stephan huller

On the Romanization of the Mithras cult

http://books.google.com/books?id=YQ_...mithra&f=false

stephan huller

Another apparent Latinism - Mary Magdalene's given name Μαρία (Maria) is usually regarded as a Latin form of Μαριὰμ (Mariam), which is the Greek variant used in Septuagint for Miriam, the Hebrew name for Moses' sister

Duke Leto

Roman officials again?

stephan huller

Stupid question in Latin. Are those of Mary in Latin = Mariiani or Mariani? The latter would seem indistinguishable from 'those of Marius'

Duke Leto

For the analogy to be "perfect", the Romans would have to have been giving a name that was unflattering or a pejorative. As it stands, it seems unlikely they'd go for "the good people" "Crossians" or maybe "Fishians" or some other descriptor would seem to be the logical choice.

stephan huller

No of course not. But the Latinism are never explained. I do think that Americans find such 'conspiracy talk' absurd because they assume religious freedom for everyone as a God-given right. Everyone else in the world knows otherwise. The control of religion and religious expression has always been the most important tool of Imperial hegemony. Europeans know that governments always controlled religious expression. When Celsus says that Christians belonged to a secret society who were hunted down by the government and had their lives endangered c. 160 - 169 CE, but praises members of the 'Great Church' elsewhere how else can this explained?

In Canada the government officially favored the Catholic religion in exchange for the Church promising to quell separatism. The main reason now why Roman Catholicism is dead in the province of Quebec.

stephan huller

But the Latin -ianus ending needs a real person's name. Christos and Chrestos aren't real names.

Duke Leto

I'm not disagreeing with you that it's an interesting anomaly that bears study, but my instinct is that a Latin-area origin for the proto-Christian cult seems more likely than a top down imposed terminology. If Chrestian was the official designation of the imperial government then it would make sense for the believers to grab some other name to do business under.

I have to take your word on Celsus since the Wiki article only broadly describes his work. Worth noting that all that's extant is embedded in Origin and Origin may not always have transcribed him in good faith. No quote tags in scrolls. I do defer to your knowledge on this since you've read more of the Church Fathers than I ever care to.

Not all Americans are complete idiots BTW. Interesting to know that Quebec is religion free.

stephan huller

I never said all Americans are idiots or complete idiots. They simply come from an exceptional culture (used in the original sense of the term = unlike any other).

Duke Leto

Maybe you should contact an expert on Latin embedded in Greek? Maybe Christ or even Chrestus was already namified when it got to Rome and got Latinized by official recognition or localization?