Commentary
The war on Mithraism!
By Kerry Tomasi
Online Journal Contributing Writer


Jan 4, 2008, 00:14

Well, the fighting has finally died down, at least for now anyway. Hopefully there will be relative peace for several months before it inevitably begins again.

I'm referring, of course, to the "war on Christmas."

This "war" has always been a source of bewilderment to me, and this season was no exception. I just don't get the "Christian Persecution Complex," which manifests itself every year though this perceived "war."

Oh, the horrors of war! Of being attacked mercilessly by people saying 'happy holidays' instead of Merry Christmas; or being subjected to the torturous spectacle of a 'holiday tree' instead of a Christmas tree! The horror . . . the horrors of war!

Nope, I don't get it. And likely never will. Which is why I not only find it rather bewildering, but also childishly inane.

But once in a while, amidst all the self-indulgent "persecution," a question or point is raised that peaks my interest. It came from a recent post in my local paper. The writer states: "I have a question to (?) the liberal fronts that are attacking Christmas. If Christ was not born, what would you be attacking now?"

I don't know what a "liberal front" is, and no one I've talked to does either, but I'm guessing it's one of those amorphous 'Christmas haters' who spark this war on Christmas every year with their insidious "seasons greetings" attacks.

Unfortunately I couldn't find anyone from the "liberal front," so I'm going to take a stab at answering the question myself, as best I can. (I just watched "It's a Wonderful Life," so this concept of "never been born" is fresh in my mind.)

The short answer to the question is "Mithraism." This is what the "liberal front" might be attacking with their 'happy holidays' assaults if Jesus (aka: Yeshua bin Joseph) had never been born.

The Persian savior Mithra was born on Dec. 25, sometime prior to 500 BCE. His birth (to a supposed virgin, or else formed wholly from a rock) was witnessed by shepherds and Magi, and during his lifetime he performed miracles, cured illnesses, and cast out devils. He shared a last meal with his 12 disciples, then ascended to heaven at the time of the spring equinox.

Worship of Mithra was common throughout Europe and the Mediterranean, and in 274 CE (AD) Emperor Aurelian declared Mithraism the official religion of the Roman Empire. His Dec. 25 birth was celebrated with other god/man/saviors including Appolo, Attis, Baal, Dionysus, Helios, Hercules, Horus, Osiris, Perseus, and Theseusas as the "Birthday of the Unconquered Sun." Sometime around 330-350 CE the Christian church adopted Dec 25 as the birthday of Jesus.

Mithraism remained the primary competitor of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire until Emperor Theodosius declared Christianity the official state religion in 391 CE, and banned the worship of Mithra.

Therefore . . .

It's entirely feasible that if Yeshua (aka: Jesus) had never been born, there would be a multitude of Mithra worshippers today, led by Bill O'Reilly, decrying the 'war on Mithraism'!

They would demand that "Merry Mithraism" be the official greeting instead of "happy holidays."

They would demand that depictions of Mithra's birth be portrayed on courthouse lawns.

They would demand that holiday trees be called Mithraism Trees.

They would be asking the 'liberal fronts': "If Mithra was not born, what would you be attacking now?"

And every candidate for public office, especially for president of the United States, would declare his or her unwavering belief in the miraculous birth of Mithra, and imply that anyone who doesn't believe (or pretend to believe) in Mithra, or His doctrines, has no place in our society.

So you see . . . Christians really do have a wonderful life.