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It is believed by many that the Hindu god Mitra gave rise to the Persian god Mithra, which in turn gave rise to Mithras. Thus, many Jesus Mythicists will cherry pick aspects of one and apply them to all. Indeed, they throw around the names of Mithras, Mithra and Mitra as if they
were not only the same god, but also had the same theologies.
1. There is some debate as to whether these are indeed the same gods. Most likely, Mitra’s myth gave rise to that of Mithra’s, but this is not known for absolutely sure. Likewise, the Roman Mithras has little in
1. There is some debate as to whether these are indeed the same gods. Most likely, Mitra’s myth gave rise to that of Mithra’s, but this is not known for absolutely sure. Likewise, the Roman Mithras has little in
common with the Persian Mithra, and even less with the Hindu Mitra.
But let’s assume that they are three different versions of the same god.
Would it be okay therefore to say that if something was true for Mithra, it is also true for Mithras and Mitra? If Mithras went to a
But let’s assume that they are three different versions of the same god.
Would it be okay therefore to say that if something was true for Mithra, it is also true for Mithras and Mitra? If Mithras went to a
college keeger and had a technicolor yawn and hangover (of course not found in the ancient myths, just using this as an intellectual example), would it be true of Mitra and Mithra as well?
One thing that has to be remembered is that three different religious backgrounds are
One thing that has to be remembered is that three different religious backgrounds are
involved; Hindu, Persian (including Zoarastrianism) and Greco Roman. This is 3 different theologies.
So…what could go wrong with saying that something that is taught about Mithras by the Mithras cult is true of Mithra and Mitra?
So…what could go wrong with saying that something that is taught about Mithras by the Mithras cult is true of Mithra and Mitra?
There are several versions of the Incredible Hulk in comics, but three of them are iconic: The savage hulk (what we normally think of when we hear the words “Incredible Hulk”), the Gray Hulk (aka Joe Fixit. He’s not as powerful as the savage hulk, but is smarter. He’s a
legbreaker for a Vegas Mob, and Banner turns into him at night and then back into Banner by day (incidentally he was the first hulk) and the Professor Hulk (VERY strong, VERY intelligent, but if he gets enraged, he grows weak and turns into Bruce Banner (as opposed to the Savage
and Gray Hulks, where the madder they get, the stronger they get.)
Now, lets see what happens when I play the Mithras/Mithra/Mitra game with the Hulk:
Now, lets see what happens when I play the Mithras/Mithra/Mitra game with the Hulk:
The Incredible Hulk is a Gray skinned monster that Bruce Banner turns into when enraged. He often says “Hulk Smash!”, yet despite his limited vocabulary, the Hulk, like Bruce Banner, has a genius level intellect. He works for the Vegas Mob, wearing a fedora.
Would this be an accurate depiction of the Hulk?
No, you are just mixing several hulks together to make one (which would make for a great new kind of hulk, but wouldn’t make for good facts)
Thus, the problem with good old Mithras/Mithra/Mitra.
Now that we’ve seen that, let’s
No, you are just mixing several hulks together to make one (which would make for a great new kind of hulk, but wouldn’t make for good facts)
Thus, the problem with good old Mithras/Mithra/Mitra.
Now that we’ve seen that, let’s
start debunking.
Born of a virgin? No; he was born from the “Petra Genetrix”
A fancy name for the ROCK that gave birth to him.
We see this in Mithraic iconography and Mithraeums (Mithraic temples). Late Armenian texts mentions a virgin birth for “Miher”, but this is in reference
Born of a virgin? No; he was born from the “Petra Genetrix”
A fancy name for the ROCK that gave birth to him.
We see this in Mithraic iconography and Mithraeums (Mithraic temples). Late Armenian texts mentions a virgin birth for “Miher”, but this is in reference
to Mithra, not Mithras, it was written long after the Roman cult of Mithras, and not only do we have no earlier source stating that the Persian Mithra was virgin born, but we also have other texts that seems to indicate that he was born of an incestuous sexual encounter between
his mother (the goddess Inahita) and…himself.
I’ll let you try to figure that out…
Other so called similarities fail.
Born on December 25th? The idea that Mithras’ birthday was on December 25th, though repeated often in books, has a weak foundation, and of course, the Bible
I’ll let you try to figure that out…
Other so called similarities fail.
Born on December 25th? The idea that Mithras’ birthday was on December 25th, though repeated often in books, has a weak foundation, and of course, the Bible
never states that Jesus was born on December 25th anyway.
Visited by three kings, and shepherds attended his birth? If the former is true, then this means nothing, considering that Jesus was visited by Magi or Wise Men, not kings (plus, the bible never specifies their number.
Visited by three kings, and shepherds attended his birth? If the former is true, then this means nothing, considering that Jesus was visited by Magi or Wise Men, not kings (plus, the bible never specifies their number.
Just because there are three gifts doesn’t necessarily mean three gift givers. If your father gives you 3 gifts on your birthday, does that mean that you have 3 fathers??).
Nevertheless, there is no proof that he was indeed attended by three kings or even shepherds. He was
Nevertheless, there is no proof that he was indeed attended by three kings or even shepherds. He was
attended at birth by two torchbearers named Cautes and Cautopates.
Crucified? No, Mithras never died.
12 disciples? Mithras was depicted in some reliefs as being surrounded by the zodiac. In renaissance art, the disciples are depicted at times with Zodiac signs. 12 signs,
Crucified? No, Mithras never died.
12 disciples? Mithras was depicted in some reliefs as being surrounded by the zodiac. In renaissance art, the disciples are depicted at times with Zodiac signs. 12 signs,
12 disciples, the latter depicted with zodiac symbols in Renaissance art? Oh there you go🙄! This is seriously faulty, considering that the disciples lived LONG before the renaissance! If Christianity borrowed from Mithraism, one would expect artwork depicting the disciples
with zodiac signs to have appeared far earlier. Indeed, the fact that both Mithras and the disciples were depicted along with signs of the zodiac could simply be coincidence.
Mithras called “the Good Shepherd”, “Logos”, “Way, truth and the life”, “Redeemer”, “Savior”,
Mithras called “the Good Shepherd”, “Logos”, “Way, truth and the life”, “Redeemer”, “Savior”,
"Messiah"?
No.
Mithraic cult celebrated Sunday as their god’s day? Only the Mithras Cult in Rome did this, and they started doing this in post-Christian times.
They had a Eucharist or Lord’s supper? No. They had a fellowship meal, just like any other religious outfit of the era.
No.
Mithraic cult celebrated Sunday as their god’s day? Only the Mithras Cult in Rome did this, and they started doing this in post-Christian times.
They had a Eucharist or Lord’s supper? No. They had a fellowship meal, just like any other religious outfit of the era.
Taken together, we can conclude that Mithras had nothing to do with the influence of Christianity.
Sources:
The Roman Cult of Mithras: The God and His Mysteries by Manfred Clauss and Richard Gordon, pages 60-64
Sources:
The Roman Cult of Mithras: The God and His Mysteries by Manfred Clauss and Richard Gordon, pages 60-64
“The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Mythology” by Arthur Cotterell and Rachel Storm, pages 298-299, 387
The Case for the Real Jesus, by Lee Strobel, pages 170-73
The Case for the Real Jesus, by Lee Strobel, pages 170-73
historyforatheists.com/2016/12/the-gr…
The Case for the Real Jesus, by Lee Strobel, pages 170-73
The Case for the Real Jesus, by Lee Strobel, pages 170-73
historyforatheists.com/2016/12/the-gr…
@thethreadreader untoll please
