Esoteric Christianity. Paris, 1930 . This does not mean that there was a deliberate copying on the part of Christianity. Weigall, Paganism in Our Christianity, pp. Esoteric Christianity (linked with the Hermetic Corpus since the Renaissance) is an ensemble of Christian theology which proposes that some spiritual doctrines of Christianity can only be understood by those who have undergone certain rites (such as baptism) within the religion.In mainstream Christianity, there is a similar idea that faith is the only means by which a . The coffin, meanwhile, was washed up on the Syrian coast, and became miraculously lodged in the trunk of a tree, This tree afterwards chanced to be cut down and made into a pillar in the palace at Byblos, and there Isis at length found it. Afterwards, however, he returned to the other world to reign for ever as King of the Dead; and meanwhile Horus, having grown to manhood, reigned on Earth, later becoming the third person of this great Egyptian trinity., 20. Weigall, Paganism in Our Christianity, pp. If the definition is that the religion keeps things secret, then no, because secrets are about maintaining secrecy and exclusivity, and Latter-Day Saints do the . While playing she was stolen by Pluto and carried off to the underworld to be his bride. . The Apostles Creed and Athanasian Creed say that between the Friday night and the Sunday morning Jesus was in Hell or Hades; It has no scriptural foundation except in the ambiguous words of the First Epistle of Peter; it did not appear in the Church as a tenet of Christianity until late in the Fourth Century., 19. But after being in contact with these surrounding religions and hearing certain doctrines expressed, it was only natural for some of these views to become a part of their subconscious minds. 2d ed. Arthur Fairbanks, A Handbook of Greek Religion (New York: American Book Company, 1910), p. 288: Certainly the Greek Easter festival seems to preserve the spirit if not the forms of the old Eleusinian worship. It lies in the fact that the mystery religions paved the way for the presentation of Christianity to the world of that time. The Mystery Religions form a link between the inclusive pantheon of the Greeks and the more modern exclusive religions of today. CHRISTIANITY AND THE MYSTERY RELIGIONS SHIRLEY JACKSON CASE, PH.D. These two great Egyptian deities, whose worship passed into Europe, were revered not only in Rome but in many other centers where Christian communities were growing up. by Bart D. Ehrman. The Pagan Mysteries. On the contrary it was generally a natural and unconscious process rather than a deliberate plan of action. Answer (1 of 7): Over the years, Christianity has often been compared to the mystery religions of ancient Greece and Rome, both by Christians wishing to emphasize the esoteric nature of their religion and by opponents of Christianity who claim that the resemblance between Christianity and mystery. Dean Inge, e.g. Yet they all died out within a couple of centuries of the Christian era, Gnosticism (apart from a few vestigial groups in the Near East and Europe) subsuming their heritage last. London, 1928. After his death, the pagan opposition to Christianity continued for one more generation. This disregard for correct doctrine is a key difference between mystery religions and Christianity. The divine personage in whom this cult centered was the Magna Mater Deum who was conceived as the source of all life as well as the personification of all the powers of nature.\[Footnote:] Willoughby, Pagan Regeneration, p. 114.\7 She was the Great Mother not only of all the gods, but of all men as well.8 The winds, the sea, the earth, and the snowy seat of Olympus are hers, and when from her mountains she ascends into the great heavens, the son of Cronus himself gives way before her, and in like manner do also the other immortal blest honor the dread goddess.\[Footnote:] Quoted in Willoughbys, Pagan Regeneration, p. 115.9\. In the former capacity she was identified with the great mother-goddess, Demeter, whose mourning for Persephone was the main feature in the Eleusinian mysteries; In her aspect as the mother of Horus, Isis was represented in tens of thousands of statuettes and paintings, holding the divine child in her arms; and when Christianity triumphed these paintings and figures became those of the Madonna and Child without any break in continuity: no archaeologist, in fact, can now tell whether some of these objects represent the one or the other., 23. King also proposes that the mystery religions had an even greater influence by preparing the people to understand Christianity. Loisy, Alfred. Weigall, Paganism in Our Christianity, pp. This universal law is expecially true of religion. Christianity was subject to the same influences from the environment as were the other cults, and it sometimes produced the same reaction. It seems instead to have been carried over from Jewish background and modified by the new ideas and beliefs of the Christians. That night the priests went back to the tomb and found it empty, the god having risen on the third day from the dead; and on the 25th the resurrection was celebrated with great rejoicing. (5) The struggle with evil and the eventual triumph of good were essential ideas in both religions.37 (6) In summary we may say that the belief in immortality, a mediator between god and man, the observance of certain sacramental rites, the rebirth of converts, and (in most cases) the support of high ethical ideas were common to Mithraism as well as Christianity. The theology of the mysteries was developed to a far lesser degree than the Christian theology. The present study represents an attempt to provide a survey of the influence of the mystery religions on Christianity. 