Mithras equals Christianity?

"Many facts discovered shed vital light on the cultural dynamics that led to the rise of Christianity,” notes a posting dated October 14, 2008 on ZNA (Zoroastrian News Agency) discussing the cult of the ancient, preZarathushtrian Persian god Mithra whom we now know as Meher. Citing the National Geographic Society’s book Great Religions of the World, it notes, "By Jesus’ time, East and West had mingled …for three centuries. Down columns of boulevards walked Roman soldiers loyal to …Mithras.” He was the most widely venerated god in the Roman Empire at the time. The brief article discusses the similarities between Mithraism and Christianity which led to considerable unease in the Christian church:

Statue of Mithra

Hundreds of years before Jesus, according to the Mithraic religion, three Wise Men of Persia came to visit the baby savior-god Mithra, bringing him gifts of gold, myrrh and frankincense.

Mithra was born on December 25 as told in the Great Religions of the World (page 330) "…it was the winter solstice celebrated by ancients as the birthday of Mithraism’s sun god.”

According to Mithraism, before Mithra died on a cross, he celebrated a "Last Supper with his twelve disciples, who represented the twelve signs of the zodiac.”

After the death of Mithra, his body was laid to rest in a rock tomb.

Mithra had a celibate priesthood.

Mithra ascended into heaven during the spring (Passover) equinox (the time when the sun crosses the equator making night and day of equal length).