mystery religion
Initiation-based ancient faith
A mystery religion is an ancient religious cult whose rituals and teachings were revealed only to initiates, who were sworn to secrecy.
The Greek Eleusinian and Dionysian mysteries and the Roman cult of Mithras are prominent examples.
These cults typically promised spiritual transformation or favorable treatment in the afterlife.
The term now sometimes describes any secretive spiritual practice: The group operated like a mystery religion, with knowledge parceled out in stages.
- initiationFormal admission ceremony
- secret ritesConcealed ceremonial practices
- inner circleExclusive group of confidants
- salvationDeliverance from harm
- life after deathContinued existence posthumously
Christianity · sacred meal · divine union · Orphism · purification · immortality · Rome · torches · wine · blood sacrifice · bread · sacred objects · esotericism · Near East · cave · hierophant · sacrifice · Gnosticism
mystery religionpublic worship
Collective religious ceremony
state religion · civic religion · established church · folk religion · national church
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