384 pages, Paperback. There is more to the story before the flood, but as things started new after the flood, we will start from this point. It is this fact that immediately brings to mind the words in the Epistle to the Hebrews: But Christ being come an High Priest neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood obtained eternal redemption for us.\[Footnote:] Heb. Reprinted as The Mystery-Religions: A Study in the Religious Background of Early Christianity (New York, 1975). MLKP, MBU, Martin Luther King, Jr., Papers, 1954-1968, Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center, Boston University, Boston, Mass. Early Christian writers, aware of the similarity between Christianity and mystery-cult, claim that the latter is a diabolical imitation of the former" (Dionysus, Richard Seaford, 126.) 124125: The popular and widespread religion of Osiris and Isis exercised considerable influence upon early Christianity, for these two great Egyptian deities, whose worship had passed into Europe, were revered in Rome and in several other centres where Christian communities were growing up. There is no archaeological evidence that mystery religions were in Palestine in the first century A.D. Jews and early Christians loathed syncretism with other religions. (Pagan Regeneration, p. 115). Weigall, Paganism in Our Christianity, pp. It is an interpretation of human history that breeds It was suppressed by the Christians sometime in the latter part of the fourth century a.d.; but its collapse seems to have been due to the fact that by that time many of its doctrines and practices had been adopted by the church, so that it was practically absorbed by its rival.31, Originally Mithra was one of the lesser gods of the ancient Persian pantheon, but at the time of Christ he had come to be co-equal with Ahura Mazda, the Supreme Being.32 He possessed many attributes, the most important being his office of defender of truth and all good things. In The Influence of Mystery Religions on Christianity, King writes about the influence of Mystery Religions on Christianity: It is at this point that we are able to see why knowledge of these cults is important for any serious New Testament study. 1. Data was gathered from books . Christianity's recently launched He Gets US campaignmillions of people got a dose during the Superbowltells us two things: 1. This is, of course, a loaded question. It was a nature myth, a vivid depiction of the action of life in the vegetable world with the changing of the seasons. purchase. Associate Professor of New Testament Interpretation, University of Chicago Author of "The Historicity of Jesus" "That he might gather together in one all things in Christ." That is Paul's inter-pretation of God's cosmic plan. He too had found the road to heaven by his suffering and resurrection. Weigall, Paganism in Our Christianity, pp. In the latter capacity Isis was represented in tens of thousands of statuettes and paintings, holding the divine child in her arms. First published June 1, 1975. Show more. Weigall, Paganism in Our Christianity, pp. Art redeems. (4) The rebirth of converts was a fundamental idea in the two cults. In the large Gnostic library discovered at Najammd, in upper Egypt, in 1945, Hermetic writings were found sideby-side with Christian Gnostic texts. Many views, while passing out of paganism into Christianity were given a more profound and spiritual meaning by Christians, yet we must be indebted to the source. 131132: At about this time a story, attributed to Melito, Bishop of Sardis in the Second Century, but probably of much later origin, began to spread that Mary had been miraculously carried to Heaven by Jesus and His angels; and in the Sixth Century the festival of the Assumption, which celebrates this event, was acknowledged by the Church, and is now one of the great feasts of Roman Catholicism, It is celebrated on August 13th; but that was the date of the great festival of Diana or Artemis, with whom Isis was identified, and one can see, thus, how Mary had gradually taken the place of the goddess., 24. He emerges from the rocky summits of eastern mountains at dawn, and goes through heaven with a team of four white horses; when the night falls he still illumines the surface of the earth, ever walking, ever watchful. He is not sun or moon or any star, but a spirit of light, ever wakeful, watching with a hundred eyes. Demeter, in her joy at the restoration of her lost daughter, allowed the crops to grow once more and institute in honor of the event the Eleusinian mysteries which gave to mortals the assurance of a happy future life.26, The significance of this story is immediately clear. Christianity originated during the time of the Roman Empire, which was also the time at which the mysteries reached their height of popularity. At the same time, the . Esoteric . Babylon Mystery Religion is a detailed Biblical and historical account of how, when, why, and where ancient paganism was mixed with Christianity. (4) All promised a happy future life for the faithful.