Featured Theory — the Greek “mystery religion” version of Christianity was already widespread at the time of Paul’s travels.
- Thread starter Multicolored Lemur
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Or in fairness,
a missionary journey first to Paul’s hometown of Taurus and he kept going west and that brought him to Greece.
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as a non-christian, I can and will look for naturalistic explanations.
a missionary journey first to Paul’s hometown of Taurus and he kept going west and that brought him to Greece.
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as a non-christian, I can and will look for naturalistic explanations.
AgnosticBoy
Open-minded Skeptic
I think a way to test out your view is to see which mystery religion would Paul have been influenced by and see if that is clearly shown in his views. Something like that would bolster your case.
Scooter
Well-known member
- Feb 21, 2024
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I’ve spent a year in the Orient; I’ve traveled to the Caribbean; I’ve been to Mexico and to South America. I have not been influenced by any religion in any of those places. Just because a person journeys to a foreign country does not mean they are impacted by the local religion. Especially if they have already come in contact with the one true, living God. So again, where is your evidence that Paul was influenced by the places he traveled to? You refuse to offer evidence because there is no evidence. There is absolutely no indication that Paul was influenced in any way. But you keep insisting that he was.
My next project is to try to find a map of the Roman Empire circa 50 AD.
Now, you’re kind of asking me to go big. For example, if I were a documentary filmmaker, I’d try to find 3 intriguing people to interview and weave their views in a telling of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd journeys.
Plus, the 4th when Paul was a
As far as the hypothetical interview . . .
if one of those “interviewees” is a married couple who at times charmingly agree and at other times charmingly disagree, well, that would be like gold.
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Scooter
Well-known member
- Feb 21, 2024
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Paul was already a believer when he made ALL of his journeys. Again, your posts show complete ignorance of Paul and his ministry.
Please look at the most westward city of Zephyrion. Then, move inward and find Tarsus. That’s where the Apostle Paul is from. It looks like a port city.
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Theory — As a teenager or young man, Paul was exposed to different religions. Questions nagged at him, such as “Is it really right for a person to miss out on heaven because he or she believes in the wrong religion?”
He had an intense experience on the “Road to Damascus” and he put together stuff he had long wondered about.
This was BEFORE his four journeys.
He was motivated to bring his message back home and for some reason on to Greece. That’s why I say it was a fusion between the Jewish faith and a Greek mystery religion. At least it was in his mind. But maybe it was merely mystery-friendly Jewish faith.
Mithraism - Wikipedia
“Mithraism, also known as the Mithraic mysteries or the Cult of Mithras, was a Roman mystery religion focused on the god Mithras. Although inspired by Iranian worship of the Zoroastrian divinity (yazata) Mithra, the Roman Mithras was linked to a new and distinctive imagery, . . “
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Already has a connection to Zoroastrian. So, perhaps Paul re-purposed these beliefs?
AgnosticBoy
Open-minded Skeptic
If I remember right, mythicists like Dr. Richard Carrier has said that Christianity was made up from myths.Mithraism - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
“Mithraism, also known as the Mithraic mysteries or the Cult of Mithras, was a Roman mystery religion focused on the god Mithras. Although inspired by Iranian worship of the Zoroastrian divinity (yazata) Mithra, the Roman Mithras was linked to a new and distinctive imagery, . . “
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Already has a connection to Zoroastrian. So, perhaps Paul re-purposed these beliefs?
Source: https://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/Religions/iranian/Mithraism/mithraism_and_christianity.htm
But from what I can tell, the theory that Christians borrowed from Mithraism is fringe. It is not accepted by the majority of scholars in the field.
