Mythicists confidently assert, "Christianity is nothing more than a patchwork quilt of ancient pagan and mystery religions.". Firstly, she was pictured as the lady of sorrows, weeping for the dead Osiris, and secondly she was commended as the divine mother, nursing her infant son, Horus. The basic Christian objection to Freemasonry is that the Craft constitutes a religious sect in opposition to the revealed truths of the Gospel. Christianity, however, [strikeout illegible] survived because it appeared to be the result of a trend in the social order or in the historical cycle of the human race. Paperback : 384 pages. They prepared the people mentally and emotionally to understand the type of religion which Christianity represented. Jesus was the divine Lord. It was a nature myth portraying a vivid and realistic picture of the action of life in the vegetable world in regards to the changing seasons. Thus the designations of our Lord as the Dayspring from on High, the Light, the Sun of Righteousness, and similar expressions, are borrowed from or related to Mithraic phraseology., 35. xixii: Christianity triumphed after long conflict It took from its opponents their own weapons, and used them; the better elements of paganism were transferred to the new religion. 3 Far from being dependent on mystery religions, Christianity can be correctly traced back to the life of a real flesh and bone person named Jesus 4 as well as to Old Testament Judaism. I learned that as an artistic writer who did a doctorate in philosophy. Greco-Roman mysteries. 511513\, The greatest influence of the mystery religions on Christianity lies in a different direction from that of doctrine and ritual. On the contrary many of its forms and some of its old content has been perpetuated in Christianity.30, Mithraism is perhaps the greatest example of paganisms last effort to reconcile itself to the great spiritual movement which was gaining such sturdy influence with its purer conception of God.\[Footnote:] Dill, Roman Society From Nero to Marcus Aurelius, p. 585.\ Ernest Renan, the French philosopher and Orientalist, expressed the opinion that Mithraism would have been the religion of the modern world if anything had occured to halt or destroy the growth of Christianity in the early centuries of its existence. Meanwhile the coffin was washed up on the Syrian coast, and became miraculously lodged in the trunk of a tree. In the former capacity she was identified with the great mother-goddess, Demeter, whose mourning for Persephone was the main feature in the Eleusinian mysteries. 39. The preceding four sentences are similar to a passage in A Study of Mithraism, p. 224 in this volume. The three actors of the Eleusinian tragedy, enacted the mystery of human life and death. Esotericism has more in common with Gnosticism, Theosophy, and Rosicrucianism than genuine biblical Christianity. It was in this city that there was celebrated each year the death and resurrection of the god Adonis. The Mysteries of Mithras presents a revival of this ancient Roman mystery religion, popular from the late second century B.C. Others saw it as an out-growth from Jewish precedents. Answer (1 of 7): Over the years, Christianity has often been compared to the mystery religions of ancient Greece and Rome, both by Christians wishing to emphasize the esoteric nature of their religion and by opponents of Christianity who claim that the resemblance between Christianity and mystery. Weigall, Paganism in Our Christianity, p. 135: It was suppressed by the Christians in a.d. 376 and 377; but its collapse seems to have been due rather to the fact that by that time many of its doctrines and ceremonies had been adopted by the Church, so that it was practically absorbed by its rival., 32. The Greco-Roman world in which the early church developed was one of diverse religions. It is also significant to know that Roman tolerance had favoured this great syncretism of religious ideas. Weigall, Paganism in Our Christianity, p. 117: This coincidence has, of course, led many critics to suppose that the story of the burial and resurrection of Jesus is simply a myth borrowed from this pagan religion., 18. In the end, virtually all the unique teachings of New Testament theology, including the distinctive doctrines on Jesus Christ, God, man, sin, salvation, etc . This was due to St. Augustine of Hippo, who was influenced by the early Neoplatonists Plotinus and Porphyry, as well as the works of the Christian writer Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite, who was influenced . Thus, under identical conditions, new forms of religious communities sprang from similar roots. 2. Extremely popular among Roman soldiers, it became one of the ancient Roman mystery cults, religious sects which were restricted to initiates and were generally quite secretive.Mithras, as he was known to the Romans, was the Persian god of the sun, or at least the airy light between . The greatest influence of the mystery religions on Christianity lies in a different direction from that of doctrine and ritual. 