Mithras: Mysteries and Inititation Rediscovered [Paperback]

D. Jason Cooper (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1996

Known as Mitra to the Indians, Mithra and Zarathustra (Zoroaster in Greek) to the Iranians, and Mithras to the Romans, this is the oldest of all living deities. Mithras was recognized as the greatest rival of Christianity, a greater threat even than the religion of Isis. If Rome had not become Christian, it would have become Mithrasian. Mithraisians had a sacrament that included wine as a symbol of sacrificial blood. Bread in wafers, or small loaves marked with a cross, was used to symbolize flesh. The priestly symbols were a staff, a ring, a hat, and a hooked sword; members were called brothers, and priests were called "Father." Mithras was born on December 25th. He offered salvation based on faith, compassion, knowledge, and valor. He appealed to the poor, the slave and the freeman, as well as to the Roman aristocracy, the militia, and even to some emperors. The Christians sacked his temples, burned his books, and attacked his followers; they desecrated his temples, and built their own churches on the same foundations as the old Mithraic temples. Cooper examines Mithras and his religion in the most complete study ever done. He explores the various forms of this god--worshiped from Lisbon to modrn Bangladesh, from the Scottish border to the Russian Steppes--and investigates the worship. This is an exciting journey into living mythology, the history of a living god, and will fascinate modern Western readers who want to know more about the spiritual path--whether they want to better understand contemporary Christianity, the basis of many contemporary ideaologies, mythology, or the Western Mystery Tradition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Red Wheel / Weiser (June 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0877288658
• ISBN-13: 978-0877288657
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #497,073 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Variety Has Marked Religious Practice From Early Times, October 21, 1998

By 

ANN KNIGHT - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mithras: Mysteries and Inititation Rediscovered (Paperback)

Cooper's annotated bibliography identifies 29 works, and he indicates the way in which each assists readers in rediscovering the nature of early Christianity's most powerful rival religion. Episcopal priest Kenneth Sylvan Guthrie (1871-1940) asserted Mithrasism contributed more than Judaism to the story of Jesus--whose birth was fixed on the same date as that of Mithras, his predecessor. Guthrie is cited in this text (p. 160) for his contention that the classical world was not interested in codifying dogmatic unity into its systematic theologies. Cooper suggests early Mithrasism and Christianity were not monoliths of homogeneity, but just as diverse in their beliefs and practices as religions today.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A new perspective, March 24, 2001

By 

Ryan Morrison (SF, CA, US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mithras: Mysteries and Inititation Rediscovered (Paperback)

This was an interesting book from the standpoint of Cooper tends to propose theories based on his experience as an occultist rather than from a scholars approach. This is a fresh approach and I believe offers some insight into the nature of the religion. However, Cooper was quick to attack modern scholarship on several points and then turns around a builds theories of Mithras worship based on his own subjective views of occultism. I think it would've been more prudent of Cooper to compare the mystery religions of the day to Mithras rather than modern occult groups like the Golden Dawn and Free Masons - something that he critisizes scholars of doing with Mithras and Christianity. Over-all the book is a good introduction to Mithras - for occultists.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reply to Geoff Puterbaugh, May 9, 2001

By 

D Jason Cooper (Perth, WA, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mithras: Mysteries and Inititation Rediscovered (Paperback)

The reason I mention the Golden Dawn and the Freemasons (and the Knights Templar and Christianity) is given on page 28: "What we can do is look at other groups with similar interests to the Mithrasians and look for possible parallels. The means of organizing human affairs may be many, but they are not infinite. If we can find the parallels we may understand more about the nature of the Mithrasian religion." Hardly any mystery. And why the fact I emigrated to Australia and have a BA in politics should be relevant(both facts which have appeared in writing, so it's not releasing anything new to public gaze)is beyond me. Is there some guilt attached to moving to Australia?