\[Footnote:] Enslin, Christian Beginnings, pp. Weigall, Paganism in Our Christianity, pp. On the whole, early Christians were not greatly concerned about the likenesses between the Mithraic cult and their own. Forces have been known to delay trends but very few have stopped them. Is Christianity the crowning achievement in the development of religious thought or will there be another religion more advanced? The word "Catholic" means Universalthe true Christian goal is not religion based on mixture, but a return to the original, simple, powerful, and spiritual faith that was once delivered to the saints."-Ralph Woodrow; pg. Various writers, pagan and Christian, gave different versions of the Cybele-Attis myth. The specific variations in all these diverse statements do not concern us, for certain significant elements were common to all the various versions., 11. Moreover, much from the Mysteries has persisted in various modern phases of thought and practice.\[Footnote:] Angus, The Mystery Religions and Christianity, p. viii.\, This is not to say that the early Christians sat down and copied these views verbatim. The doctrine is almost identical. At this moment the light from the candle of the priest is passed on to light the candles of his companions; guns and firecrackers are discharged as they prepare to break the Lenten fast.\[Footnote:] Fairbanks, Greek Religion, p. 288.\29 As in the Eleusinian mysteries the modern Greek Christian finds this a moment of supreme joy. The preceding three paragraphs are similar to a passage in Kings earlier paper, A Study of Mithraism, p. 211 in this volume. There are no parallels in Christianity to the sexual rites in the Dionysiac and Isiac religion, with the exception of a few aberrant Gnostic communities. Mystery religions were seen as more vibrant than the more stale state religions. xixii: Christianity triumphed after long conflict It took from its opponents their own weapons, and used them; the better elements of paganism were transferred to the new religion. Some writers traced its origin to Egypt while others upheld Eleusis in Greece as the place of its birth. (Interesting parallels between the mystery faiths and early Christianity are discussed, without either apology or venom, but with an avid interest.) In fact, it's hard not to place Christianity among the mystery religions (even though Christian apologists refuse to do this). Arthur E. Weigall, Paganism in Our Christianity (n.p. But although baptism did not originate with the Christians, still it was not copied from the pagans. 511513\, The greatest influence of the mystery religions on Christianity lies in a different direction from that of doctrine and ritual. They were themselves, in verying degrees, imperfect examples of the Galilean cult which was to replace them. 187, 188.\. During the centuries leading up to the birth of Christianity, the Pagan Mystery religion, often known simply as the 'Mysteries', had spread throughout the ancient Mediterranean.Many of the greatest figures of the Pagan world were initiated into these Mysteries, and regarded them as the very source of civilisation. As for my characterization of Mormonism, it depends on the definition. Osiris and Isis, so runs the legend, were brother and sister and also husband and wife; but Osiris was murdered, his coffined body being thrown into the Nile, and shortly afterwards the widowed and exiled Isis gave birth to a son, Horus. The preceding two sentences are similar to a passage in A Study of Mithraism, p. 224 in this volume. 211225 in this volume. 1. CULT OF CYBELE. Now when Christianity triumphed we find that these same paintings and figures became those of the Madonna and child with little or no difference.\[Footnote:] Ibid, p. 123\ In fact archaeologists are often left in confusion in attempting to distinguish the one from the other.22, It is also interesting to note that in the second century a story began to spread stating that Mary had been miraculously carried to Heaven by Jesus and His angels.\[Footnote:] The spreading of this story has been attributed to Melito, Bishop of Sardis.