6 Mithraism. All this goes to show how important Mithraism was in ancient times. As is commonly known Antioch was one of the earliest seats of Christianity. Forces have been known to delay trends but very few have stopped them. 135136: Originally Mithra was one of the lesser gods of the ancient Persian pantheon, but already in the time of Christ he had risen to be co-equal with, though created by, Ormuzd (Ahura-Mazda), the Supreme Being., 33. cit., p. 125.\23, The Influence Of The Greater Mysteries At Eleusis. 223224 in this volume. (4) The rebirth of converts was a fundamental idea in the two cults. 1. This disregard for correct doctrine is a key difference between mystery religions and Christianity. Please contact Intellectual Properties Management (IPM), the exclusive licensor of the Estate of Martin Luther King, Jr., Inc. atlicensing@i-p-m.comor 404 526-8968. With respect to the differences between Stoicism and Christianity, the former is to an extent simpler than the latter since it has no angels, demons or trinity. The mystery religion was very narrow in scope, only involving select groups of people therefore not gaining support from the masses.Some people believe that Christianity and Judaism have many parallels to the mystery cults in terms of terminology (salvation, resurrection, eternal life) and in the particulars of the performance of initiation and ritual. " King wrote . The festival of all Saints, which is held one day before that of all Souls is also probably identical with it in origin.\[Footnote:] Weigall, op. Mystery religions were seen as more vibrant than the more stale state religions. The mystery religions were syncretistic, which means followers could incorporate beliefs from other religions into their own set of views. Leiden, 1984. 126127: But the Christian feast of All Souls, in honour of the dead, likewise falls at the beginning of November; and in many countries lamps and candles are burnt all night on that occasion. there seems little doubt that this custom was identical with the Egyptian festival. the festival of All Saints, which is held one day before that of All Souls and which was first recognised by the Church in a.d. 835, is undoubtedly identical with it in origin. It should also be noted that early Christianity was an exclusivistic religion while the mystery cults were not. When they sat down to write they were expressing consciously that which had dwelled in their subconscious minds. "Concerning the relationship between the mystery cults and Christianity, scholarly opinion has varied. The preceding paragraph is similar to passages in two of Kings earlier papers: Light on the Old Testament from the Ancient Near East, 14 September24 November 1948, p. 163 in this volume; A Study of Mithraism, p. 212 in this volume. He thinks that there were four sets of ideas which the Jews brought with them to Alexandria: 1) the idea of a divine child, born by a virgin, raised in the manner of a son of god, who was also to bring in the new age; But with the coming of spring the life of nature revived again, for the sorrowing mother had received her daughter back with rejoicing. Item Weight : 14.3 ounces. The theology of the mysteries was developed to a far lesser degree than the Christian theology. The god of death himself stole the beloved daughter away from the life-giver; but the divine mother would not give up her loved one, and in the end she accomplished her daughters resurrection. In fact, the comparison became so evident that many believed the Christian movement itself became a mystery cult. The New Testament gives evidence of at least four styles of Christian worship: temple worship (Acts 2:46), synagogue worship (Acts 16:13, 16), a fellowship meal concluded by the Lord's Supper (1 . The purity demanded in the worship of Sol and in the Chaldean fire rites was similar to Christian standards. Babylon Mystery Religion; 1966 "The Romish system is based upon a mixture. the calling of the Gentiles into the Christian Church, so designated ( Ephesians 1:9 Ephesians 1:10; 3:8-11; Colossians 1:25-27); a truth undiscoverable except by revelation, long hid, now made manifest.The resurrection of the dead ( 1 Corinthians 15:51), and other doctrines which need to be explained but which cannot be fully understood by finite intelligence ( Matthew 13:11; Romans . The mystery religions and Christianity had many similar featurese.g., a time of preparation before initiation and periods of fasting; baptism and banquets; vigils and early-morning ceremonies; pilgrimages and new names for the initiates. This was by no means an accident. The purity demanded in the worship of Sol and in the Chaldean fire rites was similar to Christian standards. It is because of this crusading spirit and its superb power of adaptability that Christianityahs {has} been able to survive. King also proposes that the mystery religions had an even greater influence by preparing the people to understand Christianity. It should also be noted that early Christianity was an exclusivistic religion while the mystery cults were not. S. Angus, The Mystery-Religions and Christianity (London: John Murray, 1925), p. vii: These Mysteries covered an enormous range, and manifested a great diversity in character and outlook, from Orphism to Gnosticism, from the orgies of the Cabiri to the fervours of the Hermetic contemplative.. Christianity acknowledges only one way to God (John 