What is always at the core of a pagan religion?

Les explains that when you examine pagan religions, mysteries are always at the core. The mysteries are the hidden realities that only the inner sanctum comprehends; the people out on the fringe do not even know what the mysteries are, but those at the center do. In the immediate context, Paul is dealing with tongues in Corinth, where multiple languages—Greek, Latin, Spanish, Hebrew, and Aramaic—were constantly used, alongside the city’s commerce, two seaports, and large pagan temple. Paul says no one speaks in an unknown tongue to men but to God, since no man understands him, and in the spirit he speaks mysteries. Les ties that speaking of mysteries to the pagan pattern, where the core is always mysteries kept by the inner circle.