THEO 206 Study Guide - Syncretism, Greco-Roman Mysteries, Mithraism
Document Summary
Reconciliation or fusion of differing systems of beliefs. Christianity was syncretistic: it could not begin and grow without incorporating elements coming from the outside especially from the not particularly monolithic judaism and from hellenism. Syncretism refers to a universal cultural phenomenon, common to the formation of all religions in their very first stages and resulting naturally from sociohistorical placing, population movements, and/or explicit religious propaganda. Hellenistic syncretism was based on the belief that gods are known among different peoples by different names; consequently deities can be fused, and religious attributes and tenets merged. 3 great religious constellations fully deserve the strict epithet syncretist: mystery religions, gnosticism and manichaeism. Most greek cults and mystery religions were based on the agrarian cycle (related to agriculture and fertility) Mystery refers to a secret rite performed in a ceremony of initiation that allowed certain individuals to enter into a privileged relation with a god/goddess and receive certain benefits therefrom.
