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| Mithra kills the bull while wearing a mini-skirt |
These are some of them: On The Origin of the Crusader Pathogen, Another Holy Day For Modern Ancient Mithraism, On The Origin of The Bully Religion, The Virgin MOMCOM - 6.
Today, I want to discuss another example where American Mithraism shows through the thin veneer, to once again expose itself (because currently there are two Mithraic cults which are a danger to civilization, and even a danger to the human species itself).
The one cult is fake Islam, while the other is fake Christianity in America.
Those two cults are both "pure" Mithraism.
Recently, both President Obama and Pope Francis alluded to that reality, when they explained that there are those who associate themselves with both "Christianity" and "Islam," but who are neither.
Since this post deals with the ones calling themselves "Christian," let's start off with this quote from one who calls himself a previous fundie:
"... here’s where Dr. Beckum got himself into some serious problems: he wasn’t speaking about listening to rock and roll or wearing skirts that weren’t knee high– he was talking about the golden calf of American Christianity. He went on to say,(Formerly Fundie, emphasis added). That religious worship of war (as this Dredd Blog series, and some others mentioned above, point out) is Mithraism posing as Christianity and/or Islam as it has for thousands of years.
“Anyone who has made a decision to follow Jesus realizes that the goal of a being a Christian is to become Christ-like.”Sounds good so far, but starting to get edgy with this Jesus-likeness stuff. But here’s where he went completely off the rails:
“I am extremely troubled. I have been for a long time and I have hesitated to address this subject publicly, but I cannot keep silent about it any longer … I don’t think it is an under-statement to say that our culture is addicted to violence, guns, war, revenge and retaliation. Unfortunately, so are a lot of Christians… So, what does Jesus have to say about it. Again, if you are not a follower of Jesus you can relax. This doesn’t concern you. But Christians have to do something with this. I have to do something with the words of Jesus and his actions… We have to be very careful about equating patriotism with Christianity. We never say God and … anything. God is above all, everything else is underneath … We have put “our way of life”/ freedom on the top rung. If you mess with it I’ll blow your head off. For a Christian what is on the top rung? Love for all."Dr. Beckum ended his sermon by reminding the students that not only did Jesus teach radical enemy love, but that we should serve them, and forgive them as well.
In many Christian circles you can talk about the Bible all you want, a you can speak as much Christianese as possible, but as Dr. Beckum has now learned, you cannot talk about what Jesus taught regarding enemy love. That is off-limits and heresy.
...
The best way to understand the cultural scenario is to realize ... that thereare two different types of Christianity. One is a movement of people who want to live and be like Jesus. The other (and far more common, far more powerful) is a civil and political religion that is simply named Christianity. The civil political religion named Christianity is addicted to both political power and violence, and thus finds the message of Jesus offensive. When they encounter the other kind of Christian- the kind that actually believes in following Jesus- they have an immediate need to persecute them in some for or another, as we see in the case of Dr. Beckum, who actually did lose his job because of speaking the name of Jesus."
Mithra shoots the shit out of stuff
Another place where "the two religions divide" is climate change (Officialdom bans use of term "climate change" & "global warming"; cf. Global Warming / Climate Change Will Generate Dangerous Religion).
The priests of the dogma "God is killing billions with global climate change so he can save them" are at odds with the scientists, and with Pope Francis (Inhofe's One Man Troofiness Crusade).
Not that those who suffer from Agnotology care or even understand (Agnotology: The Surge - 16).
Like Tina Turner sang, "What's love got to do with it?"
The next post in this series is here, the previous post in this series is here.
The Christian sermon by Dr. Randy Beckum (Transcript of Dr. Beckum's Sermon), which caused the Mithra worshippers to become revengeful:
Randy, I "never" listen to Christian preachers, but I listened to your every word.
ReplyDeleteAmen, brother Randy.
Indeed.
DeleteDr. Randy Beckum is not intimidated by Mithra.
What's this "Kingdom of God" business? In groups and out groups - either you get in or you don't. Love isn't the deciding factor then is it? It's OBEDIENCE, not love.
