How extensively have the links between Atenism and Christianity been explored?

Answer 1

It was clearly a strong influence upon it.

There was also a sect of Zoroastrianism which was nearly identical in every way to Christianity.

Answer 2

Hmmmm! That's a subjective question. Quite well I would say.

A short interval of monotheism (Atenism) occurred under the reign of Akhenaten, focused on the Egyptian sun deity Aten. Akhenaten outlawed the worship of any other god and built a new capital (Amarna) around the temple for Aten. The religious change survived only until the death of Akhenaten's son by a minor wife Tutankhamun, being highly unpopular and quickly reverted afterwards. In fact, Akhenaten and Tutankhamun's removals from the Wall of Kings are likely related to the radical religious change.
According to some egyptologists, particularly among those with a Judao-Christian religious bias, it is incorrect to regard this period as monotheistic. These researchers state that people did not worship the Aten but worshipped the royal family as a pantheon of gods who received their divine power from the Aten. According to other egyptologists, it is important to regard this period as monotheistic. A recent alternative explanation resulting from interpreting particular items of knowledge concerning biblical and Egyptian history (by Ahmed Osman) proposes that Moses and Akhenaten to be the same person.

Answer 3

I'm not sure how much they can be explored, but it is only relatively recently that we have learned about the worship of Aten. After the death of Akenaten, the priests of Amun and other gods, who had been basically put out of a job and lost all their power while Akenaten was ruling, very quickly reverted the religious life back the way it was and expunged all reference to Atenism. Hence Tutankhaten became Tutankhamen.

The monotheistic religion of Judaism existed independently - who knows, maybe that is where Akenaten got his ideas from - and Christianity is a direct descendant of that.

Answer 4

Fairly thoroughly, oddly enough. There is a book called "Jesus, Last of the Pharoahs" that (allegedly) traces Jesus' lineage back to Akhenaten, and cites not inconsiderable evidence that "Jesus" was a Hyksos prince in exile. Christ then would have worshipped the same monotheistic deity as Moses, and "Moses" may in fact have been Akhenaten.

Answer 5

Strange question. I'll spend a few seconds pondering.

I've often wondered why the French like snails, until I found out they don't generally like fast food.

Answer 6

As Akenhaten was the first man to invent a single all powerful god it is possible the jews took this tradition with them when they left Egypt.

Answer 7

No idea - not sure what Atenism is even.

Answer 8

check out Moses and Monotheism written by Sigmund Freud. He touches on that subject. (similiar to totem and taboo) OF course, this is Freud so he goes off on tangents about the Catholics, and his mother, and so on.. but really... definitely interesting.

Answer 9

When watching a documentary on Akenaten, I thought the same. I wonder if there was......