They are sacred, and as Mormons, we prefer not to make all of it public knowledge, because people can be very cruel when they choose to twist things and take them out of context. Nobody wants the things that are so close to their hearts to be trampled on by non-believers, right?\n\nThe symbols on the temple are outside, for everyone to see. There's nothing secret or shameful about early members' ties to masonry. At face value, which is all I've really seen, freemasonry seems like a nice idea to me. Good people doing good things. Now what could be bad about that? I don't know much about the Knights Templar, other than what I learned by watching National Treasure (my favorite movie) and The Da Vinci Code, so I really can't comment much there.\n\nNo worries. Either way, the Lord's work will roll on. :)
586978
Speculations as to the origins vary as has been discussed earlier. Personally, I am with the small crowd that does not believe it strictly came from the stone masons. Stone masons, however, were one of the very few groups of men who were not tied to the land and could travel in small groups. OK, I like the Templar theory, but it is MY liking. Freemasons are that, free to speculate.\n\nMany rituals harken back to the ancient mystery schools. More than that I cannot say. I would refer you to my Order's website (link below) for more information. I am a Co-Mason (women and men in Lodge together).\n\nFreemasons have not conducted Inquisitions nor burned people for not believing as they do. We encourage people to think and to explore, to extend the hand of friendship to people of all faiths. I know of few RELIGIONS which do that.
1108625
I think its just like any other religion you can find fanatics in any of them. I keep and open mind. There is good and bad in all religions. My husband is a Desert Storm vet and during the war I was a member of a support group we invited the local Muslim leaders to come and explain the religion, they were very nice. I enjoyed it alot.
844474
That is a simplistic view. I think there are more dynamics involved with there beleifs however. I think with any organized religion.....it cannot be defined with just one sentance.
590694
I think it's crazy, considering the book is FICTION!!!!!\nI think the people of Opus Dei are more against it than the Vatican because they think everyone will use the monk as an image to stereotype members of Opus Dei.\nI honestly think there are too many people involved to be able to "hush up" Jesus being married and having a baby, but when reading the book it all makes sense...\nI guess that's the controversy...fiction that is so good, people take it as fact.  But if reading one book makes you change your faith in whatever you have believed all your life, then you were never really a believer in the first place, right?
480967
The Jesus myth was not established properly before the roman emperor Constantine collected the writings of the different cults and defined the New Testament at the council of Nicea. Mithra was adapted to Mithras, a roman God, so Constantine knew all about the Dec 25 virgin birth and the last supper etc etc. Romans tended to adapt gods instead of getting rid of them completely. Aside from that, the Jesus tradition is very much inspired by the original Iranian mythologies. Thought-provoking to think that so much about Jesus is just adapted, older myths...
230320
Many people seem to have a problem remembering that this book is fiction.  Some Christians take offence because it is important to them that Jesus was a virgin all his life.  I think these people somehow see sex -- even in marriage -- as "dirty" -- otherwise, why would it sully Jesus' purity to have a wife and children?  They seem to think the possibility detracts from His perfection.  \n\nFor me, it makes no difference.  Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ, whether He was married or not.  And the possibility of His bloodline continuing seems to me to be important only to those who think His blood contained some special DNA that would be passed down.  Unless that DNA somehow makes people better people, more likely to love others and change the world -- what difference does it make?  And from what I see of the world, any DNA that makes people better has been as diluted as the Truth He brought (sorry, Christians).  It would be nice if His Teachings existed and were followed in their entirety, but if they were, the world would not be in the state it is in now.\n\nI don't read too much into "The Last Supper" -- it's a painting, not a photograph!  It was done centuries after the fact and the people shown *represent* the people who were there but do not look like them -- since no one knows what they looked like.  If the figure to Jesus' left looks feminine, it is only because da Vinci painted it that way -- and reflects da Vinci's beliefs and/or skill -- not reality.  \n\nI enjoyed the book, but really don't understand the furor.  There are so many books that are more interesting and controversial -- but many of them aren't fiction.  :-)
754710
In my opinion it's more than a religion, it's a way of life: what to eat, what to wear, how to pray, how to act when and where, etc. Its Holy Book gives its followers lot of rules. If they like that, it's fine with me.\n\nSome of them interpret the text of their Holy Book literally, the same thing applies to other people in other religions. In that sense they are not different.\n\nHowever I don't like that religions claim things they cannot guarantee. It sounds haughty.
256032
yeah I read about the Varanasi blasts, my heart goes out to you guys. \nExtremists are really hard to deal with, I would say that no nation should go without responding to attacks. So the government hsould find the terrorist cells among these people and kill them/arrest them. I know it's easier to say, but well, that's what has to be done. \nIt always upsets me to see power-thirsty leaders twist a religion to make people kill others in the name of it.\n\nADDED:\nand Rev Flavel, people have commited horrific acts in the name of your precious Christianity throughout history and still do, so please....
920739
Since you seem so eager to gather other peoples opinions today, and I'm all too eager to express my own... here goes:\n\n\nDeath is beautiful. It is a transition from confused living matter to unthinking dead matter...  a break down of mechanics that enforce pattern and a return to the natural chaos of the Universe.  What once was a personality becomes as nothingness, and dissipates much as the corpse does with time. In most cases this is destruction without resolution, which isn't exactly wrong.... but I can only imagine that it isn't as satisfying to give over all control of one's destruction so late... Better to resolve each aspect of the psyche beforehand and free one's self from the world in advance of death that it spells only the completion of dissolution. \n\n\nNo pointless rituals.\nThe dead are gone and no longer to be considered.\nMy body can be thrown to the pigeons when I'm gone for all I care.