ReplyDeleteHumans aren't capable of the kind of love he's talking about. Are you going to love the thugs that kill you for your water or food when the time comes? Did the Jews love their Nazi persecutors? Did it happen in Serbo-Croatia when the Serbs were trying to commit genocide on their fellow countrymen? Or in Africa? Or Israel - do you think the Palestinians 'love' them? Or right here! Did the Native Americans welcome the white killers with open arms - did they love them for being forced off the land they tended and worshipped? Do you love the psychopaths that rule us all now and who made the world into a debt-slave encampment, who destroy the environment day after day?
It's nonsense and leads to mental problems. Oh, just die with love in your heart and you'll be saved! Yeah, right. The whole place is goin' up in flames and this approach is as meaningless as all the others. We didn't take care of the planet and now we have to pay the price. Nature doesn't negotiate or care what we think or do, it just reacts to our presence. Everything else is meaningless bullshit. Economics, religion, philosophy, literature, science - all of it will vanish when we do and won't have mattered at all (except for the fact that it all enabled us to go so wrong that we destroyed our own habitat).
The preacher is struggling because it doesn't make any sense. If someone is trying to kill you and you respond with kindness and love, you'll be dead and the killer won't even think about your dead body or what you stood for or tried to "teach" him. The Bible left out a lot of Jesus' words and teachings because they didn't fit what the CONTROLLERS of the new religion wanted - OBEDIENCE.
I'm more in line with George Carlin than this preacher.
Tom
Tom,
DeleteIt is what you obey, not whether you obey or not, that determines the appropriateness or not of obedience.
A false frame leads to a false narrative.
The post is about distinguishing the difference between Mithraism and the religion of Jesus Christ.
If you can't figure out the difference, that puts you into a large meme complex, but so does attacking what you don't understand.
So does attacking what you don't want to understand.
Some of the best, unbiased, and unbigoted history and analysis of religion comes from atheists and/or agnostics.
Some very good science is done by religionists who are also scientists.
That is done by focusing on the issue rather than on the personalities.
http://katysozaeva.blogspot.com/2012/03/review-christ-ventriloquists-event-that.html
ReplyDeleteReview: Christ's Ventriloquists: The Event that Created Christianity
[quote from the review]
In many ways, this book reminded me of The Mythmaker: Paul and the Invention of Christianity by Hyam Maccoby, a book where the author sets out to show that it was Paul who invented Christianity, not Jesus. However, Zuesse goes beyond this, to show how Christianity is nothing like what Jesus himself taught, nor it is anything like Jesus would desire; Zuesse shows that Jesus’ message has been twisted, changed and corrupted into a completely different religion.
Anonymous (this will take two responses because currently the limit is 4,096 characters),
DeleteGood points.
It is surprising that both religious and atheist historians alike have all to often missed the techniques for distinguishing among Mithraism, Christianity, and the religion of Jesus Christ.
Not to mention various and sundry followers of them.
Notice these two assertions "no one has proven that Jesus Christ existed" and "no one has proven that Mithra existed."
Then notice the similarities in the belief system of those who follow each of them:
1) Mithras was “the Light of the World“ (Jesus said “I am the light of the world.” John 8:12).
2) Mithras was a member of a Holy Trinity (“Christians are baptized ‘in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit’ … ‘The faith of all Christians rests on the Trinity.’ St. Caesarius of Arles, Sermo 9, Exp. symb.: CCL 103, 47″; see also Mt 28:19).
3) Mithras was born of a virgin (Jesus was born of a virgin. see Matthew 1:18-25).
4) Worshippers of Mithras held strong beliefs in a celestial heaven and an infernal hell (“The Bible speaks clearly of the existence of Heaven … Hell is also spoken of in the Bible, but its nature is even more sketchy. When Jesus described the destiny of sinners who refused to change their ways, he compared it to Gehenna, which was a rubbish dump outside Jerusalem. People in wretched poverty picked their way through it to find scraps, and fires burned”).
5) Worshippers of Mithras believed they would be given endless life (“For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” I Cor 15:53).
6) Worshippers of Mithras believed in a final day of judgement in which the dead would resurrect (“But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?” I Cor 15:12).
