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Samuel Angus

The Mystery-Religions Paperback – November 2, 2011

by S. Angus (Author)

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What is the strange fascination of the Mystery-Religions for the ancient world and today, some 2,000 years later, for moderns? Why are these colorful ancient cults so little known, all information about them suppressed or distorted by centuries of official religion in Europe? What did these ancient beliefs have that exacted the respect of Socrates, Plato, Virgil, Apuleius, and other great men of the classical age? Was the religion that stamped them out, Christianity, itself originally a Mystery-Religion, with secret teachings that only initiates could comprehend and psychological techniques not generally revealed?
This volume, generally considered the most useful single work in English on the subject, attempts to answer such questions, while at the same time offering a sound, solid background in the various forms of religious experience that are grouped together under the term Mystery-Religions. From the Eleusinian mysteries of ancient Greece through the Asiatic cults of Cybele, the Magna Mater, and Attis; the strange rompings of the Dionysian groups; Orphics with their impact on Greek philosophy; the Mysteries emergent from Egypt — Hermes Trismegistos, the Pymander, Isis, and Osiris; on up to the religion that swept the Near East and Europe, carried by the Roman legions, and that almost became central for us today — Mithraism.
Each of these religions offered something to its devotees that the older ethnic and state religions could not: a sense of the value of the individual; heightened areas of experience, even to the manipulations of sensory experience; psychological insights that are only now being appreciated. Yet they all died out within a couple of centuries of the Christian era, Gnosticism (apart from a few vestigial groups in the Near East and Europe) subsuming their heritage last.

Print length

384 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Dover Publications
Publication date

November 2, 2011
Dimensions

5.37 x 0.73 x 8.4 inches
ISBN-10

0486231240
ISBN-13

978-0486231242
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Product details

Publisher : Dover Publications; Revised edition (November 2, 2011)
Language : English
Paperback : 384 pages
ISBN-10 : 0486231240
ISBN-13 : 978-0486231242
Item Weight : 14.3 ounces
Dimensions : 5.37 x 0.73 x 8.4 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #535,450 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #507 in Religious Mysteries (Books)
- #1,194 in General History of Religion
- #1,528 in History of Religions

Customer Reviews:
26 ratings

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Johannes Platonicus

"A Superb Survey of the Mystery-Religions"

Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2002

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What will be found in the Anglican scholar Samuel Angus,' "The Mystery-Religions," is an informative overview of the principle cults which dominated the Mediterranean world from Alexander's conquests up to the early centuries of the Christian era. The crux of this work lies in Angus' erudite analysis of the various factors which facilitated the spread and subsequent decline of the Mystery-Religions, and likewise the factors that ultimately aided the spread and triumph of Christianity. He is clear in his presentation of key points and sincere with the information he provides. Angus' deep familiarity with both the ancient texts and the current modern scholarship of his times, on the whole, presents a well-researched work valuable for students and scholars alike. This work is an enduring masterpiece, which offers readers a complete and useful tool for understanding the multifaceted belief systems of the Mystery-Religions.

29 people found this helpful

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rev t

Pre-Christian religion

Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2014

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A classic in the field of religion. I alreadt have iit marked up pretty well since I received it. Very pleased.

One person found this helpful

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Clarence Reddick

ON THE MENU

Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2016

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I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK FOR ALL SEEKERS AND FREE THINKERS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR SUBSCRIPTIONS OF CHOICE.

One person found this helpful

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Balanced Reader

The Best Most Authoritative Review of the Mysteries

Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2006

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Anyone curious for a well written collegiate level review of the Ancient Mysteries and the similarities found in Christianity will find this work complete.

I don't believe a better work on this topic has been written.

For the esoterically minded, Hermeticist, Freemason, Rosicrucian, look no further.

8 people found this helpful

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Hiram

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2015

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Good book.

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jrdsmiles

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2014

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Better than agreed.

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Prof

I was greatly disappointed. The book is not a detailed exposition of ...

Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2015

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I bought this book expecting a detailed survey of the different mystery religions. After all, it is advertised as a “classic study” of ancient religious cults. To say the least, I was greatly disappointed. The book is not a detailed exposition of the assortment of mystery religions, but rather a sociological study of the supposed historical and intellectual-historical effects of mystery religions in general. As is to be expected from sociology, the book is full of unsubstantiated and unsubstantiate-able conclusions – best perhaps to call them conjectures paraded as conclusions. The book reminded me of why, when I as an undergraduate searching for a second major to complement my major in physics, I did not major in intellectual history or sociology, but rather decided on philosophy. At least philosophy aspires to provide arguments. Regarding the book, Hume’s suggestion in the last paragraph of his An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding comes to mind.

9 people found this helpful

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Brian O'Malley

Classic Study of the Mystery Religions

Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2000

First published in the 1920s, this work is still the standard on the various mystery religions so popular in Greece and Rome before the establishment of Christianity. (Interesting parallels between the mystery faiths and early Christianity are discussed, without either apology or venom, but with an avid interest.)
While these mystery faiths were extremely popular, they were nonetheless secret societies. Many references to their rites and doctrines exist in surviving ancient sources; these references, however, are necessarily veiled. S. Angus does a beautiful job in arranging these fragments to present an intriguing mosaic.
Another classic on ancient Mediterranean religion would be James George Frazer's The Golden Bough. For a more recent study, see Michael Grant, Myths of the Greeks and Romans, which includes a discussion of the mystery religions.

59 people found this helpful

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Dmoissac

Four Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 26, 2014

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The basic work on the subject. A bit repetitious but essential nonetheless.

Gwen U

Fast delivery

Reviewed in Canada on November 3, 2020

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I had loaned my copy out and it got lost. Grateful to find this replacement

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