On The Other Hand

[poliphilo]

On the other hand, one of the reasons the gospels seem so "new and fresh" is that most of the contemporary literature we might have compared them with has disappeared. We know the Hellenistic world was awash with biographies of pagan holy men- but only one survives-  Philostratus' Life of Appolonius of Tyana.

 

Similarly, none of the Pagan mystery cults with which Christianity is often compared has left any scriptures behind.  All we have of them is their archaeology. Did Christianity borrow from Mithraism or the cult of Attis? We can only guess. 

Comments

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

I always assumed that Christianity started out as just another one of these obscure eastern cults, but turned out to be the one that caught on...

When I was an undergrad, we had a brilliant course on the archaeology of religion, magic and burial which took us from Palaeolithic period to the reformation. The cult of Mithras was one of the topics covered. I think that whole course was one of the deciding factors which made me determined to continue archaeology at a postgraduate level.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Mystery religions were cool but exclusive. Christianity swept the board by marketing itself as the mystery religion for the masses. That's what I think, anyway.

Mithraism was a contender, but lost out because it was only for men.

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

'Mystery religion for the masses' - I like it!!