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Mithraism, The Origin of
Christianity
Sackcloth and
Ashes
Edited by B.R. Burton
Mithraism is an
ancient pagan religion on which Christianity is based.
Unlike Christianity, which has thousands of ancient
documents which seem to ad to it's authenticity,
Mithraism is based on more concise records numbering
about 600. This allows researchers seeking to discover
"the historical Mithra" an ease of navigation and
clarity of mind impossible for Biblical scholars who
might get confused by the plethora of ancient texts
containing redundant passages. In addition, Christian
epigraphic artifacts can be found within a half century
of the lives of the actual writers of the New Testament
who claimed to have known "Jesus". (Christianity's name
for "Mithra") This early attestation makes re-editing
and historical research difficult.
The earliest texts concerning Mithra however are dated
decades later than the Christian copies, which allowed
the writers time to check their sources and get their
stories straight, thereby ensuring a higher level of
authenticity.
Much can be made of the similarities of Christianity and
Mithraism, for instance the attending shepherds at both
the birth of Jesus and the birth of Mithra. Of course
the miracle of the shepherds in the Mithra story exceeds
the Christian myth in that the shepherds attend Mithra's
birth quite some time before Mithra decides to create
mankind. Both Mithra and Jesus are called "mediators."
Mithra mediates because being the sun or perhaps light
he exists in the air above us, therefore between us and
the gods, who are the planets. Jesus mediates by paying
the penalty for mankind's sin thus allowing His
followers to have fellowship with God.
Mithraism and Christianity both have a communion
service. In one bread and wine are eaten as a sacrifice
to Mithra and in the other bread and wine are eaten to
remind the participants of Jesus sacrifice of himself
for them. It is exactly the same except that the
Christians got it backwards. Of course, being
Christians, they were sure to botch up their job of
copying Mithraism in other ways as well. Mithraism
welcomed the practice and worship of all gods and sects
so Christianity welcomed all people from any social
strata to join. Mithraism did not allow women and
catered to a particular social class so Christianity did
not allow the worship of any other gods or sects.
The
list of similarities reaches every aspect of both
religions. Mithran people were known to wash up as a
part of their worship. Christians only washed up once
and called it "baptism." Mithra was born of a
mother-rock by a river under a tree. Jesus was born of a
mother as well, and though she was not a rock, he was
born in a stable carved out of a rock and the manger was
a tree byproduct. Mithra first gives battle to the sun,
conquers him, crowns him with rays and makes him his
eternal friend and fellow; nay, the sun becomes in a
sense Mithra's double, or again his father. Jesus, early
in his ministry, confronts Peter, crowns him fisher of
men, and makes him his brother. Mithra sacrifices a bull
and from its body makes wine and animals and stuff.
Jesus sacrifices himself, makes wine out of water, and
being a carpenter, made stuff. Most Mithrans were Roman
soldiers. Christianity has a hymn called "Onward
Christian Soldiers." Mithra has a god friend named Ahura
Mazda. Many Christians drive a Mazda. Mithra was born
with the Phrygian cap on his head. The pope also wears a
funny hat. Coincidence? I don't think so!
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somebody said
this... |
It is absurd for the
Evolutionists to complain that it is unthinkable
for an admittedly unthinkable God to make
everything out of nothing, and then pretend that
it is more thinkable that nothing should turn
itself into anything.--- G.K. Chesterton
Evolution. . .does not specifically deny the
existence of God; what it does deny is the
existence of man. -- G. K. Chesterton
Rationalists are admirable beings. Rationalism
is a hideous monster when it claims for itself
omnipotence. Attribution of omnipotence to
reason is as bad a piece of idolatry as is
worship of stock and stone, believing it to be
God. -- Gandhi
God creates out of nothing. Wonderful, you say.
Yes, to be sure, but He does what is still more
wonderful: He makes saints out of sinners. -- S.
Kierkegaard |
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