Posted by WW [WW] on April 05, 1999 at 17:56:52 {6.uz.4vynMOfSZqlzZ0Um1EPSMpKF.}:
In Reply to: Apocalypse When? posted by Ginny Tosken on April 03, 1999 at 15:43:27:
Ginny,
That is one of the religions I have been studying. Some of it's influence is superficial, regarding the ceremonies that the Catholic church uses. It's teachings are remarkably similar and the "three wise men" were Magi from
Persia, followers of Zoaraster. There is some dispute about the actual time frame of his existence, some saying 500 b.c.e., others 1000 years earlier.
One of the big differences is that the good/evil gods are revealed as equal (looks
true today, eh?) and it was with the coming of the Prophet Zarathustra, that good will eventually triumph over evil. They also keep a sacred fire burning at all times in their temples.
The Mithras worship resulted in the "Mystery Cult"
of Sol Invictis, which so influenced the emerging Church. The church finally purged much of this influence when they wiped out the Albigenses in France during the middle ages.
WW