The Influence of the Mystery Religions on Christianity

By Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

MLK Jr. wrote this essay for the Development of Xtian Ideas and how it comes from the Pagan religions it has overtaken. He repeats from another piece of his own work, "A Study of Mithraism", and fleshes out his research to include " other mystery religions". MLK Jr. receives an "A" on his essay, but the prof states how Xtianity'd stolen bits from the Mystery Cults to serve its own purpose, which's people's yearning for "light, truth, salvation, and security". Davis, the prof continues to list how MLK Jr'd succeeded to make more than a few points, the conclusion from humans consistently for higher, fuller, "more abundant", and "satisfying life".

Davis concludes with everyone's spirituality continuing forever. MLK Jr. starts with how the Greco-Roman world has many religions sweep over them quickly in the ancient world, this being why Xtianity eventually wins out to the others, due to people's attitudes being "eager and zealous". The many religions among Xtianity at the time though, were known as "Mystery-Religions", and they vary in types, "from Orphism to Gnosticism". All religions did offer similar fates if joining their belief, which's why Xtianity took hold easily enough.

After a long battle, Xtianity wins over the mystery religions, and adopts their best bits. Xtianity's "adaptability" is how its survived so long (bye bye, more like...jk for the sensitiv-erati), it having a "crusading spirit". 1 must have knowledge about these other religions in order to truly understand Xtianity (Mr. Mackey voice, "children"), and how it slowly cranked out its beauty rather than being a spring flower right out of the dawn. MLK Jr cites a Dr. Angus on the need to see the "spiritual values of Hellenistic-Oriental paganism"'d be how 1 could mistake the starting Xtian "centuries and to" not do the victorious Xtianity of today.(..)

Early Xtians didn't decide to highjack certain thought processes, rather it integrated subconsciously; "Borrowing" natural regarding religion-building. So, MLK Jr will go over 5 mystery cults which influenced Xtianity. 1st, The Cult of Cybele and Attis, comes from the Orient to the West introing the Great Mother of the Gods, Magna Mater Deum Cybele who birthed both gods and man; "a hero-divinity called Attic"'s the personification of the "vegetable world". Cybele gives birth to "Attis" without a human, and when Attis dies, whether suicide or murder, Cybele mourns him terribly until he comes back in Spring.

So, with this attached to their god, the initiate could have hope in being as lucky in life. Attis had a celebration on his resurrection from 3/22-3-25, the 25th being settled on by Xtianity as "our Lord's passion" anniv. On the 22 of Mar there used to be an Attis fest where an effigy of him'd be hung from a tree, then buried in a tomb. On the 24th, a High Priest'd draw blood from his arm in lieu of a blood sacrifice, and later when they go to check the body, it's gone, meaning he'd come back, so on the 25th, they'd celebrate the rebirth.

During this festival, initiates'd be baptized with blood have their sins washed away and be reborn. Obv these ceremonies and "belief's coloured" the 1st Xtians on the life and death and life of Jesus, Attis and Jesus sharing the "sanctuary on the Vatican Hill", since Xtians took the mother church of St Peter still now stands in the same spot. 2nd cult of Adonis' faith showed influence on Jewish women, who'd be tsk’ed at by the prophet Ezekiel for mourning Adonis at the gate of the Temple. Even Jerusalem, the chosen birth spot of Jesus also birthed the pagan god, Adonis, which led to the 2 being mixed up.

Adonis' story has him suffer a terrible death, go to hell, rebirth, then go to heaven, thereafter, the yearly celebration of his return being observed. 3rd is Osiris and Isis where as bro and sis, hubby wife, Osiris is killed, Isis has their son, Horus, and Osiris' body gets thrown in the Nile where the coffin eventually shores on the Syrian coast, and is lodged in a tree trunk. It's cut down to become a pillar in the palace at Byblos where Isis, discovers it. When she locates his dismembered body, she restores him and makes him king of the underworld as Horus reigns on Earth, creating the holy Egyptian trinity.

Osiris' celebration is calculated to being about Nov. 8th. MLK Jr regards how "all Souls" also lands at the start of Nov, and candles are lit to honor the dead and last the night. All Saints day's held the day before all Souls, and due to Xtians unknowingly celebrating, they take part in the celebration of Osiris. Isis has definitely aided Mary, Mother of Jesus in becoming the deity the Roman Catholic's hold on to.

