Catholics & Catholicism

Question:

Joseph Wheless points out these similarities between Mithraism (origins perhaps 2000 years before Jesus) and Christianity and Judaism. The Catholic Encyclopedia apparently unabashedly backs him up. No wonder the pagans smiled. No wonder they had to burn. http://www.thenazareneway.com/Forgery%20in%20Christianity/forgery_in_… Mithraism: -Jesuit priest said "The highest religious result to which human reason unaided by Revelation can attain"! (Catholic Encyclopedia ii, 154-156, passim.) -divinely revealed Monotheism, or worship of a One God, -Having a divinely revealed Moral Code comparable to the Christian -a physical and moral dualism -human free will -virtues of truth and open-handed generosity -good-fellowship and brotherliness. -The army of darkness attacks and deposes Oromasdes (Ahura Mazda) They were however thrown back into hell, whence they escape, wander over the face of the earth and afflict man. … As evil spirits ever lie in wait for hapless man, he needs a friend and savior, who is Mithra. -Mithra is the Mediator between God and Man. -Against all impurity,against all evil within and without. -They believed in the immortality of the soul -sinners after death were dragged down to hell -the just passed through the seven spheres of the planets, leaving at each planet a part of their lower humanity until, as pure spirits, they stood before God. -At the end of the world Mithra will descend to earth -and will make all drink the beverage of immortality. -The fathers conducted the worship. -The chief of the fathers, a sort of pope,who always lived at Rome, was called ‘Pater Patratus’ -The members below the grade of pater called one another ‘brother’ -social distinctions were forgotten in Mithraic unity -A sacred meal was celebrated of bread and haoma juice for which in the West wine was substituted. -Three times a day prayer was offered the sun towards east, south, or west according to the hour. -Sunday was kept holy in honor of Mithra -The 25 December was observed as his birthday -had an elevating and invigorating effect on its followers. -these essential identities are found in the Vedas and Avesta, of maybe two thousand years before Christianity -Zoroaster, who, gave final form to the creed, lived some 600 years before the Christ -Mithra saved the world by sacrificing a bull-[just as the Jews saved themselves] Christ by sacrificing himself. -connection between the angels of the Bible, and the great ‘archangels’ or ‘Amesha-Spentas’ of the Zend-Avesta -The belief in guardian angels ("cherubim")-Ahura Mazda is a pure Spirit; his chief attributes are eternity, wisdom, truth, goodness, majesty, power. -He is the creator of all good creatures-not, however, of Evil (better idea) -Ahura Mazda dwells in Eternal Light -Ahura Mazda qualities of omniscience, all-sovereignty, all goodness -Evil Spirit destined to destruction at the end of time. -Spento Mainyus, THE HOLY SPIRIT, and Ahura Mazda are synonymous throughout the Avesta. -Vohu Manah, a spirit, is conceived as the ‘SON OF THE CREATOR and identified with the Alexandrian LOGOS [of John i, 1]. -associated in a trio [TRINITY] Rashnu (Right, Justice), and MITHRA -through His Prophet Zarathushtra (Zoroaster) gave man His Divine Revelation and law. -Evil spirit tempted Zoroaster himself,promising him as a reward the sovereignty of the whole world -necessity of goodness in thought, word, and deed -virtues of religion, truthfulness, purity, and generosity to the poor -At the end of time, will come Saoshyant (SAVIOR) under whom will occur the Resurrection of the dead, the General Judgment,the renewal of the whole world -a mighty combat takes place between Soashyant [the "Savior"] and his followers and the demon hosts of the Evil Spirit, who are utterly routed and destroyed forever. A similarity between Mithra and Christ struck even early observers, such as Justin, Tertullian, and other Fathers, and in recent times has been urged to prove that Christianity is but an adaptation of Mithraism, or at least the outcome of the same religious ideas and aspirations. –Catholic Encyclopedia So, perhaps Christianity has so many contradictions because they had to make up a slightly different story but didn’t have 2000 years to get the bugs out like Mithraism did. Christianity made a mistake combining 4 different gospels in one book. Jeff (99% atheist, but thinking of becoming a follower of Mithraism

Response:

Joseph Wheless points out these similarities between Mithraism (origins perhaps 2000 years before Jesus) and Christianity and Judaism. …