(no subject)
So that peoples brains don't 'splode
Quiz answer...
Mithra
According to Persian mythology, Mithras was born of a virgin given the title 'Mother of God'. The God remained celibate throughout his life, and valued self-control, renunciation and resistance to sensuality among his worshippers. Mithras represented a system of ethics in which brotherhood was encouraged in order to unify against the forces of evil.
The Persians called Mithras 'The Mediator' since he was believed to stand between the light of Ahura-Mazda and the darkness of Ahriman. He was said to have 1000 eyes, expressing the conviction that no man could conceal his wrongdoing from the god. Mithras was known as the God of Truth, and Lord of Heavenly Light, and said to have stated "I am a star which goes with thee and shines out of the depths".
Mithras was worshipped as guardian of arms, and patron of soldiers and armies. The handshake was developed by those who worshipped him as a token of friendship and as a gesture to show that you were unarmed. When Mithras later became the Roman god of contracts, the handshake gesture was imported throughout the Mediterranean and Europe by Roman soldiers.
There is much controversy about all this...some people believe a "conspiray theory" exists to discredit christianity as it "copycat the older Cult of Mithra"
But this tradition left no written manuscripts and much of what we know about it is "known" through the eyes of early christians who sought to discredit the cult.
"the victors write the history"
Others believe that there is no link at all and that these "coincidences" are of little value.
for example, Jesus was not born on December 25...this date was moved by the early church to coincide with a Roman (I believe) holiday to avoid persecution...
as well as other arguements.
I actually find it very interesting that the concept of virgin births, multiples of the number 3, conflict between "light" and "dark", and resurection from the dead are commonly occuring themes in many spiritual mythos.
Quiz answer...
Mithra
According to Persian mythology, Mithras was born of a virgin given the title 'Mother of God'. The God remained celibate throughout his life, and valued self-control, renunciation and resistance to sensuality among his worshippers. Mithras represented a system of ethics in which brotherhood was encouraged in order to unify against the forces of evil.
The Persians called Mithras 'The Mediator' since he was believed to stand between the light of Ahura-Mazda and the darkness of Ahriman. He was said to have 1000 eyes, expressing the conviction that no man could conceal his wrongdoing from the god. Mithras was known as the God of Truth, and Lord of Heavenly Light, and said to have stated "I am a star which goes with thee and shines out of the depths".
Mithras was worshipped as guardian of arms, and patron of soldiers and armies. The handshake was developed by those who worshipped him as a token of friendship and as a gesture to show that you were unarmed. When Mithras later became the Roman god of contracts, the handshake gesture was imported throughout the Mediterranean and Europe by Roman soldiers.
There is much controversy about all this...some people believe a "conspiray theory" exists to discredit christianity as it "copycat the older Cult of Mithra"
But this tradition left no written manuscripts and much of what we know about it is "known" through the eyes of early christians who sought to discredit the cult.
"the victors write the history"
Others believe that there is no link at all and that these "coincidences" are of little value.
for example, Jesus was not born on December 25...this date was moved by the early church to coincide with a Roman (I believe) holiday to avoid persecution...
as well as other arguements.
I actually find it very interesting that the concept of virgin births, multiples of the number 3, conflict between "light" and "dark", and resurection from the dead are commonly occuring themes in many spiritual mythos.