The cult of Mithras was popular throughout the Roman world from the Middle East, via Italy, to its northern limits at Hadrian’s Wall and along the German border. At least until Constantine decided that Christianity would suit his rule better.In essence, Mithraism was centred on the worship of the saviour god Mithras, born of a Virgin and a God, whose birthday is 25 December. Sound familiar?
Because of political aspirations, and a desire to confine the power of the Army, the state religion was named as the new cult of Christianity.
More on Mithras, God of Soldiers
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The "pagan origins" theories that suggest that the origins of Christian doctrine can be found in previous beliefs, such as Mithraism, is not seriously held by comparative religion scholars. This is mostly because the so-called "repeating" themes are misnamed, as some scholars choose to appropriate terms, such as resurrection, savior, virgin, etc. and apply them to pagan beliefs that have nothing to do with those themes as they are understood in Christian theology. I recently posted an article on this very subject: http://christopherbutler.wordpress.com/2006/10/07/jesus-is-not-a-mithras-redux/
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