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The Ancients
(- threads, 46 posts)
 Mystery religions
Historical Thread
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The Mystery religions: Beliefs and Practices
Mystery religions were widely practised in the Greek and Roman world up to the 4th century AD. They were secretive, and our knowledge of all the practices has to be surmised from a range of different sources. As the Homeric Hymn to Demeter makes clear, these mysteries, these revelations are 'awful mysteries which no one may in any way transgress or pry into or utter, for deep awe of the Gods checks the voice'.
The common elements include a belief in a life after death with the possibility through initiation in this life of becoming closer to the divine. As part of the initiation there was a sense of revelation, a release and a overwhelming joy. Once initiated there may be adherence to a 'rule of life' and a real sense of consecration in the service of that God.
"Happy is he, who having seen these rites, goes below the hollow earth; for he knows the end of life and he knows its god-sent beginning."
Pindar
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The Herms_ (* Kyria Hipocrates, Feb 13, 2004 - 08:06 ) Hermetic Philosophy (* Kyria Hipocrates, Feb 13, 2004 - 00:21 ) Interesting...Hermaioi? (* Kyria Hipocrates, Feb 13, 2004 - 00:03 ) Hermaioi? (* Thaila Callias, Feb 12, 2004 - 19:37 ) The Genius of the Golden Age (* Kyria Hipocrates, Sep 28, 2003 - 11:32 ) The Orphic School (* Kyria Hipocrates, Sep 27, 2003 - 02:04 ) Many golden ages... (* Kyria Hipocrates, Sep 26, 2003 - 05:32 ) A Golden Age? (* Natalia Burgundian, Sep 25, 2003 - 07:20 ) With great respect to... (* Kyria Hipocrates, Sep 25, 2003 - 07:10 ) The First Mystery Schools (* Fiona Catuvellauni, Sep 24, 2003 - 08:03 )|
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