Interesting read: Mystery cults influencing early Christian practice and belief

[LuxPerpetua]

This is why I worry a great deal about putting church tradition on par with Holy Scripture: Mystery cults were HUGE in Greco-Roman culture (the same culture of the early church, mind you!) and the Cult of Isis was especially prominent, and many historians argue that a large proportion os early Christians were converts from these cults--and secular historians generally argue that the church after the 2nd century, influenced by these converts, naturally incorporated some of the "mystery" rites found in these cults. I thought, for the interest of my fellow Lutherans, that I might post a link to a written work by a follower of the Cult of Isis, c. A.D. 1st century. In my opinion, it has some striking similarities to later Marian devotion, which was part of later Christian practice. These sites provide primary sources to secular historians, so they don't really have a religious agenda (which is why I like them!).

The Mysteries of the Goddess Isis:

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/lucius-assa.html

http://alexm.here.ru/mirrors/www.enteract.com/jwalz/Eliade/155.html

Compare the rhetoric in the work above to this work by John of Damascus (c. late 7th century) on the "Dormition of the Virgin":

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/johndamascus-komesis.html

For more info:

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/asbook10.html#Roman%20Mystery%20Religions

If you're anything like me, after reading those links you may be in desperate need for some Gospel and want some reassurance of early Christian belief. This work by Justin Martyr (c. A.D. 100) provides a helpful understanding of early Christianity, as well as the use of Scripture to reinforce his beliefs. This is extremely long, though (136 pages!) but if you skim the bold headings you can at least get a sense of the substance. Not completely "Lutheran," but it's a good study.

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/justin-apology2.html

Thought I'd share this info since I had alluded to this in the EO thread below. If nothing else, it is at least kind of interesting for dorky history people like myself. :o

[LuxPerpetua]

I am only submitting the material above for your own personal reading and FYI--not to debate. I'm too warn out from the EO thread to want to do that. :P

[BBAS 64]

This is why I worry a great deal about putting church tradition on par with Holy Scripture: Mystery cults were HUGE in Greco-Roman culture (the same culture of the early church, mind you!) and the Cult of Isis was especially prominent, and many historians argue that a large proportion os early Christians were converts from these cults--and secular historians generally argue that the church after the 2nd century, influenced by these converts, naturally incorporated some of the "mystery" rites found in these cults. I thought, for the interest of my fellow Lutherans, that I might post a link to a written work by a follower of the Cult of Isis, c. A.D. 1st century. In my opinion, it has some striking similarities to later Marian devotion, which was part of later Christian practice. These sites provide primary sources to secular historians, so they don't really have a religious agenda (which is why I like them!).

The Mysteries of the Goddess Isis:

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/lucius-assa.html

http://alexm.here.ru/mirrors/www.enteract.com/jwalz/Eliade/155.html

Compare the rhetoric in the work above to this work by John of Damascus (c. late 7th century) on the "Dormition of the Virgin":

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/johndamascus-komesis.html

For more info:

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/asbook10.html#Roman%20Mystery%20Religions

If you're anything like me, after reading those links you may be in desperate need for some Gospel and want some reassurance of early Christian belief. This work by Justin Martyr (c. A.D. 100) provides a helpful understanding of early Christianity, as well as the use of Scripture to reinforce his beliefs. This is extremely long, though (136 pages!) but if you skim the bold headings you can at least get a sense of the substance. Not completely "Lutheran," but it's a good study.

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/justin-apology2.html

Thought I'd share this info since I had alluded to this in the EO thread below. If nothing else, it is at least kind of interesting for dorky history people like myself. :o
Good Day, Lux

Thanks much, I will be a dork with you that way I will be in good company. :D

Bill

[ByzantineDixie]

LUX!!! I am on christian history overload!!! I just finished my class today...and half the final, just have a take home essay to complete. I have digested so much church history in the last 24 hours if I read one more thing about it I surely think my brain will spontaneously combust! ;)

I'll check out this links...in about a week or so after my brain waves drop below the danger level! :D

Not a dork, but have dorky friends....:P

Rose

[Suzannah]

www.earlychristianwritings.com (http://www.earlychristianwritings.com)
has some excellent links including:

Iraneus : Against Heresies. If you're interested in exploring what the early church had to say in answer to the Mystery Cults, Iraneus is a MUST read. (He's also quite the gentleman and scholar.) :)

[KagomeShuko]

Not a dork, but have dorky friends....:P

Rose
Ever heard of your known by the friends you keep? :P

Stein Auf!
Bridget

[Flipper]

Hey, have you read The Davinci Code? It's fiction, but a lot of it is based on Isis and the "sacred feminine."

[LuxPerpetua]

I've heard of the Da Vinci code (but I haven't read it, nor do I really want to since I know the basic gist of it from EWTN--they've had at least 2 programs denouncing that book), but I wasn't aware of the Isis connection. Thanks for that input. That reminds me a lot of the "Mist of Avalon" TV miniseries (based on a book) that came out a few years ago--it basically asserted that Mariology developed out of Celtic goddess worship. I think there is a connection to pagan goddess worship at some level, especially with the Isis cult. All of the secular historical sources I've read point in that direction, but ya never know. That's the best part about history--there's so much to debate about. :P

[LuxPerpetua]

Thanks, Bill, for keeping me company--especially since Luther's Rose refuses to embrace the wackiness of dorkdom herself. :P

You may be further interested in these sites--these are the parent sites from where I got those particular links. They are just stuffed with some great primary source documents, religious and secular.

For Medieval History
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/sbook.html

For Greco-Roman/Ancient History
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/asbook.html

[KagomeShuko]

Thanks, Bill, for keeping me company--especially since Luther's Rose refuses to embrace the wackiness of dorkdom herself. :P

You may be further interested in these sites--these are the parent sites from where I got those particular links. They are just stuffed with some great primary source documents, religious and secular.

For Medieval History
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/sbook.html

For Greco-Roman/Ancient History
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/asbook.html
I'll embrace dorkdom with you. . .on church history, books, and just other cultures. One of my favorite comics: www.dorktower.com (http://www.dorktower.com)

Yeah, I'm a dork and a nerd, and I admit it!

Stein Auf!
Bridget