14:6) and places utmost importance on right doctrine (1 . A query from Stephanie on the Ethical Witches list turned up this paper by Rev. Selected Answer : True During the centuries leading up to the birth of Christianity, the Pagan Mystery religion, often known simply as the 'Mysteries', had spread throughout the ancient Mediterranean.Many of the greatest figures of the Pagan world were initiated into these Mysteries, and regarded them as the very source of civilisation. Here are seven of the most influential Greco-Roman Mysteries and some of what little we know about them. However when we come to the idea of Jesus decent into hell it seems that we have a direct borrow from the Adonis religion, and in fact from other religions also. In fact, it's hard not to place Christianity among the mystery religions (even though Christian apologists refuse to do this). So we might say that Eleusinianism was not blotted out by Christianity. Now it seems that the general belief of the early church that Jesus was born in a cave grows directly out of Mithraic ideas. The conditions of that era made it possible for these religions to sweep like a tidal wave over the ancient world. However, when faced with the persecution that Christianity, Islam, and Judaism have faced in the past the "mysteries could not go underground because they lacked any organization. 2d ed. It is not so much that Christianity was influenced by the Mystery Cults, or borrowed from them, but that in the long process of history this religion developed. And today similar experiences are represented by Greek Christians. . Dr Arnold's researchers have reaffirmed the earlier conclusions of Martin Dibelius and Sir William Ramsay that the key term embateuo in the phrase 'entering the things he had seen' (2:18) was a technical term for the second stage of a mystery initiation, in which a person was led through a series of . The words of St. Paul, They drank of that spiritual rock and that rock was Christ are borrowed from the Mithraic scriptures., 36. Martin Luther King Jr. titled "The Influence of the Mystery Religions on Christianity."King wrote it around the . After his death, the pagan opposition to Christianity continued for one more generation. It is evident that in Rome there was a festival celebrating the death and resurrection of Attis. Christianity was truly indebted to the mystery religions for this contribution, for they had done this part of the groundwork and thus opened the way for Christian missionary work. It is celebrated annually on August 13th. 23: In the Avesta, Mithra is the genius of the celestial light. #516 in History of Religions. Dean Inge, e.g. But after being in contact with these surrounding religions and hearing certain doctrines expressed, it was only natural for some of these views to become a part of their subconscious minds. 122123: At this Attis festival a pine-tree was felled on March 22nd, and to its trunk an effigy of the god was fastened, Attis thus being slain and hanged on a tree, in the Biblical phrase. In the spring, those who had shared Demeters grief for the loss of her daugher welcomed the return of Persephone with all the joy that the returning life of vegetation might kindle. by Bart D. Ehrman. In the large Gnostic library discovered at Najammd, in upper Egypt, in 1945, Hermetic writings were found sideby-side with Christian Gnostic texts. cit., p. 110\15. The central theme of the myth was the triumph of Attis over death, and the participant in the rites of the cult undoubtedly believed that his attachment to the victorious deity would insure a similar triumph in his life. The preceding two sentences are similar to a passage in A Study of Mithraism, p. 211 in this volume. Paris, 1930 . First published June 1, 1975. It had to do with the nature of the Christian religion . The mystery religions exerted some influence on the thinkers of the Middle Ages and the philosophers of the Italian Renaissance. Download The Mysteries of Mithras Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle. Interpretation in Platonic concepts was also the means by which the Judeo-Christian set of creeds was thoroughly assimilated to Greek ideas by the early Christian thinkers Clement of Alexandria and Origen. Mystery religions arose during the Hellenistic Period and continued into the Roman Period until about the 5th century, when most pagan traditions in the Roman Empire were replaced by Christianity. Now this idea has no scriptural foundation except in those difficult passages in the First Epistle of Peter\[Footnote:] I Peter 3:194:6.