In other words how serious do you think they took their religion? Would you say they were casual worshipers? Or were they passionate? I would really love to hear some Christian perspective on this...and obviously you would have to know a bit about history to know the answer to this.
2007-07-04 12:33:54 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I wasn't trying to link Horus to Jesus with this question.
2007-07-04 13:47:07 · update #1
much more passionate than believers of today. they had to be. if they didn't truly believe in their gods, they risked everything - their crops, lack of rain, no sun rising in the morning, their very lives
2007-07-04 12:37:06 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
They were passionate to extremes. Religion was the backbone of Egyptian society, inseparable from state, and most importantly Kingship. It is from these fervent religious beliefs that Moses and the eventual monotheistic religion of Judaism sprung ! The crux of Egyptian/eventual Judaism/eventual Christianity appears to be the remarkable reign of the Pharaoh Akhenaten who in introducing an Egyptian form of monotheism, sparked much of today's religious framework of Judeo/Christian thinking. Sorry, not a Christian, but I love the subject.
2007-07-04 19:48:30 · answer #2 · answered by ED SNOW 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, seeing as that land is not much more than a desert with huge tombstones sitting on it; I conclude that they became a culture of death. Which doesn't make sense as they lived on and by a river and its cycles of life. Why didn't they become a culture of life? And, of course, the answer lies in: they were people of the 'liar(s)'.
They tried with all their will, resources and magic to unlock the mysteries of death and resurrection; and couldn't do it.
Now, if I am the pharoah (in the big house) or a member of his staff; then, I really like my life. But, if I am one of the hundreds of thousands of slaves; working in the hot, hot sun to build this big tomb for the s.o. b. I will have a much more negative view of him and his beliefs. LOL
And, as posted, once the Almighty God got done with His campaign to totally humiliate them; there wasn't much left. He wanted to punish them, in part, for enslaving the Hebrews. But, He also wanted to punish them for their arrogance and making their gods patterned after critters and men. There's also an interesting text about God looking with disdain upon them and their promiscuous sex practices.
At any rate, good question. I think I could get really passionate about lots of guiltless sex, good food and drink and work the slaves to death; as I acquire gold, jewels and riches. LMAO
Maranantha
2007-07-04 20:26:01 · answer #3 · answered by Bill S 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They had alot of faith during many periods. There was a king who tried to turn the national religion monotheistic. After his death they destroyed all his temples and mentions of him.
Once a neighboring power brought animals sacred to the Egyptians to the battlefield and freed them in front of their lines. Many Egyptians were slaughtered because they refused to engage in combat near the animals for fear of hurting them and angering the gods.
Plus that whole mummification and giant burial thing took ton of time and effort. I doubt they would spend all that energy for fun.
2007-07-04 19:44:17 · answer #4 · answered by Blearg 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
according to christian belief faith is a substance and its somthing that everyone has born into them ... how a person uses it is the big question .. some deny the reality of it ... some use it for other purposes or selfish reasons such as in the occult .. and some such as the egyptians im sure took their beliefs every bit as seriously as a christian does ...
2007-07-04 19:40:22 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would say that the Ancient Egyptians had alot of faith in their God's, the only thing was there were and are no other God's except for my God.
That is Probably why when the ancient Egyptians prayed to their Gods to keep them from harm from my God, they were not answered.
The plaques still plagued them, and their first born was still killed,and all the sorcery that they could muster up still couldn't protect them from my God.
And the Pharaoh still let the slaves go.
2007-07-04 19:46:12 · answer #6 · answered by michael t 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
i imagine it was little different from today - some were serious, some were not so serious.
the body of Hatshepsut was recently discovered:
"I have done this from a loving heart for my Father Amun;
I have entered into his scheme for this first jubilee;
I was wise by his excellent Spirit, and I forgot nothing of that which he exacted.
My Majesty knoweth that he is Divine.
I did it under his command; it was he who led me.
I conceived no works without his doing; it was he who gave me directions.
I slept not because of his temple; I erred not from that which he commanded.
My heart was wise before my Father; I entered into the affairs of his heart.
I turned not my back on the City of the All-Lord, but turned to it the face.
I know that Karnak is God's dwelling upon earth; the August Ascent of the Beginning;
The Scared Eye of the All-Lord; the place of his heart;
Which wears his beauty, and encompasses those who follow him."
Prayer of Pharaoh Maatkare Hatshepsut on her Jubilee
Maatkare, this Pharaoh's official title, can be translated 'the truth is the soul of the sun'. it sounds serious, but then there is also evidence that religious imagery was used in propaganda such as this:
"In this myth, Amun goes to Ahmose in the form of Thutmose I and awakens her with pleasant odors. At this point Amun places the ankh, a symbol of life, to Ahmose's nose, and Hatshepsut is conceived. Khnum, the god who forms the bodies of human children, is then instructed to create a body and ka, or corporal presence/life force, for Hatshepsut. Khnum and Heket, goddess of life and fertility, lead Ahmose along to a lion bed where she gives birth to Hatshepsut.
The Oracle of Amun proclaimed that it was the will of Amun that Hatshepsut be Pharaoh, further strengthening her position. She publicized Amun's support by having endorsements by Amun carved on her monuments:
“ Welcome my sweet daughter, my favorite, the King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Maatkare, Hatshepsut. Thou art the Pharaoh, taking possession of the Two Lands."
2007-07-04 19:58:31 · answer #7 · answered by vorenhutz 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Are you about to bring up the supposed relationship between Horus and Jesus? Because if you are, that's been beaten to death.
I can't offer any opinion as to the Egyptian devotion to their gods.
2007-07-04 19:39:26 · answer #8 · answered by Graham 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
well egyptians really had too much faith on their gods they worshiped their gods every single day they're not like any other christians they really trust their gods they got too many gods u know i dont know which 1 they loved the most
2007-07-04 19:40:13 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Egyptians were a theocracy. The believed that their rulers had divine right to rule and they actually WERE divine. They spent their entire life getting ready for death. They were mummified to mimic Osiris. They took it really seriously. Why do you think they got so pissy with Moses?
2007-07-04 19:37:49 · answer #10 · answered by ~Heathen Princess~ 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