Do you Believe there was a literal Zep-Tepi?

Okay, let me explain, Zep-Tepi is a Kemetic word that means first time. The Egyptians believed it was the time when human life first started to appear on earth, and that during this time humans lived in harmony with other living things, living in accordance with the laws and precepts of Ma'at (justice, order, truth). Then humans began to deviate from the ways of Ma'at. Do you believe there ever was such a time where humans lived in harmony? I do

I think there was a time when humans lived in greater harmony with nature, but no, I don't think there was ever a time when humans were necessarily peace-loving, either with each other or the animals they necessarily killed for food or self-defense.

I think it sounds like a great concept, but judging by what I've experienced as human nature, I don't think such a time ever existed.

I doubt it. I personally have a pet theory that the concept of a time when all things were great, perfect, and in harmony (a concept found in pretty much every mythology out there), comes from the "good ol' days" mentality: the same thing that causes us to have a love for nostalgic things.

I doubt it. Just like every other animal, humans have probably always tried to take what they can get for the greatest amount of comfort and length of survival. Our methods have just become more complex and effective with time.

Like all animals, I think humans always fought "nature" for our survival. I think the myths about a utopian "good ol' days" are probably a comforting fantasy about a time past when we didn't have to and, in some cases, a time in the future where we won't have to anymore.

I think it may have taken place for a while. Our knowledge of Ancient Egypt shows that meat was a luxury. That means not all of them were always killing animals for food. Things most likely went sour when a non-Egyptian God stepped in and started stealing followers.

Yosef1986 said:

Okay, let me explain, Zep-Tepi is a Kemetic word that means first time. The Egyptians believed it was the time when human life first started to appear on earth, and that during this time humans lived in harmony with other living things, living in accordance with the laws and precepts of Ma'at (justice, order, truth). Then humans began to deviate from the ways of Ma'at. Do you believe there ever was such a time where humans lived in harmony? I do

Click to expand...

Based on the evidence as provided by other ancient cultures, all probability factors taken into consideration, this strongly leans to the Yes, position. It also aligns very well with the garden of eden scenario.

I wouldn't put my belief in an absolute category though, it stops short at about the 90% belief mark, simply due to the fact that there is no empirical evidence, which categorically and unequivocally says Yes.

enchanted_one1975 said:

I think it may have taken place for a while. Our knowledge of Ancient Egypt shows that meat was a luxury. That means not all of them were always killing animals for food. Things most likely went sour when a non-Egyptian God stepped in and started stealing followers.

Click to expand...

Ancient cultures could still live in harmony with other species even though they killed other species for food. It is only modern day societies which take meat/fodder from other life forms for granted and hold them in contempt, be this fauna or flora.

The Australian aboriginal as one example, Respected and valued all other lifeforms, they felt bad that they had to take another life form, and praised (honoured) the spirit of the lifeform which they took, for giving up their life, so that they may survive. The modern day version of this is the prayer before the meal, thank you for the food we eat.

Ancient cultures didn't go on shark hunts or crocodile hunts to the rid the world of these species just because some of their own were taken, they fully understood, they were just as much a part of the cycle of life as any other species and must give up their life to keep that species alive. What goes around, comes around and keeps the cycle of life balanced. Modern mankind is just as likely to go on a witch hunt and kill every one the species for having the audacity to eat a human being, in a, we will teach you who is boss, mentality, or a get them before they get you mentality.

There is no peace in nature. The harmony you see is the result of competition, creatures have evolved new abilities and their prey/predators have evolved in response. The world of living things is in a constant battle to survive, it's just that the competition is so finely balenced that it appears like everything is happily living side-by-side. Remove one piece of the puzzle though, like a top predator, and suddenly the harmony is lost as one or two species rapidly take advantage of the new situation.