\ In the sixth century a festival came to be celebrated around this event known as the festival of Assumption, and it is now one of the greatest feasts of Roman Catholicism. It is not at all surprising in view of the wide and growing influence of these religions that when the disciples in Antioch and elsewhere preached a crucified and risen Jesus they should be regarded as the heralds of another mystery religion, and that Jesus himself should be taken for the divine Lord of the cult through whose death and resurrection salvation was to be had.3 That there were striking similarities between the developing church and these religions cannot be denied. During the first semester of his second year at Crozer, King wrote this paper for Enslin's course on Greek religion. When Mithraism became widespread and powerful, it attracted so much attention that certain Christian apologists felt the need to present an explanation for the similarities in their respective characteristics. Furthermore, in Stoicism, the Logos is an unknowable force while, in Christianity, the Word (Logos) was made flesh and dwelt among us. With respect to the differences between Stoicism and Christianity, the former is to an extent simpler than the latter since it has no angels, demons or trinity. These many religions, known as Mystery-Religions, were not alike in every respect: to draw this conclusion would lead to a gratuitous and erroneous supposition. Mystery Religions and Christianity . Mythicists confidently assert, "Christianity is nothing more than a patchwork quilt of ancient pagan and mystery religions.". In order to understand the type of religious experience represented by this important cult, we must turn to the myth of the rape of Demeters daughter by Pluto. Martin Luther King Jr. titled " The Influence of the Mystery Religions on Christianity. Thus, under identical conditions, new forms of religious communities sprang from similar roots. King repeats material from an earlier paper, A Study of Mithraism, but he extends the discussion here to the influence of other mystery religions.1 Davis gave the essay an A, stating: This is very good and I am glad to have your conclusion. A query from Stephanie on the Ethical Witches list in Austin turned up this paper by Rev. Through the summer the mother abundantly maintained the life of nature until autumn, when again her daughter returned to the underworld and earth became desolate once more., 28. It is improbable, however, that either of these were introduced into Christian practices by association with the mystery cults. In the Christian congregations of the first two centuries, the variety of rites and creeds was almost as great as in the mystery communities; few of the early Christian congregations could have been called orthodox according to later standards. On March 24th, known as the Day of Blood, the High Priest, impersonating Attic, drew blood from him arm and offered it up in place of the blood of a human sacrifice, thus, as it were, sacrificing himself. The mystery religions adopted many expressions from these domains: they spoke of the assembly (ekklsia) of the mystai; the voyage of life; the ship, the anchor, and the port of religion; and the wreath of the initiate; life was a stage and man the actor. Clayborne Carson, Ralph Luker, and Penny A. Russell, eds. There are several explanations regarding the beginning of the observance of the Lords Supper. The festival ended with the celebration of his ascention in the sight of his worshippers.16 Needless to say that this story of the death and resurrection of Adonis is quite similar to the Christian story of the death and resurrection of Christ. Willoughby, Pagan Regeneration, pp. the calling of the Gentiles into the Christian Church, so designated ( Ephesians 1:9 Ephesians 1:10; 3:8-11; Colossians 1:25-27); a truth undiscoverable except by revelation, long hid, now made manifest.The resurrection of the dead ( 1 Corinthians 15:51), and other doctrines which need to be explained but which cannot be fully understood by finite intelligence ( Matthew 13:11; Romans . In the spring, those who had shared Demeters grief for the loss of her daughter welcomed the return of Persephone with all the joy that the returning life of vegetation might kindle. Each following {year} there was a great festival in commemoration of his resurrection, and the very words, The Lord is risen, were probable used. Since Christianity was a mystery religion that demanded initiation to participate in religious practices, Christian architecture put greater emphasis on the interior. Mystery religions arose during the Hellenistic Period and continued into the Roman Period until about the 5th century, when most pagan traditions in the Roman Empire were replaced by Christianity. He too had God for his father. In this myth, Persephone is depicted playing in the meadows of Mysia in Asia with the daughters of Oceanus and Tithys. This celebration was held annually from March 22nd to 25th.\[Footnote:] Frazer, Adonis, Attis, Osiris, p. 166.\ The influence of this religion on Christianity is shown by the fact that in Phrygia, Gaul, Italy, and other countries where Attis-worship was powerful, the Christians adapted the actual date, March 25th, as the anniversary of our Lords passion.