Changes

98:5.2 The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithras#Rituals_and_worship cult of Mithras] arose in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tauroctony#Interpretation Iran] and long [[persisted]] in its homeland despite the militant [[opposition]] of the followers of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroaster#Iconography Zoroaster]. But by the time [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithras Mithraism] reached [[Rome]], it had become greatly improved by the [[absorption]] of many of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroaster Zoroaster]'s teachings. It was chiefly through the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithras#Summary_of_the_cult_myth Mithraic cult] that [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroaster Zoroaster]'s [[religion]] exerted an [[influence]] upon later appearing [[Christianity]].

98:5.2 The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithras#Rituals_and_worship cult of Mithras] arose in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tauroctony#Interpretation Iran] and long [[persisted]] in its homeland despite the militant [[opposition]] of the followers of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroaster#Iconography Zoroaster]. But by the time [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithras Mithraism] reached [[Rome]], it had become greatly improved by the [[absorption]] of many of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroaster Zoroaster]'s teachings. It was chiefly through the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithras#Summary_of_the_cult_myth Mithraic cult] that [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroaster Zoroaster]'s [[religion]] exerted an [[influence]] upon later appearing [[Christianity]].

98:5.3 The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithras#Rituals_and_worship Mithraic cult] portrayed a militant [[god]] taking [[origin]] in a great rock, engaging in [[valiant]] exploits, and causing [[water]] to gush forth from a rock struck with his arrows. There was a flood from which one man [[escaped]] in a specially built boat and a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithras#The_Banquet last supper which Mithras] celebrated with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_deity sun-god] before he [[ascended]] into the [[heavens]]. This [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_deity sun-god], or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sol_invictus Sol Invictus], was a [[degeneration]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahura_Mazda Ahura-Mazda] [[deity]] [[concept]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism Zoroastrianism]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithras Mithras] was conceived as the [[surviving]] champion of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_deity sun-god] in his [[struggle]] with the [[god]] of [[darkness]]. And in [[recognition]] of his [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithras#The_tauroctony slaying the mythical sacred bull], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithras#The_end_of_Mithras Mithras] was made [[immortal]], being exalted to the station of [[intercessor]] for the [[human]] race among the [[gods]] on high.

98:5.3 The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithras#Rituals_and_worship Mithraic cult] portrayed a militant [[god]] taking [[origin]] in a great rock, engaging in [[valiant]] exploits, and causing [[water]] to gush forth from a rock struck with his arrows. There was a flood from which one man [[escaped]] in a specially built boat and a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithras#The_Banquet last supper which Mithras] celebrated with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_deity sun-god] before he [[ascended]] into the [[heavens]]. This [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_deity sun-god], or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sol_invictus Sol Invictus], was a [[degeneration]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahura_Mazda Ahura-Mazda] [[deity]] [[concept]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism Zoroastrianism]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithras Mithras] was conceived as the [[surviving]] champion of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_deity sun-god] in his [[struggle]] with the [[god]] of [[darkness]]. And in [[recognition]] of his [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithras#The_tauroctony slaying the mythical sacred bull], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithras#The_end_of_Mithras Mithras] was made [[immortal]], being exalted to the station of intercessor for the [[human]] race among the [[gods]] on high.

98:5.4 The adherents of this [[cult]] [[worshiped]] in [[caves]][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithras#The_Mithraeum] and other [[secret]] places, [[chanting]] hymns, mumbling [[magic]], eating the flesh of the [[sacrificial]] [[animals]], and drinking the blood. Three times a day they [[worshiped]], with special weekly [[ceremonials]] on the day of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sol_Invictus sun-god] and with the most elaborate observance of all on the annual festival of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithras#Mithraism_and_Christianity Mithras, December twenty-fifth]. It was believed that the partaking of the [[sacrament]] ensured [[eternal]] life, the [[immediate]] passing, after [[death]], to the [[bosom]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithras#Summary_of_the_cult_myth Mithras], there to tarry in bliss until the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judgement_day judgment day.] On the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judgement_day judgment day] the Mithraic keys of [[heaven]] would unlock the gates of [[Paradise]] for the [[reception]] of the faithful; whereupon all the unbaptized of the living and the dead would be [[annihilated]] upon the return of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithras#Mithraism_and_Christianity Mithras to earth]. It was taught that, when a man died, he went before Mithras for [[judgment]], and that at the end of the world [http://www.pantheon.org/articles/m/mithra.html Mithras] would summon all the [[dead]] from their [[graves]] to face the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judgement_day last judgment]. The wicked would be destroyed by [[fire]], and the [[righteous]] would reign with [http://www.pantheon.org/articles/m/mithra.html Mithras] forever.

98:5.4 The adherents of this [[cult]] [[worshiped]] in [[caves]][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithras#The_Mithraeum] and other [[secret]] places, [[chanting]] hymns, mumbling [[magic]], eating the flesh of the [[sacrificial]] [[animals]], and drinking the blood. Three times a day they [[worshiped]], with special weekly [[ceremonials]] on the day of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sol_Invictus sun-god] and with the most elaborate observance of all on the annual festival of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithras#Mithraism_and_Christianity Mithras, December twenty-fifth]. It was believed that the partaking of the [[sacrament]] ensured [[eternal]] life, the [[immediate]] passing, after [[death]], to the [[bosom]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithras#Summary_of_the_cult_myth Mithras], there to tarry in bliss until the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judgement_day judgment day.] On the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judgement_day judgment day] the Mithraic keys of [[heaven]] would unlock the gates of [[Paradise]] for the [[reception]] of the faithful; whereupon all the unbaptized of the living and the dead would be [[annihilated]] upon the return of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithras#Mithraism_and_Christianity Mithras to earth]. It was taught that, when a man died, he went before Mithras for [[judgment]], and that at the end of the world [http://www.pantheon.org/articles/m/mithra.html Mithras] would summon all the [[dead]] from their [[graves]] to face the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judgement_day last judgment]. The wicked would be destroyed by [[fire]], and the [[righteous]] would reign with [http://www.pantheon.org/articles/m/mithra.html Mithras] forever.