jcain6

Mithraism was an ancient Persian religion whose roots lay in modern day Iran. It predates Christianity and yet it is so identical to Christianity. Not only that, but it existed and was popular among the same Roman garrisons that Christianity sprung up in. Mithras had twelve followers with whom he shared a last sacramental meal before sacrificing himself to redeem mankind. After death he descended into a bleak underworld and resurrected on the third day. The followers of Mithras worshipped on Sunday while Christians didn’t switch from the Jewish Sabbath (Saturday) until the fourth century. Mithras healed the sick and worked miracles. His followers even practiced ritualistic cannibalism by drinking and eating the blood and flesh of a bull and considering it the blood and flesh of Mithras. In Mithraism a day was claimed to be on its way where the dead would be raised back to life and judged. Historians have discovered etched tablets representing Mithraism mythology depicting a slain bull with wheat growing out of its ears (symbolizing new life). Early Christian art has been found depicting a slain lamb in the same manner, and Jesus himself with wheat in his ears. How do believers wiggle out of this one without admitting that their early Christian brethren undertook a sort of holy plagiarism as they absolved competing faiths into their own to gain in numbers?

Bathory

Many Westerners in Europe profoundly confused Christianity with Mithraism. You might do well to check out my recent thread on Judaism, it starts out "A People's Succesful Strategy....". Also check out Oswald Spengler's "Decline of the West", as well as Lawrence Brown's "Might of the West". Ben Klassen's "Nature's Eternal Religion" is also somewhat helpful, though at times a bit too ethnocentrically slanted.This site helps, also:
www.jesusneverexisted.com
I have alot more info on this subject, just send questions via private message, and I will help any way I can.

jcain6

Thanks Bathory, I will check out your suggested site and get back to you later.

Lucretius

You forgot to mention the other "co-incidence " the 25 th December was celebrated by the followers of Mithras

Celsus

Moderators of BC&H: Don't you think an FAQ with index to threads on commonly asked questions or common misperceptions would be a good idea?

Joel

Toto

Hi Ceslus - It sounds like you are tired of countering the same mithra myths that will never die. Usually I just link to a recent thread on Mithraism, such as this one. CX keeps threatening to write the comprehensive piece on Mithra.

Bathory - which thread is this?

GakuseiDon

How about a separate forum room, just on "Christian similarities to pagan religions"? You can just ship them off there.

Vorkosigan

Hell yes. As soon as the day is extended to 47.8 hours, I'll be happy to do it myself! How the heck do you find time to do everything you do? You astound me, having a life, running another forum, and appearing here and at TWeb too.

Actually, I have long had the urge to catalog the posts at Crosstalk as well...

Yes, especially those writing about Jesus Mythicism and Mithraism on the Internet.

Jesus was found with wheat in his ears? Great Scott! Do you think he was frozen at the same time as the mammoths with the daisies in their mouths?

I'm lookin' forward to that one.

Vorkosigan

Celsus

You seem to be under some mistaken impression that I have a life. I think your answer lies somewhere there. Some mods who're particularly free could surely start off with updating Peter's index of links (Christ, it's over a year old. I remember when he was first asking for suggestions... Now where he ever found the time is a true mystery). I haven't been posting on Tweb for months though... pity Holding won't touch the archaeology forum.

Joel