A Christian Response by Stephen J. Bedard
Introduction Few religious figures illustrate the fluidity of ancient religious ideas as clearly as Mithra. Emerging in the Indo-Iranian religious world, Mithra appears first in Vedic Hinduism, then takes on new theological depth in Zoroastrianism, and finally re-emerges in the Roman Empire as the central figure of Mithraism, a mystery religion practiced largely by soldiers … Read More “The Evolution of Mithra: From Vedic Deity to Roman Mystery God” »
Mithraism, also known as the Mithraic Mysteries, was a mystery religion practiced in the Roman Empire from around the 1st to the 4th century AD. At its peak, it was one of the most widespread and secretive religious movements in the Roman world, especially among soldiers and government officials. Despite its popularity, much about Mithraism remains shrouded … Read More “The Ancient Religion of Mithraism: Origins, Practices, and Influence” »
Some people hold up Mithras as a very close parallel to Jesus. They will point out that Mithraism and Christianity were competing religions at the same time in the Roman Empire. That is true, although they were appealing to completely different crowds. Mithraism was popular among soldiers, which was not the case for Christianity. There … Read More “How Close Are Mithras and Jesus?” »
