THE TEMPLE OF MITHRAS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 31, Issue 800, 19 November 1954, Page 5

THE TEMPLE OF MITHRAS

Sir-In your. editorial, "In the Temple of Mithras," you write gt . Mithraism did not entirely disappear. It was replaced by a higher religion; but some of its elements were absorbed, and although in the early centuries of Christianity they sometimes led to heresy, they also helped to strengthen the orthodox faith." This is an outstanding understatement, because Christianity absorbed the majority of the "elements" of the religion of Mithras, When you speak of a "higher religion" you refer to Christianity, but that statement would require a lot of proving. Certainly Christianity became popular, but very little thought is required to see that this popularity could only be attained by using popular methods. It adopted many of the most popular "elements" of many so-called Pagan religions, but particularly those belonging to the cult of Mithra, Christianity, in fact, became popular by assimilating ordinary human nature in the mass. To know what Christianity absorbed from Mithraism, we must know what Mithra stands for. Mithra was the Sun and the Friend, Mediator, Saviour, Redeemer, Preserver, the Logos, and one of the early "Pagan" Christs. Mithra was born of the Virgin Goddess, and Mithraic monuments show him as a newbern babe, adored by shepherds, who are offering first fruits). He was known as the Rock Born, from whom our Saint Peter comes to us, and he was the keeper of the keys of heaven and hell.

In fact, Mithra was canonised by the Church as Saint Peter. Mithra was worshipped on the first day of the week called Sun Day, known as’ the Lord’s Day, the Lord being one of his titles, Apart from weekly worship, there were two great Mithraic. festivals, one at the winter solstice (now ouf.Christmas), and the other at the vernal equinox (now our Easter). The first celebrated the birthday of Mithra the Sun God, and the second was Mithra’s season of sacrifice and triumph. An emblem, a stone image, was buried in a tock tomb, and on the third day it was withdrawn as re-living, amidst great rejoicing. The fascination of Mithraism lay in its very elaborate initiation, baptisms (both by water and by blood), probation, sacraments (the mass, for instance), and mysteries. The initiates were born again for eternity, with the promise of immortality. All these and’ very many more were absorbed into Christianity from Mithraism. ;

ARGOSY

(Te Awamutu).

( Abridged.-Ed.)