Dear David
You may have to refine slightly the idea of "mystery" cult - as its
debatable (and debated) whether
Neoplatonism, Paganism, the kind of thing you find in the Corpus
Hermeticum is really a mystery
cult in the same way as say Cult of Mithras.
Ie: Classical Paganism, / Neoplatonism probably isn't a mystery cult -
it may not have secrets -
its all there and open for anyone who has the wit to understand.
It has a huge influence -
positive and negative on developing Christianity -
so for example Celsus was a Neoplatonist and Christian convert.
but I say look at David Frankfurter's
"Religion in Roman Egypt" and other books for that side of things and
guide to other sources
and really essential is Garth Fowden's "The Hermetica" - this also deals
with the way goddess Isis fits into the Hermetic philosophy.
For Mithras - you could do worse than read my good friend Payam
Nabarz's book "The Mysteries of Mithras" -
which is from a recon perspective but has interested sources and
interpretation -
it was he who reminded me that Mithras doesn't die -
You could also look at Robert Conner's "Jesus the Sorcerer" an updating
of Morton Smith's "Jesus the Magician" -
for some background on the magical techniques of primitive Christianity -
it was perhaps a cult focussed on avoiding death - but as the first
generation of christian began to die,
and when Lazarus died - they had to reframe things some.
"Love and do what you will"
Mogg
> Hi -
>
> Just a quick request - can anyone recommend a good book on the links
> between Christianity and the Mystery cults? I have some stuff
> specifically on Mithraism, but I'm looking for a more general overview
> for a paper I'm writing.
>
> Thanks, David Robertson
>
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