(continued below)
(continued from above)
Delete7) Worshippers of Mithras believed in a final conflict that would destroy the existing order of all things (“Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army” Rev 19:19; “Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon” Rev 16:16).
8) Mithras worshippers believed that a ritualistic baptism was required of the faithful (“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit …’” Matthew 28:18-20).
9) Mithras worshippers took part in a ceremony in which they drank wine and ate bread to symbolize the body and blood of Mithras (“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body’” Matthew 26:26; “And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many” Matthew 26:26-28).
10) Mithras worshippers believed that Sundays were held sacred (“the majority observance of Christian Sabbath is as Sunday rest” - Wikipedia).
11) The birth of Mithras was celebrated annually on December the 25th (“Christmas … is an annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ and a widely observed holiday, celebrated generally on December 25 by billions of people around the world” - Wikipedia).
12) Mithras took part in a Last Supper with his companions before ascending to heaven (“The Last Supper is the final meal that, according to Christian belief, Jesus shared with his Apostles in Jerusalem before his crucifixion.” Wikipedia; “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1:11).
(Doing The Right Thing - Mithraism - 2).
As to Mithra, whether he ever existed or not does not address the generally accepted historical fact:
Mithraism ... was a mystery religion centered on the god Mithras, [which] became popular among the military in the Roman Empire, from the 1st to 4th centuries AD.
...
There is lots of debate on the origins of Mithraism, but as far as it went in the Roman Empire, where some scholars believe it originated (others do not) it clearly is a militaristic religion:
"Upon enlistment, the first act of a Roman soldier was to pledge obedience and devotion to the emperor. Absolute loyalty to authority and to fellow soldiers was the cardinal virtue, and the Mithraic religion became the ultimate vehicle for this fraternal obedience. The Mithras worshippers compared the practice of their religion to their military service."
(ibid). Whether Santa Clause ever existed or not is not the same issue as what his followers practice and believe.
That is the point of the post: Western American religion is, like Western Roman Empire religion was, predominately Mithraism.
The young minister, Dr. Beckum, was thrown to the lions for noticing and commenting on the dynamics involved.
Does anyone read posts any more?
ReplyDeleteReading comprehension is going extinct with everything else.
Good question. Religious bigotry is no better than any other bigotry. It is close minded and hostile.
DeleteThe Pope is preparing an environmental statement that will include the sentiment "To care for creation, to develop and liv e an integral ecology as the basis for development and peace in the world is a fundamental Christian duty" according to a Cardinal who helped draft it. (link).
The Mithraic view is that the Earth is our bitch like everything else we chose to destroy (link).
I will take the religion of Jesus over the religion of Mithra. Think of all the civilizations, such as the Western Roman Empire, that Mithraism brought down while posing as the religion of Jesus.
It is the same in the Western American Empire.
Nobody expects THE INQUISITION!!!!
ReplyDeleteTom
[from Tom Waits' Ballad of Big Joe and Phantom 309]
ReplyDelete'What's a matter, did i say something wrong, i said with a kinda half-way grin . .. ?'
http://www.dailyimpact.net/2015/03/03/americas-most-violent-terrorists-white-christians/
America’s Most Violent Terrorists: White Christians
Tom
Another false frame headline to tweak the tweakies.
DeleteTerrorists are not following the precepts of Jesus Christ or Islam.
Saying so is a slander, an intellectually bankrupt practice born of bigotry.
Terrorism is not a function of color or of the teaching of Jesus.
"It is forbidden to kill therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets." -Voltaire
http://www.sott.net/article/293716-Arkansas-Republican-Justin-Harris-sent-adopted-daughters-to-known-rapist-because-they-were-possessed-by-demons
ReplyDeleteArkansas Republican Justin Harris sent adopted daughters to known rapist because they were "possessed by demons"
Tom
Tom,
ReplyDeleteDo you hold to the main stream media doctrine that the exceptions are the rules?
That the terrorists are following the teachings of Islam, or that child abusers are practising the teachings of Jesus Christ?
It is like saying "those who do not follow certain precepts are following those precepts."
Those who murder are following Jesus Christ's teaching not to murder?
Discernment is required for competent analysis, and is required to discern the differences and the likenesses between what is a tenet of a particular religion and what is not.
