I'll Be Home for Mithras

Did you know that Jesus was thought to have been born in a cave by early Christians, just like the Pagan God Mithras who the Romans worshiped before conquering Israel ?

But it's true, Virginia, nothing about our modern celebration of Christmas is biblical, and the total commercialization of Christmas has kicked it loose from any recognizable religious origins of any variety.

Below is link to a page with many of the details, but to sum it up, both Jesus and Mithras were born in a rock cave, were crucified on a cross and were put in a stone tomb. I wonder why Christianity hasn't kept these same older Christian ideas of Jesus being born in a cave alive ?

http://www.religioustolerance.org/xmaswwjbc.htm

Below are some of the details from that page : 

Early Christian tradition says that Jesus was born in a cave:

Justin Martyr wrote in the second century CE that Jesus was born in a cave. 

The Gospel of James, a.k.a. Infancy Gospel of James and the Protoevangelium of James,written circa 150 CE described the birth as being in a cave. 

Origen of Alexandria wrote during the second century CE in his book "Against Celsus" that:

"...there is shown at Bethlehem the cave where He was born and the manger in the cave where He was wrapped in swaddling-clothes. And this sight is greatly talked of in surrounding places, even among the enemies of the faith, it being said that in this cave was born that Jesus who is worshipped and reverenced by the Christians." 

check the link above for much, much more ....

Who was Mithras? Basically, worship of the god Mithras became popular among Roman soldiers at its peak in the second and third centuries. Much of what we know about this religion comes from ancient reliefs and other sculptures. No written documents defining the mythology and ritual beliefs of Mithraism exist, so scholars can only do their best to interpret the elements pictured in what has survived through artwork. The basic myth begins with Mithras being born when he emerged from a rock. In this scene he is most often depicted as a youth, carrying a torch, a dagger, and wearing a soft cone-shaped cap with the top pulled forward (also known as a Phrygian cap), it looks like the caps The Smurfs wear. The most popular image of Mithras depicts him slaying a bull; thought to be the first act of creation (Manfred Claus, The Roman Cult of Mithras, p. 81).

While there are many who like to say that Christianity is just another form of Mithraism, if one looks at ALL of the evidence out there, this can clearly be seen to be false. While they do resemble each other to some degree, Mithraism can be found to be dated well after the establishment of the Christian religion. The mythology and rites of the earliest Mithraists do not present themselves as close parallels to Christian beliefs and practices.

Many of the supposed parallels between Christianity and Mithraism are based on outdated scholarship that relies heavily on the assumption that the Roman cult was a natural extension of the ancient Persian religion rather than an entirely new late first-century system.

In an effort to merge the two, people lacking in research will often attempt to point out parallels between the beliefs and practices of Christians to those of the Roman cult of Mithras.

The most common claims tossed around are generally:

Mithras preceded Christianity by roughly 600 years.

Mithras was born on December 25. 

He was considered a great teacher and had twelve disciples. 

Mithras also performed miracles. 

Mithras was called “the good shepherd,” “the way, the truth and the light,” “redeemer,” “savior,” and “messiah.” 

He was identified with the lion and the lamb. 

He was buried in a tomb and after three days he rose again and his resurrection was celebrated every year. 

Mithraism had a Eucharist or “Lord’s Supper” that involved consecrated bread and wine.
Their initiation ceremonies included a baptism to remove sins. 

Follow the jump for the answers to this torrid tale.