The innovative cult of the Egyptian solar god Aten was promoted by the pharaoh Akhenaten (Amenophis IV), who ruled between 1358 and 1340 BC. The Aten cult is often cited as the earliest known example of monotheism, and is sometimes claimed to have been a formative influence on early Judaism, due to the presence of Hebrew slaves in Egypt.
2006-10-11 05:34:25 · 16 answers · asked by ? 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I've read some about this. It's at least a plausible hypothesis.
Aloha
2006-10-11 05:37:22 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Per your beloved Wikipedia:
"There is not any unquestionable evidence to support this theory.
Conversely, more conservative Jews, Christians, and Muslims have suggested that Monotheism had already been introduced to Egypt some time earlier by the Hebrews, and that Aten was essentially a corrupted but well-meaning 'Egyptianized' version of the Hebrew's own God, "Yahweh."
There is not any unquestionable evidence to support this theory, either."
Peace.
2006-10-11 12:40:41 · answer #2 · answered by Suzanne: YPA 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree completely. If you look at some of the ancient mythologies of Egyptian, Sumerian, and Mesopotamian cultures, you will find many stories and myths that are very similar to the stories in the Bible, and yet pre-date the Bible by hundreds, if not thousands of years in some cases. I have read many accounts of Aten being promoted to the Mesopotamians as the one, true God, and then the tribes that eventually became the Tribes of Israel revised the stories for their own people.
On another note, if it were not for the Roman Empire, with it's systems of roads, record keeping, and commerce, it could be argued that Judaism and Christianity would not be the world wide religions that they are now.
2006-10-11 12:40:38 · answer #3 · answered by wizard8100@sbcglobal.net 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good correlation. However, the Aten cult died out within a generation when Akhenaton was deposed. Aten didn't come to his rescue.
The God of Abraham DID come to the rescue of the Jews; so much so that Pharoah told them to leave. Did Aten part the Red Sea?
2006-10-11 12:42:18 · answer #4 · answered by roberticvs 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We have two answers to your question. First the practical answer, given mankind's tendency to spit out prophets every so many years, someone one would have filled that void even if not Jesus. The other answer is that unless Aten is what made the Egyptians so mean to the Jewish people then of course we would still have Christianity because when God came down to Moses and said free the jews, he woudl have said, "By the way MOses, there is just one of me (kind of if you don't get confused about the trinity) and we would then have had Jesus 2000 yeasr laters.
2006-10-11 12:41:59 · answer #5 · answered by Twoflowers 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Your questions have improved . Aten was the Egyptian sun diety. Icanaten was the Pharoah who tried to bring modern religion to the Egyptian people. Try page1047 Urantia book I kid you not.
2006-10-11 13:05:48 · answer #6 · answered by samssculptures 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Christianity is an amalgamation of many religions, not the least of which is Egyptian. Isis and Osiris contributed to Xianity. Also the Persian gods Mithra, the Greek Diana and so forth. Obviously Xianity grew out of judaism so the roots of judaism gave rise to many of the beliefs in modern Xianity.
2006-10-11 12:39:53 · answer #7 · answered by nonjoo 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
??
Christianity as we know it today is entirely Paul's creation. He took Jesus' teachings (which were Reformed Jewish) and twisted them into something else entirely. Ancient Egyptian beliefs had no bearing on Paul's writings as he was much more influenced by Greek and Roman cultures which were at their heyday during that time.
2006-10-11 12:46:35 · answer #8 · answered by Cinnamon 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Considering there's no evidence of the egyptian enslavement of the hebrew people, save one SINGLE obelisk which mentioned the 'abrew' people who were herders?
I'd say that your theory that they were influenced is correct (it seems they WERE in the region), but that they didn't have to be enslaved to be exposed.
2006-10-11 12:40:37 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Christianity as we know it was heavily influenced by Egyptian solar mythology, as you noted. Horus is one of the primary prototypes for Jesus. Even the concept of the Christ originates in Egyptology.
2006-10-11 12:37:50 · answer #10 · answered by lenny 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I actually read somewhere that the Jews were probably originally polytheistic but monolatrous. That is to say, they believed that more than one god existed, but they only worshipped the one of their tribe.
2006-10-11 12:37:57 · answer #11 · answered by tangerine 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