R&I – FS
Hi
God, Mithras, and ML!
Mithras, the Persian, Roman, and Greek Sun God, has been depicted as a God for several centuries before a group of Gentile resurrected a supposedly Jewish man as their God and saviour. Yet, scholar see Christianity as an adoption of Mithraism. Perhaps the most persuasive case of potential mythological “borrowing” is found in claims related to Mithras. The ancient mythological deity worshipped in Persia four hundred years prior to Jesus (and worshipped continually throughout the first four or five centuries of first millennia in Rome, right alongside those who worshipped Jesus). Mithras was born of a virgin, in a cave, on December 25th, and his birth was attended by shepherds. Mithras was considered a great travelling teacher and master. He had twelve companions (or disciples) and promised his follower’s immortality. Mithras performed miracles and sacrificed himself for world peace. He was buried in a tomb and after three days rose again. His followers celebrated this event each year at the time of Mithras’ resurrection (and this date later became “Easter”). Mithras was called the “Good Shepherd,” was identified with both the Lamb and the Lion, and was considered to be the “Way, the Truth and the Light,” the “Logos,” the “Redeemer,” the “Saviour” and the “Messiah.” His followers celebrated Sunday as His sacred day (also known as the “Lord’s Day,”) and they celebrated a Eucharist or “Lord’s Supper.” Yet, for centuries, Christian apologist have tried to vilify this story and other such ancient claims. We can see this in Justin Martyr’s clam that such god’s born of a virgin was the devil’s work. Chapter LXIX.—The devil, since he emulates the truth, has invented fables about Bacchus, Hercules, and Æsculapius. https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf01.viii.iv.lxix.html In addition, it was the Christian Justin Martyr who authenticated the Pagans, Jews, and philosophers claim that Jesus was a Magician!
At the end of his college essay on Mithras, the ancient Persian/Iranian Sun God, and much later adopted by the Greeks, and Romans as their Sun deity, ML wrote the conclusion to his essay: That Christianity did copy and borrow from Mithraism cannot be denied, but it was generally a natural and unconscious process rather than a deliberate plan of action. It was subject to the same influences from the environment as were the other cults, and it sometimes produced the same reaction. The people were conditioned by the contact with the older religions and the background and general trend of the time.
Many of the 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. To discuss Christianity without mentioning other religions would be like discussing the greatness of the Atlantic Ocean without the slightest mention of the many tributaries that keep it flowing. https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-papers/documents/study-mithraism
ML’s Professor at Crozer Theological Seminary gave an “A” for the essay, wrote: “This is an exceedingly good paper. You have given a very complete picture of the essential details, and you have presented this in a balanced and restrained way. And furthermore, you know how to write. You should go a long way if you continue to pay the price.” However, ML did pay the ultimate price! The world is a sadder place for the loss of his rhetoric, oration, his peaceful Protest, his scholarly work on Mithras, and the hope that he gave to the minority Black African-Americans community. And certainly to this Welshman, who followed his progress, and marches on civil rights—starting from 1955, with the Rosa Parks imprisonment. Parks, violating a Montgomery (Alabama) city bus ordinance, when she refused to give up her seat to a White man. https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/montgomery-bus-boycott
ML is probably more famous for his March on Washington, DC, in 1963 and the speech he gave after, “I have a Dream.”—Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968)
It is very rare for a devout Christian, never mind Christian minister, to read, and to even major in ancient Pagan religions, and accept it as one on par with Christianity. And not demean or belittle it as beneath one’s God. What do you say?
Cofion
Jero Jones
Article URL : https://breakingnewsandreligion.online/discuss/