Analysis of how and how Mithraism affects some Christian teachings

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Assistant Professor, Imam Khomeini Educational and Research Institute, Qom, Iran

Abstract

"One of the best ways to understand religions is to study the influence of religions on each other. In the meantime, it seems that Christianity has been influenced by some religions and rituals during its religious life. Among the religions that have an influence on Christianity is the Mithra religion. This article has investigated the influence of Mithraic doctrines, rites and symbols on Christianity with an explanatory-analytical method and has shown that Christianity was influenced by the Mithra religion. The findings and achievements of this research show that it is as if Christianity after meeting with Mithra religion and due to the power and influence of this religion, in some doctrines such as the relationship between creation and creation, Trinity and divinity and the issue of resurrection, as well as in some rituals. such as baptism, closing on Sunday, lighting candles in churches, ringing the bell, the cross, as well as in some symbols such as the container of blessed water in the church, the pond inside the mihrab and the fish in it, the red color on the cloak of Maryam (pbuh) and Jesus (pbuh) ), the golden color and the use of gold and golden metals in Christian architecture has been influenced by Mithraism and by interfering in some doctrines, rituals and symbols, it has brought them into Christianity."

Keywords

References

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Allan Di Donato, (2021), The Mithraic Origins of Christianity: Questioning the Mithras-Christ Connection.
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Luther H. Martin, Numen, (Jun., 1989), Roman Mithraism and Christianity, Vol. 36, Fasc. 1, pp. 2-15.
Comparative Study of Religions and Mysticism
Volume 9, Issue 2
September 2025
Pages 101-118

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History

  • Receive Date: 09 May 2024
  • Revise Date: 03 November 2024
  • Accept Date: 02 December 2024

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