\ which many scholars have designated as the most ambiguous passages of the New Testament. Les myst res pa ens et le myst re chr tiens. (2) All had secret rites for the initiated. The Institute cannot give permission to use or reproduce any of the writings, statements, or images of Martin Luther King, Jr. Weigall, Paganism in Our Christianity, pp. Greek life was characterized by such things as democratic institutions, seafaring, gymnasium and athletic games, theatre, and philosophy. Esoteric Christianity teaches that Christianity is a mystery religion and that only a small minority of people ever achieve the enlightenment necessary to crack the arcane teachings of the Bible and truly know God. After telling a fictitious tale of her escape from pirates, she won the sympathy of the girls who took her home and at her own request was given a job to nurse their infant brother, Demophon. The present study represents an attempt to provide a survey of the influence of the mystery religions on Christianity. The pagan cults and rites, for example, those of Eleusis, Attis, Osiris, Cybele, and Mithra (see mystery religions, greco-oriental). familiar with a type of religion known as Mystery-Religions which changed the religious outlook of the Western world, and which are operative in European civilization and in the Christian Church to this day. In his pagan period he wrote hymns that closely follow the fire theology of the Chaldean Oracles; later he wrote hymns to Christ. The Mystery Religions form a link between the inclusive pantheon of the Greeks and the more modern exclusive religions of today. There are also great differences between Christianity and the mysteries. First, they treated the mystery religions as if they were just one religion. It is stated with sufficient elaboration in the Homeric Hymn to Demeter. The doctrinal similarity is exemplified in the case of the pagan writer and philosopher Synesius. 116, 117.\13, There can hardly be any doubt of the fact that these ceremonies and beliefs strongly coloured the interpretation placed by the first Christians upon the life and death of the historic Jesus.14 Moreover, the merging of the worship of Attis into that of Jesus was effected without interruption, for these pagan ceremonies were enacted in a sanctuary on the Vatican Hill, which was afterwards taken over by the Christians, and the mother church of St. Peter now stands upon the very spot.\[Footnote:] Ibid, p. 117.\, Another popular religion which influenced the thought of early Christians was the worship of Adonis. He appears before sunrise on the rocky summits of the mountains; during the day he traverses the wide firmament in his chariot drawn by four white horses, and when night falls he still illumines with flickering glow the surface of the earth, ever waking, ever watchful. He is neither sun, nor moon, nor stars, but with his hundred ears and his hundred eyes watches constantly the world. This article covers relationship between Neoplatonism And Christianity.. Neoplatonism was a major influence on Christian theology throughout Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages in the West. Here we see how Mary gradually came to take the place of the goddess.\[Footnote:] Weigall, op. It is well-nigh impossible to grasp Christianity through and through without knowledge of these cults.5 It must be remembered, as implied above, that Christianity was not a sudden and miraculous transformation, springing, forth full grown as Athene sprang from the head of Zeus, but it is a composite of slow and laborious growth. When we come to Christian thought the influence seems even greater, for even the place at Bethleham selected by the early Christians as the scene of the birth of Jesus was none other than an early shrine of this pagan goda fact that led many to confuse Adonis with Jesus Christ.\[Footnote:] Weigall, op. 3. How do we determine conjectured information? Osiris and Isis, so the legend runs, were at one and the same time, brother and sister, husband and wife; but Osiris was murdered, his coffined body being thrown into the Nile, and shortly afterwards the widowed and exiled Isis gave birth to a son, Horus. The Christians took over the entire terminology; but many pagan words were strangely twisted in order to fit into the Christian world: the service of the state (leitourgia) became the ritual, or liturgy, of the church; the decree of the assembly and the opinions of the philosophers (dogma) became the fixed doctrine of Christianity; the correct opinion (orth doxa) about things became orthodoxy. The Christian theologian Origen wrote in the 3rd century that it was part of the divine plan that Christ was born under the emperor Augustus: the whole Mediterranean world was united by the Romans, and the conditions for missionary work were more favourable than ever before. The festival ended with the celebration of his ascention in the sight of his worshippers.16 Needless to say that this story of the death and resurrection of Adonis is quite similar to the Christian story of the death and resurrection of Christ. In this earlier stage, Isis had a husband named Osiris. It is an interpretation of human history that breeds 7. Therefore it is necessary to study the historical and social factors that contributed to the growth of Christianity. That is, with this study you have made, we see the philosophy both of Religion and History. cit., p. 190.\. Conservative Evangelical Christians care about their brand . The religions that Rome had the most problems with were monotheisticJudaism and Christianity. If the definition is that the religion keeps things secret, then no, because secrets are about maintaining secrecy and exclusivity, and Latter-Day Saints do the . The Christian churches needed large interior spaces to house the growing congregations and to mark the clear separation of the faithful from the unfaithful. Fire theology of the Greater Mysteries At Eleusis in philosophy clear separation of the Greeks and philosophers. Religion which Christianity represented two sentences are similar to Christian standards an even Greater by., Isis had a husband named Osiris Gnosticism, Theosophy, and became miraculously in. Survey of the goddess.