We have already been through this a few times.
References to Mithra date back to past 1000BC - it wasn't until Roman times that cults adopted many of the rituals you speak of.
What does that mean?
In my humble opinion:
It means that competing religious sects/cults during Roman times could have had similar rituals. The Christian faith is based on the teachings, works, miracles of Jesus of Nazareth and his passion, death (crucifixion) and resurrection.
Most historians agree that Christians followed a man named Jesus who was crucified.
Christians were teaching that Jesus was the cornerSTONE of their faith and would become the capSTONE of their teachings.
Jesus named Simon, "Peter" - meaning "rock" - The name "Simon" means to "hear/listen" - Simon Peter would go from "listening/hearing" to "becoming a rock" - the irony is that their is a chance that Jesus may have meant it as a reference to Simon Peter's personality - (Initially headstrong (like a rock) - always hearing and listening but not always understanding - so he was called SIMON-PETER during these times. (This is strictly my humble opinion).
After Jesus's passion (including the parable of the rooster) and Jesus' resurrection SIMON-PETER would be regarded simply as PETER by billions and billions of people. His headstrong personality that was once a hindrance flourished into immovable resolve in the teachings and works of Jesus - manifesting itself not only through the flesh but as a profound spiritual faith in God. This is what Catholics strive for - overcoming things that could be considered hindrances in daily life and turning them into things that help "fulfill" both their physical and spiritual lives.
"I have not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it".
If Roman Mithraism was teaching that Mithra was born from a rock - it's not a "conspiracy" - it's simply stating what Jesus had taught but Jesus taught it in a more spiritual/philosophical way.
If Mithraism celebrated a "supper" it could have been in reference to the harvest produced by "the killing of the bull" and if they drank wine - it could have represented the "blood of the bull" which leads to the harvest. According to Mithraism, Mithra himself is the one sacrificing the bull - any sort of symbolism would have likely been related to that - not Mithra's body or blood, in my opinion.
In a broader sense - these teachings can also relate to the evolution of mankind from the stone age - to the iron age and eventually to the age of enlightenment.
Remember what was written: "Many of the first will be last and many of the last will be first".
People's understanding was initially equivalent to "The Stone Age" - head strong, focused on survival - not "hearing or listening" more than they need to to survive. - PETER
During the Iron Age people still needed to be head strong for survival but civilizations emerged and people began to listen and hear. (SIMON-PETER)
Forward all the way past the age of enlightenment to the present day age of information - most people view being "head strong" as being arrogant, ignorant, etc It is more appropriate to "hear and listen" - they understand some things well. Other things not as well. SIMON
What does this mean?
According to my understanding of Mithraism, Mithra was born from a rock - the bull was sacrificed - a new age was born and evolved.
What happens now?
Christianity believes that Jesus' life, ministry and resurrection represents how life can be lived without needing to "sacrifice" a bull when PETER becomes SIMON and the world begins to become something people may no longer understand.
Jesus taught the world how to balance PETER-SIMON and SIMON-PETER without ever needing to live solely in a "Stone Age" or solely in an "Information Age".
"Give unto Caesar's what is Caesar's and unto God what is God's"
In modern days it could mean to abide by the rules of law, "hear and listen" to the world around you. If it means to put aside being head strong in dogmatic beliefs that will only create further discord, confusion and disdain to yourself and the world around you - then so be it.
But be headstrong and steadfast in your unwavering belief and understanding in the foundational principles of the true teachings of Jesus - within yourself. Let that understanding humbly manifest itself as Simon-Peter in the world around you. Simon in the sense that you are always "hearing and listening" and Peter in the sense that you hold true to yourself.
In my humble opinion - when Jesus spoke about the path to salvation as only being through him - this is what it means to me. The understanding that the physical world will go through eras, ages, cycles and so forth. Although Caesar governs it - It is all a part of God's creation and needs to be respected, listened to and understood. And even if you disagree with 100% of it - by doing this - you will feed and balance the steadfast Spirit within yourself.
If you want to believe Christianity is based on this or that - an outdated and debunked conspiracy theory - that is up to you.
What you cannot dispute is that the teachings and wisdom within it - when fully understood - allows for someone like yourself to personally judge it, persecute it, and attempt to condemn it.
But like Simon, we will "hear and listen" . Like Simon-Peter - "we may understand some of it and may not understand other parts of it " but like Peter, are steadfast in "Giving unto Caesar what is Caesar's and unto God what is God's" - knowing we can never be condemned. For Jesus Christ was persecuted, judged and condemned to death - yet God raised him from the dead.
Whether one believes in the physical resurrection or not - what is indisputable is that the Apostles and early Christians believed in the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth to the point of being persecuted, judged and condemned - for the better part of 300 years - until the world condemned those who condemned them. And with that, the Word became justified among mankind.
As are with all things in this world - people used Christianity for their own benefit - and on a basic level, it is for the benefit of people - but the moment a person intentionally uses it solely for their own benefit - knowing it could intentionally harm others - is the exact moment it becomes something it was never meant to be. Intent is the key word here.