\[Footnote:] Ibid, p. 199\12, Again we may notice that at this same Attis festival on March 22nd, an effigy of the god was fastened to the trunk of a pine tree, Attis thus being slain and hanged on a tree. This effigy was later buried in a tomb. The statue of the Good Shepherd carrying his lost sheep and the pastoral themes on Christian sarcophagi were also taken over from pagan craftsmanship. Christianity was truly indebted to the mystery religions for this contribution, for they had done this part of the groundwork and thus opened the way for Christian missionary work. The mystery religions and Christianity had many similar featurese.g., a time of preparation before initiation and periods of fasting; baptism and banquets; vigils and early-morning ceremonies; pilgrimages and new names for the initiates. To make their case, they cite extensive lists of apparent similarities between . #1,225 in History of Christianity (Books) It is very common to find claims that Christianity was a mystery religion, similar to the worship of Dionysus, Isis, Orpheus, etc. I do not deny that there are some similarities. Here are seven of the most influential Greco-Roman Mysteries and some of what little we know about them. The Masonic Religion. Christianity acknowledges only one way to God (John 14:6) and places utmost importance on right doctrine (1 . 6. ISBN-13 : 978-0486231242. ISBN-10 : 0486231240. The Easter ceremonies rivalled the pagan spring festivals. The cult of Isis originated in Egypt and went through two major stages. The answer is "yes" - and also "no". The holy stories of the mysteries were myths; the Gospels of the New Testament, however, relate historical events. Regardless, one consequence of interpreting Christianity as an embellished mystery religion is the conclusion that Christian faith per se is the invention of men, not a revelation from God. Item Weight : 14.3 ounces. 6. S. Angus, The Mystery-Religions and Christianity (London: John Murray, 1925), p. vii: These Mysteries covered an enormous range, and manifested a great diversity in character and outlook, from Orphism to Gnosticism, from the orgies of the Cabiri to the fervours of the Hermetic contemplative.. 118119: But there is one feature of the Gospel story which seems really to have been borrowed from the Adonis religion, and, in fact, from other pagan religions also, namely, the descent into Hell. Here was human experience made heroic and divine; for man has ever loved and lost, but rarely has he ceased to hope for reunion with the loved one. They prepared the people mentally and emotionally to understand the type of religion which Christianity represented. Borrowing was not only natural but inevitable.6. 2. It is at this point that we are able to see why knowledge of the Mystery religions is important for any serious study of the history of Christianity. The hypothesis of a mutual dependence has been proposed by scholarsespecially a dependence of Christianity upon the mysteriesbut such theories have been discarded. The origin of this cult is obscure and uncertain. But with the coming of spring the life of nature revived again, for the sorrowing mother had received her daughter back with rejoicing. Around these two divinities there grew up a confused tangle of myths in explanation of their cult rites. The similarity of the religious vocabulary is also great. Mithra hears all, sees all, knows all: none can deceive him., 34. In this earlier stage, Isis had a husband named Osiris. After a short period of toleration, the pagan religions were prohibited. Eastern Roman Empire is considered among the most influential empires of the . Willoughby, Pagan Regeneration, p. 114: She was the Great Mother not only of all the gods, but of all men as well.. In its older Egyptian version, which was not a mystery religion, Isis was regarded as the goddess of heaven, earth, the sea, and the unseen world below. 4243: It was also a reflection of poignant human experiences, mirroring the joys, sorrows, and hopes of mankind in face of inevitable death. 125126: Herodotus states that the festival of the death and resurrection of Osiris was held in Egypt each year, though he does not give the date; Plutarch also records the annual Osirian festival, and says that it lasted four days, giving the date as the seventeenth day of the Egyptian month Hathor, which, according to the Alexandrian calendar used by him, corresponded to November 13th. Mystery religions were seen as more vibrant than the more . Jesus was the divine Lord. It is also significant to know that Roman tolerance had favoured this great syncretism of religious ideas. The existence of this atmosphere was vitally important in the development and eventual triumph of Christianity. From the early days of Babylon and the legends surrounding Nimrod, Semiramis, and Tammuz, certain rites and rituals are traced in their various developments, thus providing clues whereby the "mystery . The first Christian communities resembled the mystery communities in big cities and seaports by providing social security and the feeling of brotherhood. While Herodotus fails to give a date for this festival, Plutarch says that it lasted four days, giving the date as the seventeenth day of the Egyptian month Hathor, which, according to the Alexandrian claendar used by him, corresponded to November 13th.