Mithras and Jesus - real or confected? - NeuroLogica Blog

NeuroLogica Blog » Mithras and Jesus

I have encountered from many skeptical and atheist sources the claim that the Jesus mythology is heavily borrowed from pagan mythologies that predate Christianity; the Roman Mithras cult, for example. If true, this would be a sobering fact for any Christian.

Unfortunately, on close inspection it seems that the Mithras-Jesus claim has evolved into its own mythology. The error seems to be motivated by the desire to claim that the Jesus mythology was directly copied from earlier pagan mythologies. Therefore the claim is made that the mythologies overlap in specific details.

For example, Stephen Fry in this YouTube clip of his show repeats the basic claims – that the Mithras legend states that he was born of a virgin on December 25th, he says, “in a manger or perhaps a cave,” that he had 12 disciples, and that he died in order to save us but was later resurrected. The overlap in details seems very impressive, and certainly would be evidence of a common source.

However Mithras scholars don’t tell the story that way. The Roman cult of Mithras existed from about the 1st to 4th century ACE. There was also a cult of Mithras in Iran predating the Roman mythology, but there is no clear connection between the two. They are likely independent traditions.  Mithras worship was common for a time, and over 420 Mithras sites have been uncovered. However, there are no texts of Mithras. The mythology has had to be reconstructed entirely from iconography, and a few side references in contemporary literature.

The current reconstruction of the mythology is that Mithras was born out of the rock in a cave (not of a virgin in a manger). He did attract followers, although there is no evidence for the number 12. Mithras iconography does often incorporate the 12 signs of the zodiac, but this does not directly relate to his disciples. He did save his community, defeating a raging bull. That is the most common scene depicted in Mithras sites – Mithras defeating the bull. The next most common is Mithras dining with the sun god on the parts of the bull. It seems there is some confusion as to whether or not Mithras was the sun god himself, but the picture of him dining with the sun god implies that they were separate entities.
None of these details overlap with Christian mythology. The only detail that may overlap is birth on or around December 25th. This was common practice, however, to align significant religious days with existing holidays – around the winter solstice was a common pagan holiday, and it is likely that both traditions simply attached to this date.

There does not therefore seem to be any significant overlap in specific details, and there is no record of the Roman Mithras legend predating Christianity. The idea of a connection apparently came from a 2nd century Christian writer who complained that the Mithras cult had borrowed their communion ritual. The idea of a connection was then expanded upon in the 19th century, but modern scholars do not find any hard evidence of such a connection.

Similar claims are made for the Egyptian god, Horus – that he was born of a virgin, came as a savior, died and was resurrected. Horus mythology existed for a long time in Egypt and is very complex. The mythology evolved significantly over time. It does contain elements of a miraculous birth – his mother, Isis, used magic to become impregnated by his father, Osiris, after he was dead. Horus is both man and god in various traditions. He is also portrayed as a heroic savior.  There are no details, however, that would seem familiar to a Christian, unless connections were being deliberately forced.

Independent scholarly sources, not directly addressing the Christian connection claim but just summarizing current scholarship on the Mithras and Horus mythologies, do not support the notion that Christianity was directly borrowed from either of these traditions – no overlap in specific details.

However, we do see thematic overlap in many areas. This suggests that while not copied directly, these various mythologies were all part of the culture of ancient Western civilizations. There were many cults and mythologies developing out of this culture, all with variations on common themes.

For example, all three mythologies include a miraculous birth, if not specifically a virgin birth. All three portray their central figure as saviors and kings in some way. The themes of self-sacrifice, disciples, and some connection to the gods are also common. The figures are all part man and part god. These similarities are derivative, in the same way that all rock and roll songs are derivative of the rock and roll culture, or any art is derivative of the artistic tradition out of which it emerges.

In other words, the beliefs of Christianity do not come out of nowhere. They are not entirely new. They are part of the cultural traditions of the time. Christianity is not a copycat of the Horus or Mithras mythologies, but they all share a common cultural background.

It is unfortunate that the real implications of the various religious traditions of the time is obscured by an attempt to make the simpler and more dramatic claim (and demonstrably false) that Christianity was copied wholesale from an earlier tradition.

The story is indeed a bit more complex. I think, however, the core lessons are preserved. The best way to demystify any religious tradition is through comparative mythology. The historic record shows the cultural evolution of the various religious traditions. They did not come suddenly like a bolt out of the heavens. They evolved like every other bit of human culture, as a complex web of influences and cross contamination.

Buddha Quotes : Sources of Insight

Buddha Quotes : Sources of Insight\

Buddha Quotes

You’ve probably come across several quotes attributed to Buddha over the years. I’ve always enjoyed the precision, profoundness, and pragmatism of his quotes.