Same with scientific disciplines.
The Selfish Gene mythology of Dawkins is an example (The Uncertain Gene - 3).
His popular and wide spread gross error does not invalidate the scientific method any more than Mithraic terrorists define Islam or the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Or the suicide of Mike Ruppert shows that doomers are all unstable and crazy.
Your comments are incoherent RE the subject matter of the post.
All i'm illustrating is what you wrote about Dredd. These are how the majority of humanity has interpreted Jesus' teachings. Like Ghandi and Buddha, the teachings of those who actually SEE get repackaged and twisted by power-hungry psychopaths to become something else entirely. The Bible itself and Paul's schism (with the brother of Jesus) and his subsequent take-over to make a new religion clearly shows how the best intentions of the few humans who 'get it' are subverted and used for gain, advantage, and control.
ReplyDeleteIt's the same with science and math development grabbed by the military industrial complex to create 'fractional reserve banking', neutron bombs, 'genetic engineering', a vast spy network, and all the other trappings of a prison state/hegemonic dynasty or to misuse the resources of the planet (like geology has done for the oil industry).
The problem becomes that if one "tribe" (country) does this, all the other "tribes" (countries) have to follow suit or be at a distinct disadvantage. That's where we are now - too many countries do the same thing Amurikkka is doing, ruining life on the planet. The crazy 'religion' (morally ambiguous set of beliefs) that enables 'the empire' to do this is what i'm pointing to.
i read every word of your essay, like i always do. If you think i'm not comprehending, please point out my 'mistake.' i've been familiar with this subject for a while and i don't like the organized religion of Christianity (or any of the others) because it allows for this type of dichotomous behavior by enabling a misinterpretation of the actual tenets of the teachings (see Buddhists killing Christians in Myanmar for example; Islamists becoming terrorists like Al-Quida/my way or death cult), where we can go out and kill others we don't like IN THE NAME OF JESUS (ala G. Bush and his 'crusade' uh, er a-mean 'war agin 'em terrerriss') and then go to church and be forgiven for it. What do you think i'm talking about? How is this incoherent (unless you mean you don't "see what i'm sayin'")?
Tom (it was me that linked to the book above, forgot to sign)
"... Paul's schism (with the brother of Jesus) and his subsequent take-over to make a new religion ..."
DeleteThat is an old accusation which Peter (one of those who actually heard Jesus speaking in person if the New Testament is true) dispelled:
" ... just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction." (2 Peter 3: 15-16)
Tom,
DeleteYou wrote: "All i'm illustrating is what you wrote about Dredd ... (it was me that linked to the book above, forgot to sign)"
The point of the post is that Mithraism and Christianity are similar in 12 ways, but different in one way (there may be more than 12 likenesses, and more than one difference, but I wanted to keep the post small).
Those 12 similarities are sufficient for Mithraism advocates to do what James' brother wrote about: "For certain individuals ... have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord." (Jude 1:4)
The NT writings themselves contain text that warns of infiltration by those who "secretly slipped in among you" which is clearly exemplified and identified in this post showing a very recent modern example: Hypothesis: The Cultural Amygdala - 4
Which implies sufficient similarity to fool the shallow minded neophytes (but not those who were mature).
Also, take number 7 in my response to your comment you forgot to sign: "Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon ..."
Armageddon is a belief of both Mithraic religion as well as Christian religion.
It is a doctrine that Winston Churchill was very exercised about.
His zeal eventually led to our current global warming induced climate change, as I point out (The Universal Smedley - 2, Viva Egypt - 2).
The similarities are not the way to tell Mithraism from Christianity, the differences are the only way to do that, as the post urges.
Yeah, so that begs the question: "Was Churchill a Mithraite or a Christian?"
DeleteAccording to Dr. Randy Beckum's sermon, Churchill had lost his way.
Another question is why did Tom write in his first comment, "I'm more in line with George Carlin than this preacher"?
Since i mentioned the Inquisition above, how about this timely article:
Deletehttp://www.reuters.com/article/2007/10/12/us-vatican-templars-idUSL093422320071012
Knights Templar win heresy reprieve after 700 years