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==98:4. THE MYSTERY CULTS==

==98:4. THE MYSTERY CULTS==

98:4.1 The majority of people in the Graeco-Roman world, having lost their primitive family and state religions and being unable or unwilling to grasp the meaning of Greek philosophy, turned their attention to the spectacular and emotional mystery cults from Egypt and the Levant. The common people craved promises of salvation—religious consolation for today and assurances of hope for immortality after death.

98:4.1 The [[majority]] of people in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Roman_world Graeco-Roman world], having lost their [[primitive]] [[family]] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_religion state religions] and being unable or unwilling to grasp the [[meaning]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_philosophy Greek philosophy], turned their [[attention]] to the spectacular and [[emotional]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystery_cults mystery cults] from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egytian_religion Egypt] and the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levant Levant]. The common people craved [[promises]] of [[salvation]]—[[religious]] [[Comfort|consolation]] for today and [[assurances]] of [[hope]] for [[immortality]] after [[death]].

98:4.2 The three mystery cults which became most popular were:

98:4.2 The [[three]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystery_cults mystery cults] which became most popular were:

*1. The Phrygian cult of Cybele and her son Attis.

*1. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phrygian_language Phrygian] [[cult]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cybele Cybele] and her son [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attis Attis].

*2. The Egyptian cult of Osiris and his mother Isis.

*2. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_religion Egyptian cult] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osiris Osiris] and his mother [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isis Isis].

*3. The Iranian cult of the worship of Mithras as the savior and redeemer of sinful mankind.

*3. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_religions Iranian cult] of the [[worship]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithras Mithras] as the savior and redeemer of sinful [[mankind]].

98:4.3 The Phrygian and Egyptian mysteries taught that the divine son (respectively Attis and Osiris) had experienced death and had been resurrected by divine power, and further that all who were properly initiated into the mystery, and who reverently celebrated the anniversary of the god's death and resurrection, would thereby become partakers of his divine nature and his immortality.

98:4.3 The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phrygian_language Phrygian] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_religion Egyptian mysteries] taught that the [[divine]] son (respectively [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attis Attis] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osiris Osiris]) had [[experienced]] [[death]] and had been [[resurrected]] by [[divine]] [[power]], and further that all who were properly [[initiated]] into the [[mystery]], and who [[reverently]] celebrated the anniversary of the [[god]]'s [[death]] and [[resurrection]], would thereby become partakers of his [[divine]] [[nature]] and his [[immortality]].

98:4.4 The Phrygian ceremonies were imposing but degrading; their bloody festivals indicate how degraded and primitive these Levantine mysteries became. The most holy day was Black Friday, the " day of blood, " commemorating the self-inflicted death of Attis. After three days of the celebration of the sacrifice and death of Attis the festival was turned to joy in honor of his resurrection.

98:4.4 The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phrygian_language Phrygian] [[ceremonies]] were imposing but degrading; their bloody festivals indicate how degraded and [[primitive]] these [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proto-Indo-European_religion Levantine mysteries] became. The most holy day was Black Friday, the "day of blood," commemorating the self-inflicted [[death]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attis Attis]. After three days of the celebration of the [[sacrifice]] and [[death]] of Attis the festival was turned to [[joy]] in [[honor]] of his [[resurrection]].

98:4.5 The rituals of the worship of Isis and Osiris were more refined and impressive than were those of the Phrygian cult. This Egyptian ritual was built around the legend of the Nile god of old, a god who died and was resurrected, which concept was derived from the observation of the annually recurring stoppage of vegetation growth followed by the springtime restoration of all living plants. The frenzy of the observance of these mystery cults and the orgies of their ceremonials, which were supposed to lead up to the " enthusiasm " of the realization of divinity, were sometimes most revolting.

98:4.5 The [[rituals]] of the [[worship]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isis_and_Osiris Isis and Osiris] were more refined and impressive than were those of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cybele Phrygian cult]. This [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_egyptian_religion#Practices Egyptian ritual] was built around the [[legend]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_egyptian_religion#Mythology Nile god of old], a god who died and was resurrected, which [[concept]] was derived from the [[observation]] of the annually recurring stoppage of [[vegetation]] [[growth]] followed by the springtime restoration of all living [[plants]]. The frenzy of the observance of these [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystery_cults mystery cults] and the [[orgies]] of their [[ceremonials]], which were supposed to lead up to the "[[enthusiasm]]" of the [[realization]] of [[divinity]], were sometimes most revolting.

==98:5. THE CULT OF MITHRAS==

==98:5. THE CULT OF MITHRAS==