His words of wisdom have stood the test of time on a number of broad topics.   For this collection of Buddha quotes, I’ve arranged them by key themes including: Action, Anger, Fear, Health, Life, Love, Mind, Personal Development, Self-Reliance, Speech, and Truth.

As you read through the quotes, see if his words, inspire new insight or echo your experience, or challenge your beliefs in some new way.

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Top 10 Buddha Quotes

1. “Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.”
2. “It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell.”
3. “It is better to travel well than to arrive.”
4. “Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.”
5. “The only real failure in life is not to be true to the best one knows.”
6. “The way is not in the sky. The way is in the heart.”
7. “There is nothing more dreadful than the habit of doubt. Doubt separates people. It is a poison that disintegrates friendships and breaks up pleasant relations. It is a thorn that irritates and hurts; it is a sword that kills.”
8. “Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”
9. “We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.”
10. “What we think, we become.“

Action

• “A jug fills drop by drop.”
• “An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea.”
• “Chaos is inherent in all compounded things. Strive on with diligence.”
• “Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.”
• “However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you if you do not act on upon them?”
• “I do not believe in a fate that falls on men however they act; but I do believe in a fate that falls on them unless they act.”
• “I never see what has been done; I only see what remains to be done.”
• “To be idle is a short road to death and to be diligent is a way of life; foolish people are idle, wise people are diligent.”

Anger, Forgiveness, and Compassion

• “Hatred does not cease through hatred at any time. Hatred ceases through love. This is an unalterable law.”
• “Have compassion for all beings, rich and poor alike; each has their suffering. Some suffer too much, others too little.”
• “In a controversy the instant we feel anger we have already ceased striving for the truth, and have begun striving for ourselves.”
• “Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity.”
• “To understand everything is to forgive everything.”
• “You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger.”

Fear

• “Even death is not to be feared by one who has lived wisely.”
• “The whole secret of existence is to have no fear. Never fear what will become of you, depend on no one. Only the moment you reject all help are you freed.”
• “When one has the feeling of dislike for evil, when one feels tranquil, one finds pleasure in listening to good teachings; when one has these feelings and appreciates them, one is free of fear.”

Health

• “Every human being is the author of his own health or disease.”
• “Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.”
• “The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.”
• “To enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to one’s family, to bring peace to all, one must first discipline and control one’s own mind. If a man can control his mind he can find the way to Enlightenment, and all wisdom and virtue will naturally come to him.”
• “To keep the body in good health is a duty … otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.”
• “Without health life is not life; it is only a state of languor and suffering an image of death.”

Life and Living

• “He who experiences the unity of life sees his own Self in all beings, and all beings in his own Self, and looks on everything with an impartial eye.”
• “Just as a candle cannot burn without fire, men cannot live without a spiritual life.”
• “Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue.”
• “Life is suffering.”
• “On life’s journey faith is nourishment, virtuous deeds are a shelter, wisdom is the light by day and right mindfulness is the protection by night. If a man lives a pure life, nothing can destroy him.”
• “The foot feels the foot when it feels the ground.”
• “There has to be evil so that good can prove its purity above it.”
• “To live a pure unselfish life, one must count nothing as one’s own in the midst of abundance.”
• “When you realize how perfect everything is you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky.”
• “You cannot travel the path until you have become the path itself.”
• “Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart to give yourself to it.”

Love, Connection, and Unity

• “All things appear and disappear because of the concurrence of causes and conditions. Nothing ever exists entirely alone; everything is in relation to everything else.”
• “Ambition is like love, impatient both of delays and rivals.”
• “He who loves 50 people has 50 woes; he who loves no one has no woes.”
• “Unity can only be manifested by the Binary. Unity itself and the idea of Unity are already two.”
• “You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection.”
• “You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”

Mind, Thought, and Thinking

• “All wrong-doing arises because of mind. If mind is transformed can wrong-doing remain?”
• “An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind.”
• “Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.”
• “He is able who thinks he is able.”
• “It is a man’s own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways.”
• “The mind is everything. What you think you become.”
• “Those who are free of resentful thoughts surely find peace.”
• “We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.”

Personal Development

• “Do not overrate what you have received, nor envy others. He who envies others does not obtain peace of mind.”
• “The virtues, like the Muses, are always seen in groups. A good principle was never found solitary in any breast.”
• “To conquer oneself is a greater task than conquering others.”
• “Virtue is persecuted more by the wicked than it is loved by the good.”
• “We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.”

Self-Reliance

• “No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.”
• “Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others.”

Speech

• “A dog is not considered a good dog because he is a good barker. A man is not considered a good man because he is a good talker.”
• “Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.”
• “The tongue like a sharp knife … Kills without drawing blood.”
• “The wise ones fashioned speech with their thought, sifting it as grain is sifted through a sieve.”
• “Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill.”

Truth

• “In the sky, there is no distinction of east and west; people create distinctions out of their own minds and then believe them to be true.”
• “There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.”
• “Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.”

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