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WHAT IS IRANIAN MITHRAISM?
by VM

There are some differences (between Iranian and Roman Mithraism). (There is a problem in) trying to interpret the proto-iranian Mithraism via Zoroastrianism and Christianism. The fact is: Zoroastrianism is a reformation of this proto-iranian Mithraism and that Christianism (especially Catholicism) was influenced by Roman Mithraism which itself was derived from Iranian Mithraism.

The Iranian Mithraism had its peak during the Arsacid Empire and also during the Parthian-Sasanian-Confederation up until the end of the last Iranian Empire.

How can we describe the core of this Iranian Mithraism? Following:
1) Covenant / Cooperation as highest goal since it is human cooperation which leads to progression and overcoming sufferings.
2) Bond / Solidarity which is the essence of covenants
3) Trust and empathy (in other words: love) to reach this bond

For this purpose orders were formed which included hierarchies and a "Weltanschauung" (let's say a philosophy of life). This philosophy is very near to far east philosophies since Mithraism has the same roots like other indo-arian religions and philosophies such as Buddhism and Vedas. And what does this Weltanschauung encompass?

1) Truth (which has the same meaning as sincerity, justice and rightness in iranian languages) as highest power (Artâ)
2) Mithra (covenant as immaterial bond of everything) as guardian / judge of this truth; in a deeper sense Mithra is the all of the metaphysics and underlies everything.
3) Borz (Varuna) as the material manifestation of truth [Apam Napat as 'The High One']
4) Chaos and Harmony as the necessary aspects of truth (for ex. in contrary to the abrahamitic version which says that evil is not part of essence/existence)
5) Perfection / Wholeness as a goal on this road / circle.

There are two peculiarities of Mithraism which play a huge role in the Weltanschauung:

1) Dualism, which means there are always two sides which have to be respected and considered (not the abrahamitic and zoroastrian dualism of good and evil but rather the yin-yang-dualism)
2) Circle of Justice (of Truth) which is the pendant of the Karma which asks for a correction of deviation from the path of Truth.

These underlying principles also lived after islamisation of Iran. They spread via the Roman Mithraism to Europe and lived further in other smaller communities such as in specific Sufi-Orders but also in the religious communities like Yezidis, Alevis, Yarsanis, Ismailis etc.

From the imperative and normative character of this philosophy the codex of Javanmardi was derived as also chivalry and virtues. Important to know is: The rules and laws of the order can never be spread to unwilling people but only to the people who voluntarily enter the order and accept the rules by choice. So Mithraism in all its forms (Iranian Mithraism, Roman Mithraism, Sufi-Orders) never were proselytising.

(NB Mithraism is best described as a henotheistic or monolatric religion. Monolatry is belief in the existence of many gods but with the consistent worship of only one deity.)
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VM)
There are some differences. The problem in this group is that people, especially the admin is trying to interpret the proto-iranian Mithraism via Zoroastrianism and Christianism. The fact is: Zoroastrianism is a reformation of this proto-iranian Mithraism and that Christianism (especially Catholicism) was influenced by Roman Mithraism which itself was derived from Iranian Mithraism.
The Iranian Mithraism had its peak during the Arsacid Empire and also during the Parthian-Sasanian-Confederation up until the end of the last Iranian Empire.

How can we describe the core of this Iranian Mithraism? Following:
1) Covenant / Cooperation as highest goal since it is human cooperation which leads to progression and overcoming sufferings.
2) Bond / Solidarity which is the essence of covenants
3) Trust and empathy (in other words: love) to reach this bond

For this purpose orders were formed which included hierarchies and a "Weltanschauung" (let's say a philosophy of life). This philosophy is very near to far east philosophies since Mithraism has the same roots like other indo-arian religions and philosophies such as Buddhism and Vedas. And what does this Weltanschauung encompass?

1) Truth (which has the same meaning as sincerity, justice and rightness in iranian languages) as highest power (Artâ)
2) Mithra (covenant as immaterial bond of everything) as guardian / judge of this truth; in a deeper sense Mithra is the all of the metaphysics and underlies everything.
3) Borz (Varuna) as the material manifestation of truth [Apam Napat as 'The High One']
4) Chaos and Harmony as the necessary aspects of truth (for ex. in contrary to the abrahamitic version which says that evil is not part of essence/existence)
5) Perfection / Wholeness as a goal on this road / circle.

There are two peculiarities of Mithraism which play a huge role in the Weltanschauung:

1) Dualism, which means there are always two sides which have to be respected and considered (not the abrahamitic and zoroastrian dualism of good and evil but rather the yin-yang-dualism)
2) Circle of Justice (of Truth) which is the pendant of the Karma which asks for a correction of deviation from the path of Truth.

These underlying principles also lived after islamisation of Iran. They spread via the Roman Mithraism to Europe and lived further in other smaller communities such as in specific Sufi-Orders but also in the religious communities like Yezidis, Alevis, Yarsanis, Ismailis etc.
From the imperative and normative character of this philosophy the codex of Javanmardi was derived as also chivalry and virtues. Important to know is: The rules and laws of the order can never be spread to unwilling people but only to the people who voluntarily enter the order and accept the rules by choice. So Mithraism in all its forms (Iranian Mithraism, Roman Mithraism, Sufi-Orders) never were proselytising.
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Q) Iranian Mithraism was monotheistic or polytheistic ?.

VM) Henotheistic or monolatric.

Monolatry (Greek: μόνος [monos] = single, and λατρεία [latreia] = worship) is belief in the existence of many gods but with the consistent worship of only one deity.