Mystery religion

A mystery religion isreligion whose beliefs, practices,true nature,revealed onlythose who have been initiated into its secrets.

Common componentsthese mystery cults (Latin 'mystai') included sacred symbolsritesmagical efficacy, purifications, asceticism, baptismssacraments. The highest promise ofmystai washappy afterlife through salvation, which was conferred byperennialredemptive death of "dying-and-rising" godparticipation incult's mysteries. Initiation intomysteries ofdeity was divided into three stages through which an adherent hadascendobtain knowledge ofhigher mysteries ofparticular cult. The Hellenised world was filledsuch mystery cults. Athens alonehas been estimated thatlargest numbermystai at one pointtime reached six hundred. Indeed, those particularly moved by religil or religious zeal were at libertyengage themselves inmysteriesany numberdeities at any given time, as the mystai were incertain measure bound upsyncretism. Lucius Apuleius, writing insecond century C.E., soughtexpress his ultimate piety by revealing inletter that he was an initiate (mystes)"almost all ofGreek mysteries" availablehim, revealingopentolerant nature between such cults. Many scholars have put this kindreligious fluidity down tofact thatpagan mystaiantiquity were so highly syncretised thattaught muchsame theologies, regardlesstheir respective deities.

Examplesmystery religions no longer practiced:

• The Eleusinian mysteries
• Gnosticism
• Pythagoreanism
• The CultIsis
• Mithraism

Examplescurrent mystery religions:

• The Druze religion
• The ChurchJesus ChristLatter-day Saints (Mormons)
• Scientology
• Santeria