Originally posted by: Swag1138
Christmas isnt a christian holiday. Its just Saturnalia (an ancient roman hoilday) renamed.
With the winter solstice and the celebration of the birth of
Mithras thrown in too.
Christianity owes a _lot_ to
Mithraism.
Some of the basic beliefs of Mithraism:
"The faithful referred to Mithras as "the Light of the World", symbol of truth, justice, and loyalty. He was mediator between heaven and earth and was a member of a Holy Trinity.
The worshippers of Mithras held strong beliefs in a celestial heaven and an infernal hell. They believed that the benevolent powers of the god would sympathize with their suffering and grant them the final justice of immortality and eternal salvation in the world to come. They looked forward to a final day of judgement in which the dead would resurrect, and to a final conflict that would destroy the existing order of all things to bring about the triumph of light over darkness.
Purification through a ritualistic baptism was required of the faithful, who also took part in a ceremony in which they drank wine and ate bread to symbolize the body and blood of the god. Sundays were held sacred, and the birth of the god was celebrated annually on December the 25th. After the earthly mission of this god had been accomplished, he took part in a Last Supper with his companions before ascending to heaven, to forever protect the faithful from above. "
The Persian branch of Mithraism also holds that Mithras was born of a virgin in a lowly state among animals, traveled widely, and had 12 disciples. Oh, and Mithras was also burried in a rock tomb before rising from the dead and ascending to heaven and hie birth was attended by shepherds.
ZV
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