Isis also is "lady of sorrows" for crying for Osiris, and being a mother to Horus, she 1st ID'd with Demeter who cried for Persephone, so later Isis statuettes of her holding a child is now easily crossed over with the virgin Mary, this confusion extending to archaeologists who must date these figures. In the 2nd century of Xtianity a rumor of Jesus carrying Mary to heaven is added. By the 6th century the festival Assumption is held on Aug 13th, this also the date of Artemis and Dianna were celebrated, ID'd with Isis, now seeing how Mary took over from Isis. 4th is the Great Mysteries at Eleusis, the Eleusian mystery cult being most favorable of the cults in Greece due to Eleusis correlation with Athens, the origin disagreed as whether it's Greece or Egypt.

The cult had link to the myth of Demeter's daughter being raped by Pluto, who kidnaps her whilst playing with Oceanus and Tithys to be his wife. Demeter searches for a wk and 2 days, finding Eleusis and not recognized by the 4 daughters Kekeas at a public well called the Fountain of Maidenhead. Demeter creates the story of escaping pirates and gets the responsibly of nursing her bro, Demophon. After she reveals herself she has the people of Eleusis build a temple for her, where she establishes ceremonies and rites.

Demeter's short stay makes the earth barren, men and animals dying out for the sacrifices, and lack of food. Demeter wouldn't listen to pleas until her daughter, Persephone was returned. Not until Zeus makes him, does Pluto release Persephone, even then deviously having her eat a pomegranate seed so to make her return to him after awhile. Demeter's overjoyed so gives people the crops to grow, this story giving view as to the seasons for growth of plants, yrly dying and going through rebirth.

Winter represents Demeter's grief and spring tells of the coming of abundance, and "the goddess maintains all life until autumn" when Persephone comes back to Hell and the earth's barren again. Humans who're loved and lost, rarely lose hope for reunion with God, which're the main points of the Eleusinian cult. Eleusinianism survives through Xtianity upon mourning Christ with wax images carried through streets and by Easter Sunday a priest announces Christ's rebirth, a priest lighting candles as they prepare for breaking the Lenten fast. 5th is Mithraism, which's the best example of paganism, and would've held strong if Xtianity'd failed.

Xtians repressed Mithraism in the 4th century A.D., which doesn't occur destructive only for Xtianity absorbing its beliefs for its own. Mithra's a lesser ancient Persian god, but's equal to Ahura Mazda as a Supreme Being. The Epistles and Gospels maintain its Mithraism origins, phrases like "The Light, Dayspring from on High, and Sun of Righteousness" also came from Mithraic trendsetter. Mithra's born from a rock, and the worship of him is done in a cave, Jesus also to've been born in a cave stemming from this, as well as St Paul's quote of a spiritual rock being Christ.

The Sabbath for Hebrews is "abolished by" Xtians, and the church takes Sunday partly due to it being the day of rebirth, it before being a solar festival day for Mithra, and he's also called "Lord", so Sunday being the "Lord's Day" before Christ took it. Dec 25th, Mithra's b/day, taken in the 4th century, due to Jesus' birthday being a mystery. Both religions also had communion, as well as the use of the Eucharist, but this not being mimicked from the pagans, instead coming from Judaism. The Lord's Supper "an out-growth from Jewish precedents".

Xtians didn't regard Mithraism as valid enough to mention in their own lore, and when Mithraism gets Xtians attn, apologists'd feel like explaining the similarities, going with the simple tried and true work of the devil to confuse menfolk by creating a pagan imitation. MLK Jr posits everything borrowed by Xtians' an innocent subconscious get and the most influential part of the mystery cults is the difference in ritual and doctrine. Xtianity is the bad example of the Galilean cult which replaces Mithraism. It encouraged the separating, of state religions and philosophical systems and toward personal salvation and immortality.

This is where Xtianity should kiss Mithraism's feet, due to handing the foundation for missionary work to Xtians. MLK Jr ends with the q of whether Xtianity'll be the "crowning achievement" of religious echelon or can we look forward to more advancements.

This is quite intriguing, and whilst not quite the topic discussed mentioned from where I'd 1st heard about this from, Joe Rogan's podcast with Graham Hancock and Brian Muraresku, the topic being talked of on the show, Magical Egypt, and the religions spiking wine with psychedelics to see god and understand the unity of the universe led me to some interesting reads, so I'll be keeping my eyes perked on similar subjects! The idea of Israel being multi-cultured in the days of the birth of Christianity, make it even more fascinating!