Modern Mithraism Lib : Universal Chrestic Mithraism

Universal Chrestic Mithraism

4019.02

UNIVERSAL CHRESTIC MITHRAISM

Universal Chrestic Mithraism is a new religious movement, but one tracing its heritage to the religious culture of ancient Iran, especially the tradition known as Zoroastrianism.

Our movement is Mithraic because its focus is on the god Mithra, who is the divine form of the human struggle to produce the Good Existence.

It is Chrestic because it emphasizes Mithra's role as Chrestus - the Good One, the Useful One - the One working for the benefit of the whole community, rather than selfish advancement.

It is Universal because it aims to be relevant to the whole of life, and be concerned with the whole of the world.

THE GOOD ('Agathon' in Greek)

Chrestic Mithraism is a religion that focuses on the Good. Our aim is to 'Produce Good' in the world.

We rely on two main traditions to help us to do this - the Zoroastrian tradition and the Platonic tradition - while also seeking to develop new thinking and practices in the current era.

THE SENIOR TRINITY

The Senior Trinity is our starting point in mapping reality.

The Senior Trinity is made up of three religious beings which are ZURVAN, MAZDA and CHRESTUS:

ZURVAN is the Ground of Being. Zurvan is the ultimate foundation and source of all existence. Zurvan is the time and space within which is all that exists, and without which nothing could exist. Zurvan is the ultimate source of matter, spirit and energy, and Zurvan upholds the laws that control their manifestation.

MAZDA is Wisdom. It is the active creative power in the world that derives from the activity of Mind.

CHRESTUS is the Good Lord. Philosophically it represents CHRESTON - the Good Power. Religiously it represents Mithra.

Mithra is the human-shaped Champion of the Good. Mithra is a fully divine being, not a demigod who derives in part from a particular human being. Yet Mithra has a human form - the form of a perfect human striving single-mindedly for the Good.

As individuals we can encounter may different kinds of situations, and the best action to take will depend on our capabilities to act and the nature of the situation we face.

Accordingly Mithra has many forms, many personalities, and many ways of acting. Yet Mithra will always come with the most helpful personality and perform the best actions for the situation at hand.

THE GOOD ORDER

ARTA is the concept of Good Order. Where there is Arta then the shape of the world is such as to produce the Good Life. Where there is Arta, then different things connect well together, and create the spark of life. Where there is Arta then the minds of the living beings relate with truth to the world they inhabit. Where there is Arta then the actions of the living beings are righteous and produce a good effect.

ARTISTA means 'the best Arta'. Artista is the perfect order of things where there is the maximum flourishing of life, the maximum happiness, and the minimum of suffering.

THE MITHRAIC SCRIPTURES

The SCRIPTURA MITHRAICA is the Mithraic Bible. It consists of the writings which are considered the most important to give mental nourishment to followers of the religion.

The Avesta - the traditional scripture of the Zoroastrians - forms the foundation of the Mithraica.

To the Avesta are added many other writings. At present there is no definitive list as to what writings should be included in the Mithraica.

One vision of the Mithraica sees it as composed of four parts - the Avesta, the Hellenica (Greek scriptures), the Parsica (Persian scriptures) and the Anglica (modern writings in English).

THE DIVINE OGDOAD

This is a still experimental expansion of the Godly Trinity into eight beings. These are:
1. Zurvan (lord of time and space)
2. Vaius (instigator of motion and change),
3. Gaeta (the living world),
4. Mazda (the wise creative power)
5. Tir (lord of the structure of the living world)
6. Virtas (characteristically masculine powers),
7. Anhita (characteristically female powers),
8. Mithra (champion of the Good).

EXPERIMENTAL MITHRAIC FESTIVALS

Festivals that are currently suggested are:

ANHITAKANA - Festival of new life - March 21st (Spring Equinox) (the Mithraic Easter)

ZARTUS NATUS - (Birth of Zartus (Zarathustra)) - Celebration of best mental ability - March 26th

MITHRAKANA - ('Festival of Mithra') - Celebration of religious life and religious community - Autumn Equinox

YALDA - Re-birth of the Sun and the power of Mithra.

THREE PATHS

The 'Three development paths' of Chrestic Mithraism are::

1. The Chrestiformic Path - the formation of a person into someone who desires to seek the Good and is orientated correctly to make the best attempt at successfully producing the Good.

2. Romic Path - ('Path of Strengthening') These are activities that build up the productive ability of a person for instance by strengthening capabilities, healing injuries and creating internal coherence. Romic activities will involve the different aspects of a person including the psychic (emotional) , cognitive (intellectual) and physical.

3. Gnostic Path ('path of knowledge')
The Gnostic Path can be considered a special case of the Romic path, and involves activities that help develop the Mind of a person. The aim is to become fully able to discern the real truth of a situation and act for the Good, unswayed by false illusion.

Marcus Zartianus
February 2019 CE/4019 ME.