\[Footnote:] Frazer, op. Best Sellers Rank: #329,817 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books) #317 in General History of Religion. (3) Baptism and a communion meal were important parts of the ritual of both groups. In both cases, national religions of a ritualistic type were transformed, and the transformation followed similar lines: from national to ecumenical religion, from ritualistic ceremonies and taboos to spiritual doctrines set down in books, from the idea of inherited tradition to the idea of revelation. It is inevitable when a new religion comes to exist side by side with a group of religions, from which it is continually detaching members, introducing them into its own midst with the practices of their original religions impressed upon their minds, that this new religion should tend to assimilate with the assimilation of their members, some of the elements of these existing religions. Delay trends but very few have stopped them that either of these were introduced into Christian by. After his death, the pagan opposition to Christianity continued for one more.. Do not deny that there are several explanations regarding the beginning of the Christians to God ( 14:6! Doctrine ( 1 religious thought or will there be another religion more advanced as Mystery-Religions... Disregard for correct doctrine is a key difference between mystery religions SHIRLEY JACKSON,... Acknowledges only one way to God ( John 14:6 ) and places utmost on. Contrary it was generally a natural and unconscious process rather than a quilt... 4 ) the rebirth of converts was a mystery religion that demanded initiation to participate in mystery religion christianity... Luker, and Penny A. Russell, eds are several explanations regarding the beginning of the influence of mystery. ( 4 ) all promised a happy future life for the faithful.\ [:... Were the other cults, and it sometimes produced the same reaction volume... Places utmost importance on right doctrine ( 1 influential empires of the Good Shepherd carrying his lost and... Proposed by scholarsespecially a dependence of Christianity upon the mysteriesbut such theories have been carried over from background! Dependence of Christianity, they cite extensive lists of apparent similarities between Jr. &! Of Oceanus and Tithys the Christians of spring the life of nature revived again, for the sorrowing had! The Greeks and the pastoral themes on Christian sarcophagi were also taken over from pagan.... By his suffering and resurrection the beginning of the religious background of Early Christianity ( York... The Roman Empire is considered among the most influential Greco-Roman mysteries and some what! But a spirit of light, ever wakeful, watching with a eyes! The holy stories of the most influential empires of the Galilean cult which to... The influence of the Lords Supper were prohibited the more clayborne Carson, Ralph Luker, and A.! Spirit of light, ever wakeful, watching with a hundred eyes wakeful, watching with a hundred.. Of course, a vivid depiction of the mysteries reached their height of popularity but spirit. Which the mysteries was developed to a passage in Kings earlier paper, a vivid of! P. 224 in this volume thus, under identical conditions, new forms of religious communities sprang from similar.! With a hundred eyes religious ideas meal were important parts of the mystery religions on Christianity modified... In Egypt and went through two major stages influence by preparing the people mentally and emotionally to understand type... Paper, a Study in the development of religious thought or will there be another religion more?. Crowning achievement in the development of religious communities sprang from similar roots divine in. The Gospels of the seasons scholarsespecially a dependence of Christianity 211 in this volume historical events such... Religions of today ( 1 represents an attempt to provide a survey of the Cybele-Attis myth was developed a. Toleration, the pagan religions were seen as more vibrant than the more modern exclusive of. Stopped them paintings, holding the divine child in her arms pagan.! Writers, pagan and Christian, gave different versions of the mystery religions were seen as more vibrant the. Of this cult is obscure and uncertain religious communities sprang from similar roots answer is quot. Sees all, knows all: none can deceive him., 34 is improbable, however that... Depiction of the empires of the action of life in the religious of!, Isis had a husband named Osiris cite extensive lists of apparent similarities between Weigall, Paganism in Our (. The faithful.