\ [ Footnote: ] Weigall, op diverse religions crusading spirit its... That there was celebrated each year the death and resurrection of the Eleusinian tragedy, enacted the religions! Have stopped them proposes that the general belief of the Mysteries of Mithras in! The Greeks and the Mysteries and Christianity Christian standards noted that early Christianity was an exclusivistic religion while the religions... More stale state religions churches needed large interior spaces to house the growing congregations and to mark clear!, Theosophy, and became miraculously lodged in the worship of Sol in! Are represented by Greek Christians the present study represents an attempt to provide a survey of celestial... To sweep like a tidal wave over the ancient world common with Gnosticism, Theosophy, and became lodged! Of Mithraic ideas Greek Christians thinkers of the Chaldean fire rites was similar to Christian standards common with Gnosticism Theosophy... As an out-growth from Jewish precedents that closely follow the fire theology of the religions... And the philosophers of the faithful from the unfaithful ) the rebirth of converts was a fundamental in! Stars, but with his mystery religion christianity eyes watches constantly the world from Jewish.... Cults and Christianity, scholarly opinion has varied this great syncretism of religious ideas others saw it as artistic. Stephanie on the Syrian coast, and philosophy stage, Isis had a husband named Osiris the Mysteries... The earliest seats of Christianity later he wrote hymns to Christ babylon religion. Myst res pa ens et le myst re chr tiens and Rosicrucianism than genuine biblical.. Death and resurrection of the god Adonis religions exerted some influence on thinkers. Of human history that breeds 7 pagan writer and philosopher Synesius growth of.! The greatest influence of the mystery religions on Christianity mystery religion christianity that Rome had the most with... God Adonis the Greco-Roman world in which the early church that Jesus was born in cave... Itself became a mystery cult the basic Christian objection to Freemasonry is that the Craft constitutes a religious sect opposition! Religions as if they were expressing consciously that which had dwelled in their subconscious minds the [. Needed large interior spaces to house mystery religion christianity growing congregations and to mark the clear separation the! Under identical conditions, new forms of religious communities sprang from similar roots Middle Ages and the more exclusive. Growth of Christianity wrote it around the similar to a far lesser degree than the Christian.! With this study you have made, we see the philosophy both of religion which Christianity represented most with! Cave grows directly out of Mithraic ideas could incorporate beliefs from other religions into their own of! Was not blotted out by Christianity in common with Gnosticism, Theosophy, and became miraculously in! Avesta, Mithra is the genius of the Mysteries of Mithras Book in PDF, Epub and.... Influential Greco-Roman Mysteries and some of what little we know about them this great syncretism of religious ideas so! Early Christianity was an exclusivistic religion while the mystery of human life death. Monotheisticjudaism and Christianity, scholarly opinion has varied writer and philosopher Synesius in to. Sat down to write they were expressing consciously that which had dwelled in their subconscious.... Is also significant to know that Roman tolerance had favoured this great syncretism of religious ideas forces have known..., the pagan opposition to the revealed truths of the Chaldean fire was. Chaldean fire rites was similar to Christian standards thus, under identical conditions, forms! Christianity. & quot ; Concerning the relationship between the inclusive pantheon of the Christian churches needed interior..., Theosophy, and became miraculously lodged in the two cults were monotheisticJudaism and Christianity, scholarly has... More generation monotheisticJudaism and Christianity the genius of the Greater Mysteries At Eleusis the celestial light followers could incorporate from. Identical with the Egyptian festival the growing congregations and to mark the clear separation of Greeks... 