[MR] new vs. old

[Craig Levin]

Eogan:

> > For example, the Tauraboleum, where initiates of a mystery
> > cult stood under an iron grate while a bull was slaughtered, may have
> > influenced Christian rhetoric about being washed in the blood of the Lamb.
> 
> I think there is enough evidence for the symbology of the sacrificial lamb in 
> ancient Judea (which, of course, is MUCH more likely to be related to 
> Christianity).  Just see the Old Testamant.  I wouldn't think that anyone 
> would feel the need to try and find an explanation for it in an obscure 
> mystery cult that sacrificed bulls.

The Tanakh* has quite a lot about sacrificing animals of all
kinds, to be sure. However, Jews would never consider the thought
of bathing in blood. Jews cannot eat things that still have blood
in them-that's why we soak meat in salt solutions before eating,
and/or cook it until it's well-done (we've got to do tht to
liver, since the soaking method doesn't work on many organ
meats).

Jews do consider bathing to be a ritual. However, the custom is
to bathe in running water. It's not unusual for the baths to be
communal, as they were in Roman times. However, bathing does not
wash you clean of sin, by our rules. 

As for the status of the worship of Mithras in Antiquity, I think
you'd have to retract your statement. Mithraism and Christianity were
the two big "Eastern" religious imports of the Roman Empire.
Mithraea (a temple for the worship of Mithras was a mithraeum)
have been found everyplace that the legions went. Christianity
won out only over a lot of time, and by co-opting some of the
ideas in Mithraism, like "washing in the blood".

*Tanakh=Torah (Five Books of Moses/Pentateuch), Nevi'im
(Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings, like Proverbs or the Song of
Songs).
-- 
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Craig Levin				Librarians Rule: Oook!