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mystery religion
(redirected from Mystery religions)

   Also found in: Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.06 sec.

mystery religion

Any of various secret cults of the Greco-Roman world. Derived from primitive tribal ceremonies, mystery religions reached their peak of popularity in Greece in the first three centuries AD. Their members met secretly to share meals and take part in dances and ceremonies, especially initiation rites. The cult of Demeter produced the most famous of the mystery religions, the Eleusinian Mysteries, as well as the Andania mysteries. Dionysus was worshiped in festivals that included wine, choral singing, sexual activity, and mime. The Orphic cult, by contrast, based on sacred writings attributed to Orpheus, required chastity and abstinence from meat and wine. Mystery cults also attached to Attis, Isis, and Jupiter Dolichenus, among others.



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Witherington does occasionally note echoes of non-Jewish and non-Christian tradition in Romans; for example, he observes that Paul may borrow language from mystery religions when he speaks of "dying and rising with Christ" (6:3-4).
Roetzel discusses Stoicism, Neo-Pythagoreanism, and Cynicism, but not Epicureans or Skeptics, Hellenistic mystery religions and the healing cult of Asclepius, but does nothing with civic cults, apotheosis of emperors (e.
The eye-in-the-triangle symbol, however, has more often throughout history been associated with the occult, mystery religions, secret societies, and revolution.
 
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