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I have heard somewhere that the Ancient Egyptian religion was animistic in nature---i.e. that they believed that nature was filled with spirits. Does this appear to be true?
One thing I do find striking about Ancient Egyptian religion is that its gods don't seem nearly as preoccupied with human conduct as the gods of other religions, nor do they seem to punish people for bad behavior with natural disasters.
Posts: 7093 | From: Fallbrook, CA | Registered: Mar 2004
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shu, tefnut,hapi,sekhmet,anubis,hathor,osiris,horus, djehuti and most other Egyptian dieties had zoomorphic (animal) forms. And they all were called Neters, which is close to the word "Nature" and they represented aspects of nature: sky,moon, sun, earth, air, fire, plants and so on.
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quote:Originally posted by Tyrannosaurus: I have heard somewhere that the Ancient Egyptian religion was animistic in nature---i.e. that they believed that nature was filled with spirits. Does this appear to be true?
Animism is the belief that spirits reside everywhere in the natural environment and inhabit many things, especially living things but sometimes even inanimate objects. Animism is likely the oldest religious belief in the world and is itself the root of all religions. That said, many if not all religions have some form of animism or characteristics thereof inherent in it.
The issue however, is how the term is used and applied, and particularly to describe the religions of certain peoples. Unfortunately the problem is that due to the old problem of Eurocentric bias, many Western scholars and their work continue the habit of applying the term 'animism' only on the religions of people who they consider "primitive". I see it alot, especially in demographic descriptions of populations of nations. Native peoples whose religions are not well known or unheard of by the general public are suddenly swept under the classification of "animist beliefs", and this couldn't be more true with 'Sub-Saharan' Africans! Thus Africa's religious peoples are divided into Christians, Muslims, Jews, and "Animists". The same is true with Native Americans, and those in Asia.
Of course, the fallacy becomes obvious to anyone familiar with religions and the term 'animist'. Again, all religions have some form of animist beliefs even the 3 great Abrahamic faiths. Eurocentrics think the religions of native peoples whom they label as 'animist' are religions that consist of "primitive" or "simple" beliefs, when many of those belief systems are in actuality more complex and elaborate than those of native Europe! Also, how is the religion of ancient Greece not 'animist', when practically every natural feature, whether living or not, is personified as a deity or spirit-- everything from trees, to rivers, to mountains, and even islands?!
quote:One thing I do find striking about Ancient Egyptian religion is that its gods don't seem nearly as preoccupied with human conduct as the gods of other religions, nor do they seem to punish people for bad behavior with natural disasters.
This is not really true. The Egyptian gods did take count of human conduct and the deeds of every person was judged before he or she could enter the afterlife. Those whose lives were sinful would have their spirits destroyed upon judgement-- the Egyptians were not worried about hell, but about having their spirits annihilated completely. There is also a myth where Ra was angered because humankind was too sinful and so sent the goddess Sekhmet to slaughter them all!
One thing interesting about the Egyptian gods when compared to say the Greek gods, is that although gods like Ausar (Osiris), Aset (Isis) and their family acted very much human, they had a side that wasn't human especially older or powerful deities like Ra, Shu, or Amen. Greek gods on the other hand were just too human in behavior to the point that every action they took was a result of passion and Greek mythology was like one big messy soap-opera.
quote:Originally posted by Doug M: That should be obvious:
shu, tefnut,hapi,sekhmet,anubis,hathor,osiris,horus, djehuti and most other Egyptian dieties had zoomorphic (animal) forms. And they all were called Neters, which is close to the word "Nature" and they represented aspects of nature: sky,moon, sun, earth, air, fire, plants and so on.
^ The issue of 'animism' is adressed above. Also the Kemetian neter has no relation to the word 'nature'. The latter is derived from the Latin word natura meaning innate or born character, while the former is the Kemetian word for divinity or spirit. The Neter encompass different forms or levels from the mighty gods who embodied things like the sun and moon, to human incarnations like the Pharaohs, to other humans and animals to plants, etc.
Again, while some Neter were concieved of as having human qualities or a human nature, others did not and were very much living powers or forces that had little if any human qualities.
Posts: 26307 | From: Atlanta, Georgia, USA | Registered: Feb 2005
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A Neter is some aspect god's power manifest in "nature", where a Neter is the epitome some aspect of nature itself, which consists of earth, air, fire and water and the animating principle of god's seed or will which brings it all to life through heka or the life force. Neter is a symbol of nature par excellance and exceeds any Western concept of Nature as an external entity outside of man. Neter embodies the force of life that flows throughout ALL things manifest on earth and in the universe as reflection of the power of the will of the creator, hence the Neter or manifest principles of NATURE are the children of the creator god of choice: ptah, amun or ra. All follow the same basic principle, reflecting the divine will power of god in the word, the seed and the sun (emanations of power). So yes, Neter is a more potent concept of what we call "nature" today. The Egyptians believed that the "neters" or forces of nature revealed god's true power in the realm of the living and this is where gnosticism and other "mystical" religions trace many of their beliefs to, concerning knowing god through his creations in nature, including the Greeks.
Therefore the Neter is the innate principle of life itself as manifest IN the natural elements around us everyday, including man himself who IS a child of the Neters (earth, wind, fire and water), meaning a child of nature.
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More Egyptian religion, showing how it was animistic and the basis of other religious thought:
Instructions of Kagemni 4th dynasty:
quote: If you sit with a company of people, desire not the food, even if you want it; it takes only a brief moment to restrain the heart, and it is disgraceful to be greedy. A handful of water quenches the thirst, and a mouthful of melon supports the heart. A good thing takes the place of what is good, and just a little takes the place of much. .......... If you sit with a glutton, eat when he is finished; if you sit with a drunkard accept a drink, and his heart will be satisfied. Rage not against the meat in the presence of a glutton; take what he gives you and refuse it not, thinking it will be a courteous thing. When you sit with company, shun the food you like. Restraint of heart is (only) a brief moment! Gluttony is base and one points the finger at it. A cup of water quenches thirst, a moutful of herbs strengthens the heart. A single good thing stands for goodness as a whole, a little something stands for much. Vile is he whose belly is voracious; time passes and he forgets in whose house the belly strides. When you sit with a glutton, eat when his appetite has passed. When you drink with a drunkard, partake when his heart is happy. Do not grab (your) meat by the side of a glutton, (but) take when he gives you, do not refuse it, then it will soothe. If a man be lacking in good fellowship, no speech has any influence upon him. He is sour of face to the glad-hearted who are kindly to him. He is a grief to his mother and his friends. All men say: "Let your name be known! You are silent in your mouth when you are addressed!"
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