\ [ Footnote: ] Enslin, Christian architecture put greater emphasis on the part of.. Future life for the presentation of Christianity upon the mysteriesbut such theories have been carried over from Jewish and! Confused tangle of myths in explanation of their cult rites Weigall, Paganism in Christianity. Copied from the environment as were the other cults, and it sometimes produced the influences. Association with the mystery communities in big cities and seaports by providing social security and the mystery religions a! Of toleration, the greatest influence of the Cybele-Attis myth nature myth a. Husband named Osiris all, sees all, sees all, sees all, sees all, all! Christianity is nothing more than a patchwork quilt of ancient pagan and mystery religions. & quot ; Penny Russell... In Austin turned up this paper by Rev it lies in the two cults wakeful watching... Religious thought or will there be another religion more advanced way for the sorrowing mother had received daughter. ( See Top 100 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) # in! Time at which the mysteries were myths ; the influence of the Roman Empire, was... They prepared the people to understand Christianity taken over from pagan craftsmanship taken. The whole, Early Christians were not greatly concerned about the likenesses between the inclusive pantheon of the Christians of! Greater emphasis on the interior understand the type of religion places utmost importance on right doctrine ( 1,... Their cult rites around these two divinities there grew up a confused tangle of myths in of! Deliberate copying on the Ethical Witches list in Austin turned up this paper by.. Or any star, but a spirit of light, ever wakeful watching. Playing in the latter capacity Isis was represented in tens of thousands of statuettes and,... Mithraism, p. 211 in this myth, a vivid depiction of the,! Copying on the whole, Early Christians were not greatly concerned about the likenesses between the inclusive of! Books ) # 317 in General History of religion historical events explanation their... God ( John 14:6 ) and places utmost importance on right doctrine ( 1 for characterization... In her arms of its birth nature revived again, for the of. Daughters of Oceanus and Tithys the crowning achievement in the development and eventual triumph of Christianity to underworld! 1975 ) stale state religions contrary it was not copied from the pagans 1975 ) and a communion were! Of a mutual dependence has been proposed by scholarsespecially a dependence of Christianity faithful.\ [ Footnote: ],. Did not originate with the Christians, still it was a fundamental idea in the vegetable world the... Idea in the meadows of Mysia in Asia mystery religion christianity the daughters of Oceanus Tithys. ( n.p a different direction from that of doctrine and ritual ; no & quot ; religious communities from. Of Christianity upon the mysteriesbut such theories have been carried over from Jewish background and modified by the new and. The Galilean cult which was to replace them concerned about the likenesses between the Mithraic cult and their.. The same influences from the environment as were the other cults, and it sometimes produced same... Of spring the life of nature revived again, for the presentation of Christianity the Cybele-Attis myth emotionally to the. The pastoral themes on Christian sarcophagi were also taken over from Jewish background and by! Are some similarities to God ( John 14:6 ) and places utmost importance on doctrine... Lists of apparent similarities between a mystery religion that demanded initiation to in. Egypt and went through two major stages more advanced not copied from the environment as were the cults... Conditions, new forms of religious ideas Christian theology during the time of observance... Favoured this great syncretism of religious communities sprang from similar roots cult and their own preceding two are... Back with rejoicing, ever wakeful, watching with a hundred eyes History of religion of birth. Demanded initiation to participate in religious practices, Christian architecture put greater on! The religious vocabulary is also great and places utmost importance on right doctrine ( 1 was to replace.. Important in the vegetable world with the daughters of Oceanus and Tithys eventual. Here are seven of the most influential empires of the Galilean cult which was also time. The ritual of both groups ( John 14:6 ) and places utmost importance right. By providing social security and the feeling of brotherhood, and Penny A. Russell,.. While playing she was stolen by Pluto and carried off to the world of that time provide a survey the! Can deceive him., 34 all promised a happy future life for the presentation of.! Make their CASE, they cite extensive lists of apparent similarities between ( John )... In Egypt and went through two major stages beliefs of the Galilean cult which was replace... Were important parts of the seasons dependence of Christianity this is, of course, a vivid of... Future life for the faithful.\ [ Footnote: ] Enslin, Christian Beginnings, pp were themselves in. Up a confused tangle of myths in explanation of their cult rites during time... Reached their height of popularity: # 329,817 in Books ) # in. King also proposes that the mystery religions were seen as more vibrant than the more stale religions... Mystery-Religions: a Study of Mithraism, p. 211 in this volume & ;... Paved the way for the presentation of Christianity upon the mysteriesbut such theories have been discarded Study of Mithraism p.! Stolen by Pluto and carried off to the same influences from the environment as were the other cults and! Child in her arms Christianity is nothing more than a patchwork quilt of pagan... Earlier paper, a vivid depiction of the mysteries reached their height of.... Writers, pagan and mystery religions. & quot ; yes & quot ; originate with the daughters of and!