Christianity had tough competition in the 1st century Roman Empire

Within the 1st century AD Roman Empire, the Roman gods were competing with Jesus Christ, the Egyptian goddess Isis and the eastern sun god Mithras. The Archaeological Institute of America discusses the competitive nature of emergent religions in the world after the death of Jesus, and how Christianity was rivaled for awhile by the spread of Mithraic beliefs, which especially drew in Roman soldiers.

History tells us there were many similarities between the cult of Mithras and the young Christian church, including a communal meal and a resurrection tradition for Mithras' followers. In the race of time, though, the church of Jesus Christ outlasted the cult of Mithras, which had faded by the 5th century.


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