WCH

Could someone explain the basics of how we think Mithraistic theology was combined into the Jesus myth? I've seen the list of similarities and know the basics of the Mithra myth, but is there any further anthropological evidence to back it up? As a corollary, would the Gospel writers have been aware of Mithra?

espritch

The Mithra cult was popular among Roman soldiers so it was wide spread throughout the Empire. It seems likely that the Gospel writers would have been aware of it.

I don't really know enough about it to comment on any relationship between Mithrism and early Christianity.

Marduk

“Could someone explain the basics of how we think Mithraistic theology was combined into the Jesus myth?�

There are some similarities in legend, last supper, virgin birth, coming back from the dead. Also differences, Mithra killed a bull and made mankind from dead bull blood, born from a rock or under a rock, I forget.

“ I've seen the list of similarities and know the basics of the Mithra myth, but is there any further anthropological evidence to back it up?�

Depends on who you ask, there are 2 Mithra’s; a very old Persian minor deity and a first century sun god type Roman soldiers worshipped, they left no real texts or details of their beliefs or practices, it was one of those mystery cults

“As a corollary, would the Gospel writers have been aware of Mithra?�

Maybe, its hard to tell who came first, Christians or Mithras, who borrowed from who.

WCH

Makes sense, but begs the question, if the Gospel writers knew it was a pagan myth, why would they copy it into their story?

godalmighty

The gospels are a comedy that mock the Septuaginta and uses Hermetic icons

1. Most everything in the coptic gospels are in opposition to what is in the Septuaginta

2. Most everything associated with jesus is an icon from the mythos of Hermes

Case in point:

1. Hermes was the son of god
2. Hermes was born of virgin birth
3. Hermes mother was Mai the Greek equivalent of Mary
4. Hermes was known as the Good Sheppard
5. Hermes spoke in parables and riddles
6. Heremes was a healer


As you can see, most of the things you associate with Jesus were actually Hermes attributes.

About the only thing mithra related to jesus was the conversion of his birth to the main mithra holiday, the winter solstice, which was not just mithric in origin, but a universal pagan holy day, based on sun worship

Christianity ripped off Hermes 100%

Marduk

"Makes sense, but begs the question, if the Gospel writers knew it was a pagan myth, why would they copy it into their story?"

I don't know if they saw it as "copying", alot of these versions of stories were in circulation for thousands of years, as goldalmighty pointed out Hermes, and people were living in that area of the world since dirt was new.

diana

I don't see how that's question-begging--in the fallacy sense, anyhow.

In order to ask why the Gospel writers would copy it if they knew it was a myth, you must presuppose the intended purpose of the Gospel writers. I know Christians today believe they were intended as literal records, but we can't know for sure whether they were originally intended to be taken as literal or allegorical (or comedic, I suppose ). There is a school of thought that argues for allegory, in which case there would be no reason for the gospel writers to not copy various myth motifs, as they saw fit.

One can also argue, I imagine, that the gospels are true and Jesus saw fit to copy various mythological motifs in order to establish his godhood. How better than to perform the miracles that had always been attributed to gods?

d

Evoken

WCH, please take a look at this link:

http://www.tektonics.org/copycat/mithra.html

It reviews the case of Mitraism and the alleged copycat claim. There is a lot of misinformation about Mithras spouted about by the christ-mythers of the likes of Achraya S.

WCH

@diana
No, I didn't mean in the sense of the fallacy. That's the problem with English... too many things with multiple meanings. "Begs the question" can mean in a very literal sense, "demands for a certain question to be asked," and that's how I usually use it. If I mean the fallacy I'll say "begging the question" instead. Same thing, but hey.

Main reason I don't think it makes sense for him to have copied them is it makes him come across as terribly unoriginal and boring. Why would God do things which people already believe other people have done, when he could do something stunning and undeniably unique?

diana

Well, I'm glad I left room for that possibility. Else, I'd feel like a total ass. It's nice to occasionally escape that feeling.

Hm. Good question. Maybe the people of the day expected such a thing of any "god" or "messiah," though. You know..."I don't care if his name appeared written in the stars in every language, and the spheres sang his name, a god would turn water to wine, dammit!"

d