[Buddha-l] Pure Land

[Bob Zeuschner]

In one of my medieval philosophy seminars several decades ago, Ernest 
Moody, the professor, explained that Emperor Constantine (a follower of 
Mithrism) asked the Christian Bishops when Jesus was born, and they 
replied "don't know."
So Constantine said that if they made Jesus' birthday December 25th, he 
could worship Jesus and Mithra on the same day.
I also learned that it was the same Emperor Constantine who moved the 
sabbath day from Saturday (7th day) to SunDay (Mithra was also Sol 
Invictus, the sun god, so Sunday was Mithra's day).
I do believe that I heard the same story on one of the cable TV channel 
specials on early Christianity.
I would be happy to know if these stories were true.
Bob
Dept. of Philosophy

Steven Rhodes wrote:
> Dear Richard,
> 
> I have no doubt that Dec. 25 was Mithras' birthday or that it was the 
> winter solstice on the old Roman calendar.  What I'm particularly 
> interested in is the theory that the Christians intentionally chose this 
> date for "Christmas" so as to keep their adherents occupied on that day 
> (and therefore not in a Mithraeum).  I doubt that the Catholic 
> Encyclopedia would be very forthcoming on this matter.
> 
> Steve