Mithras: The fellow in the cap

by Esme Wynne-Tyson

Mithras The Fellow In The Cap

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction

227 pages, Hardcover

First published April 24, 1972

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very thorough introduction to the Zoroastrian religion of Mithraism (which was observed in many forms as Sun-god worship in the centuries before Christ), and how its strong presence in the post-Babylonian Exile Jewish population affected the Biblical authors. I do not know how the scholarship in this area has changed in the last 60 years, but in this book I found many solid explanations for the contradictions between early Jewish writing (Pentateuch) and the later Prophetical books (Daniel, Ezekial, etc - which were the template for much of Revelation) which seem to suddenly introduce foreign ideas like angels, demons, astrology, seven-headed beasts, and final judgments. Also, it seems to explain the contrast in focus between Jesus's teaching of peace, loving your neighbor, the Kingdom of God within you, and turning the other cheek; and Paul's emphasis of blood atonement, fighting for the faith, putting on the armor of God, winning a crown at the End. The Mithraic ideas and symbols so loved by the Roman Empire adulterated the original message of Christianity and affected the church in many ways up through today. All in all, this was a fascinating read.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a readable if unreliable examination of the influence of the ancient pagan cult of Mithras on Christianity. The first 3 chapters gave an interesting introduction to Mithras and his cult. The 4th to 6th chapters are the meat of the book and contain an analysis of what the author perceives as the Mithraic influences on the New Testament. Some of these struck me as fairly convincing but Wynne-Tyson's purpose seems to be more to put forward her own idiosyncratic take on Christianity (with any aspects of church doctrine she disagrees with being attributed to Mithras rather than Jesus), than to critically explore how pagan/Mithraic beliefs were adopted by the early Christians. From Chapter 8 onwards Wynne-Tyson has pretty much lost the plot and brings in the Knights Templar, Tarot and Freemasonry. Overall the book was quite an enjoyable read and raised some interesting questions. Unfortunately it doesn't provide many reliable answers.

[Pierre Stolte · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating examination of the Mithraism, and its overwhelming influence on Christianity (there is almost no element of Christianity that doesn't come through/from Mithras).

Also, it's really nice when an author wears their bias on their sleeve so that it can be easily spotted. Wynne-Tyson was a Christian Scientist and is very quick to champion the portions of the bible that reinforce her beliefs while discarding whole canonical books because of their obvious adoption of Mithraic cosmology, rituals, perspective and/or practices (I'm looking at you, Revelation).

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magnificent account of one of the chief pagan influences on early Christianity.