¶ … paganism and mystery religions influenced Christianity. Paganism

Paganism and mystery religions

Pagan Mystery religions have been associated with paving the way for Christianity presentation across the ancient and present world. They played the role of preparing the people emotionally and mentally in understanding the kind of religion which was represented by Christianity. They existed in varying degrees, examples was the Galilean cult which was to replace them. There encouragement was for a shift from the philosophical and state religion systems towards the craving for personal salvation as well as promise of immortality. It is believed that Christianity have been manifested through the paganism and mystery religions, since they were involved in doing the groundwork which paved the way for Christian missionary work. Most of the perception, as passed from paganism into Christianity got a highly insightful and spiritual meaning by Christianity.

The early church developed from the Greco-Roman world which formed one of the varied religions. Following the favorable environment that existed at that time, these religions were able to sweep the ancient world like a tidal wave. The same atmosphere contributed a lot to the development as well as the eventually triumph of Christianity. Each and so called Mystery-Religion did not look alike in all aspects. Apart from covering an enormous range, they manifested a huge diversity in character and outlook, (Cumont, Franz, 1911). From the orgies of the Cabira to the fervours of the Hermetic contemplative, Orphism to Gnosticism. Nevertheless, these mystery religions had a number of likeliness, such as secret rites for the initiated, initiated shared in symbolic fashion to the experiences of the god, promised their faithful a happy future life, and offered mystical cleansing from sin.

After a long conflict Christianity was able to triumph over these mystery religions. Such triumph may have come as a result of partly Christianity taking own weapons of their opponent and using them; thereby allowing the better elements of the mystery religions to be transferred to the new religion, (Angus, S., 1925). According to Cumont, the more study will be made closely is the more the triumph of the church will be further culminating along evolution of beliefs. He further says that Christianity of the fifth century can be understood better with its spiritual exaltation and its puerile superstitions, its greatness and weakness, in case we are going to have knowledge of its moral antecedents of the world where it developed, (Cumont, Franz, 1911).

Another example of that universal historical law is the victory of Christianity within the Roman Empire; a culture which conquers is in turn conquered. Such universal tend to be true of a religion. New religion may thrive without difficulties when it happens to exist side by side with a group of religion, especially where it continually detaching members, and shifting them to its own, accompanied by practices of their former religions impressed upon such peoples' mind, requiring the new religion to assimilate with the assimilation of their members, different elements from the already existing religions, (Enslin Morton S., 1935). Since the more crudaing a religion may be, the more it can absorb, then Christianity is one of the crusading religion from the start. Due to the fact of such crusading spirit and its superb power of adaptability that Christianity has managed to survive.

Looking at groundwork that paganism and mystery religions have done, it become of importance never to leave this out whenever a serious study of the history of Christianity is to take place. Grasping Christianity might not be deeply understandable without including knowledge of such cults, (Fairbanks, Arthur, 1910). We have to acknowledge that Christianity was not an abrupt as well as miraculous transformation, springing, into view full grown; it is a composite of slow and laborious growth. For that reason it is of importance to learn about the social and historical factor that facilitated the growth of Christianity. It does not mean that early Christians just sat down and duplicated these ideas exactly. They first of all came in contact with these existing religions and learning some of the doctrines that was expressed; it was somehow natural when these views could form part of their subconscious minds. So they were writing the expression regarding what was already on their subconscious minds. In addition, because of the Roman tolerance such great syncretism of religious...

A Good Shepard named Attis was the son of Cybele (the Great Mother). His birth happened without any union with mortal man, just like in the case of virgin Mary in Christian. The myth suggests that the death of Attis took place due to slain by another or by his own hand. During Attis' death, his mother Cybele vigorously mourned until he rose to life again in the springtime. The main idea about the myth was the triumph of Attis' death, as well as the taking part in the rites of the cult believing without no doubt that his attachment to the conquering deity would be an assurance of the same triumph in his life. There are evidence showing that festival celebration of the death and resurrection of Attis went on in Rome. It was an annual celebration which took place from March 22nd to 25th. Its influence on Christianity has been shown by the fact that countries where Attis-worship was powerful such as Italy, Gaul, Phrygia, among others, Christians have adapted the same date (March 25th) to be the anniversary of our Lord's passion.
Looking at the cult of Isis towards Christianity. It is said that god Osiris happened to be murdered by his brother and then buried in the Nile. However, the goddess Isis recovered the cadaver, but was taken again by her brother-in-law who ended up cutting the body into fourteen pieces and scattered them all over the world. The goddess found the parts again and baptized every part in the River Nile afterwards Osiris resurrected, (Frazer, J.E., 1922). The resurrection of Osiris has been associated with the one of Jesus Christ.

Christianity has borrowed from Mithra. Mithra is known to have been born from a rock, "the god out of the rock." The worship of Mithra was taking place in a cave. This idea of birth from the cave by Mithraic ideas is somehow correlated with the general belief of the early church that Jesus was born in cave, (Cumont, Franz, 1910). Looking at the words of St. Paul from the bible, "They drank of that spiritual rock…. And that rock was Christ" is an indication of some borrowing from the Mithraic scriptures.

Even though Christians have abolished Hebrew Sabbath, a sacred day of Sunday was made, to some extend since it was the day of resurrection. Observing everything further we realize that as a solar festival, also the sacred day of Mithra was Sunday. It is also noticed that due to the fact that Mithra was referred to as Lord, this Sunday was "the Lord's Day" prior to Christian using it. Another thing that is coming out is that the Christmas, December 25th, which Christians value so much, was the birthday of Mithra, which had been taken over during the Fourth Century to be the date when Jesus was born. Some of the essential ideas found in Christianity were the same essential ideas of Mithraic ideas, for example, baptism and a communion meal as important part of the ritual, the rebirth of converts, the struggle with evil and eventually triumph of good. Just as Christians they believed in immortality as well as a mediator between god and man.

The worship of Adonis is another popular religion which is said to have influenced the thought of early Christians. Just as many are aware that famous Antioch was among the earliest seats of Christianity, it was the same city that the annual celebration of death and resurrection of the god Adonis took place. Manifestation of this faith got deep into the Jewish thought that Ezekiel had to scold the women of Jerusalem after they wept at the gate of the temple following the death of Adonis (Tammuz). Another manifestation is seen from the very Bethlehem that Christians believes was where Jesus was born was the same one of the early shrines of this pagan god; even majority had to confuse Adonis with Jesus Christ.

According to belief about this god is that he suffered a cruel death, descended into hell, and rose again after which ascended into Heaven. Every year a great festival used to take place in commemoration of his resurrection, and similar phrase, "The Lord is risen" marked the ceremony. The end of the festival was marked with ascension celebration regarding the sight of his worshippers, (Hyde, Walter, W., 1946). The story of the death as well as resurrection of Adonis is showing a lot of similarities with the one of Christianity regarding the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Even at…