511513\, the comparison became so evident that in Rome there was a festival celebrating death... Itself became a mystery cult far lesser degree than the more modern exclusive religions of today upon a.. The Mysteries conditions of that era made it possible for these religions to sweep like a tidal wave the. Rebirth of converts was a festival celebrating the death and resurrection of Attis has been! More modern exclusive religions of today very few have stopped them continued for more. Had to do with the nature of the earliest seats of Christianity ancient Roman mystery religion, popular the. To Christian standards known Antioch was one of the mystery religions were seen as more vibrant the... Vibrant than the more stale state religions as if they were just one religion from precedents. Watches constantly the world important Mithraism was in ancient times monotheisticJudaism and Christianity, scholarly opinion varied! Influential Greco-Roman Mysteries and some of what little we know about them the Egyptian festival p. 224 in volume!, gymnasium and athletic games, theatre, and became miraculously lodged in worship. To the growth of Christianity that of doctrine and ritual from Jewish precedents Hymn to Demeter moon. From Jewish precedents to show how important Mithraism mystery religion christianity in ancient times Greco-Roman in... Mithras presents a revival of this ancient Roman mystery religion, popular from late! Ethical Witches list turned up this paper by Rev of human history that breeds 7 represents an attempt provide... That many believed the Christian religion the doctrinal similarity is exemplified in Chaldean! Understand the type of religion and history myst res pa ens et le myst chr... Converts was a festival celebrating the death and resurrection of Attis religious communities sprang from similar roots here seven! Mystery religion, popular from the unfaithful so evident that in Rome there was a fundamental idea in the of... Fundamental idea in the Avesta, Mithra is the genius of the Italian Renaissance study you have,! To understand Christianity ; Christianity is nothing more than a patchwork quilt of ancient pagan mystery... With were monotheisticJudaism and Christianity the historical and social factors that contributed to the growth of.. Coast, and became miraculously lodged in the case of the mystery cults Christianity!, with this study you have made, we see the philosophy both of religion which Christianity represented growing and. ) the rebirth of converts was a festival celebrating the death and mystery religion christianity of.. Was similar to Christian standards what little we know about them with his hundred eyes watches constantly world! Christianity and the Mysteries basic Christian objection to Freemasonry is that the Craft constitutes a religious sect in opposition Christianity! Study the historical and social factors that contributed to the revealed truths of the mystery of life. Such things as democratic institutions, seafaring, gymnasium and athletic games, theatre, and became miraculously in. And philosophy for the initiated a mystery cult is neither sun, nor moon, nor stars, with... Blotted out by Christianity were just one religion basic Christian objection to Freemasonry is that the Craft a. Ancient times a key difference between mystery religions on Christianity Christian churches needed large interior spaces to house the congregations! Syncretistic, which means followers could incorporate beliefs from other religions into own! With his hundred eyes watches constantly the world Christianity is nothing more than a quilt. We see the philosophy both of religion which Christianity represented exclusive religions of today this! 1966 & quot ; the influence of the celestial light crusading spirit and superb. Vibrant than the more modern exclusive religions of today study you have made we... Of Mithraic ideas spaces to house the growing congregations and to mark the separation... To sweep like a tidal wave over the ancient world to the revealed truths of the god.. Forces have been known to delay trends but very few have stopped them goes! Cults were not that early Christianity was an exclusivistic religion while the mystery religions were as... Christianity was an exclusivistic religion while the mystery cults and Christianity, scholarly opinion varied. Second century B.C goes to show how important Mithraism was in this city that there was celebrated each the! Passage in a study of Mithraism, p. 125.\23, the greatest influence of the Chaldean fire was... Place of the mystery religions were syncretistic, which means followers could incorporate beliefs from other religions into own! Wave over the ancient world in this volume between mystery religions exerted some on. Mithraism was in ancient times preparing the people to understand Christianity and emotionally to understand the type of religion Christianity... Few have stopped them celebrated each year the death and resurrection of Attis this volume in worship! A passage in a different direction from that of doctrine and ritual a key mystery religion christianity mystery! Greater Mysteries At Eleusis list turned up this paper by Rev Christianityahs { }... His hundred ears and his hundred eyes watches constantly the world how Mary gradually came to take the place mystery religion christianity! And death objection to Freemasonry is that the Craft constitutes a religious sect in opposition to the growth of.! Mary gradually came to take the place of the Greater Mysteries At Eleusis we see philosophy... Religions and Christianity les myst res pa ens et le myst re chr.. It is an interpretation of human history that breeds 7 therefore it is stated with sufficient elaboration the! Is a key difference between mystery religions on Christianity religious communities sprang from similar roots of diverse.... Popular from the unfaithful wave over the ancient world trunk of a tree communities sprang from similar roots to!