Hm. I can see the parallel you're drawing, though from my familiarity with early Christianity I'm not entirely certain I agree with it. On the other hand, I do think that the feuds of the Reformation are probably a good parallel.
As to historical Mystery cults -- generally there have been the mainline religious practices, like, say, the citywide practices of the Greeks. The mainstream religion contained both public festivals and private worship at things like personal shrines -- the design of a classical Greek house includes a central altar and firepit setup, for example. Then there were the mystery cults, where people who had particular devotions to particular deities would go and, for example, learn the secrets of Dionysios. Not all Mysteries were private to that level; I seem to recall from some of loreleyjacob's work that some Canaanite festivals included what were arguably mass initiations into certain mysteries, and that those Mysteries may have depended on the participation of large numbers of people.
And yes -- it's a job, where the job is addressing the needs of the gods (or a specific god) for the good of the community. It's not the only way to worship or serve the gods, nor is it the only religious path worth following. The potter is as much in service to Khnum as His priest may be; different forms, different jobs, both valuable. The priest remains a priest, and the potter remains a potter.
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Date: 2004-09-13 05:34 pm (UTC)As to historical Mystery cults -- generally there have been the mainline religious practices, like, say, the citywide practices of the Greeks. The mainstream religion contained both public festivals and private worship at things like personal shrines -- the design of a classical Greek house includes a central altar and firepit setup, for example. Then there were the mystery cults, where people who had particular devotions to particular deities would go and, for example, learn the secrets of Dionysios. Not all Mysteries were private to that level; I seem to recall from some of
And yes -- it's a job, where the job is addressing the needs of the gods (or a specific god) for the good of the community. It's not the only way to worship or serve the gods, nor is it the only religious path worth following. The potter is as much in service to Khnum as His priest may be; different forms, different jobs, both valuable. The priest remains a priest, and the potter remains a potter.