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Tag Archives: Initiation
The Orphic Gold Tablets: A “Ritual for the Dead”
In my last post on the Orphic Gold Tablets (“Arriving in the Afterlife and the Importance of Memory for Salvation”), I discussed the tablets’ instructions for the soul as it arrives in the Netherworld, and how the soul there encounters a scene very reminiscent of Lehi’s vision of the Tree of Life and its surroundings. [...]
Posted in Doctrinal Issues, LDS Interest, Temple Also tagged Afterlife, Bacchus, Dionysus, Greek Mythology, Hades, Initiatory, Initiatory rite, mystery cult, Netherworld, Orphic Gold Tablets, Orphic Mystery Religion, Persephone, rite, ritual, ritual for the dead, Underworld Comments closed
The Orphic Gold Tablets: Arriving in the Afterlife and the Importance of Memory for Salvation
The writing of this post has been delayed a bit, but I’m excited to share more specific details about the Orphic Gold Tablets. Chapter One of Instructions for the Netherworld: The Orphic Gold Tablets, by Bernabé and San Cristóbal is entitled “Arrival in the Subterranean World.” In this chapter, the authors concentrate on four of [...]
Posted in Favorite Posts, Scripture, Temple Also tagged Afterlife, alzheimer's, dementia, Greek Mythology, Jesus Christ, Lethe, Memory, memory impairment, Mnemosyne, mystery cult, Orphic Gold Tablets, Orphic Mystery Religion, Tree of Life, Underworld Comments closed
A Short Note on Mystery Religions, Christianity and the Telestial World
In recent studies for school, I have had to look into the subject of the “mystery” cults that existed in many parts of the ancient world in the early Christian era. I just wanted to post a brief description of what these mystery religions entailed, as I found them very interesting and think some of [...]
Posted in Early Christianity, Heavenly Ascents, Temple Also tagged Deification, eleusinian mysteries, mystery religions, orphic, Orphic gold plates, Telestai, Telesterion, Telestial World Comments closed
Even More on the Temple
More Notes from the SANE Conference on Temples and Ritual in Antiquity Dr. Brian Hauglid (one of my favorite BYU professors): Ancient Temple Architecture: Beliefs and Practices in Light of the Restored Temple Idea All our temple features existed in the Ancient world. Almost every civilization has had some portion of truth. The temple is [...]
Posted in Scholarly Conferences, Temple Also tagged Brian Hauglid, Israelite Kingship, Matthew Brown, SANE Conference, Temple Comments closed
Baptism or Temple Initiation? Part II
The Ancient Temple Initiation of the High Priesthood As I stated in my last post, Margaret Barker shows some interesting similarities between Christian baptism and the initiatory rites of the ancient royal high priesthood which generally took place at the temple. While she makes some good points, I think some caution is required. Barker herself states that [...]
Posted in Early Christianity, Temple Also tagged Anointing, Baptism, Deification, Early Christian, Early Christianity, Initiatory, Jesus Christ, Resurrection, Theosis, Tree of Life Comments closed













The Orphic Gold Tablets: “The Longed-For Crown”