Ask Kemetics/Egyptian faithed persons any question

Jacksnyte said:

What exactly are you attempting to accomplish here, Caladan?

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What do you mean Jacksnyte?

The Judaism, Christianity, and Islam DIRs. are posed with questions and dilemmas about their faith on regular basis.
Now that a Kemetic user has started a thread with the clear purpose of answering, and I quote: ANY QUESTION. I don't know about the other members of the Abrahamic family. but I am going to take this opportunity to inquire about the relevant questions, I am going to question the very issues which have caused us so many problems. both to men of religion and to men of profession.
the historical questions. the archaeological questions. the questions of Egyptian law and regulations and how do they fit in modern American Egyptian daily life. for example, how proficient you are in Ancient Near Eastern calendars. the cycle of the seasons. how much of a close attention do you pose to the annual flooding of the Nile, as Egyptian life, even in modern times is still focused on agriculture along the Nile Valley, how much are you aware of the changes that the construction of the Aswan Dam which was completed in 1970 has made to the cultivation of this narrow strip of land, which stretches all the way from the Delta in the north to the Southern parts of Egypt, into modern Sudan, or what the Egyptians referred to in ancient times as Nubian lands.
I am going to ask you about the reasons you idolize the deceased gods of the Egyptians while you take no part in the challenges of the modern Egyptians. nor do you show proficiency in the challenges the Egyptian people confront and face in our days.
All the real and relevant questions. that any adherent to any religion would desire to be inquired about. especially by a man as myself. who for 31 years was living in a country which borders Egypt. who's family fought against the Egyptian army in modern times, at least on two fronts. and who's nation's history has been claimed to be interwoven with the history of Egypt both in antiquity and in our current time.
Of course. I also ask these dilemmas as an archaeologist. who has explored the desert of Sinai, the Pyramids at Giza, the temples in the Southern part of Egypt. and needs to know the kind of revisionism men and women of profession should expect. should we expect a Jesus mania, every time an archaeologist makes new discoveries in the small village of Nazareth of the first centuries, or should we also be prepared for Egyptomania whenever the tomb of a Pharaoh who has been deemed to be lost to the sands is discovered lying in a royal tomb?
I, for a change. really like to know what is it that you believe of our cultures, our dead gods, our politics, our history, our people and our lands. modern, and ancient.

Caladan said:

What do you mean Jacksnyte?

The Judaism, Christianity, and Islam DIRs. are posed with questions and dilemmas about their faith on regular basis.
Now that a Kemetic user has started a thread with the clear purpose of answering, and I quote: ANY QUESTION. I don't know about the other members of the Abrahamic family. but I am going to take this opportunity to inquire about the relevant questions, I am going to question the very issues which have caused us so many problems. both to men of religion and to men of profession.
the historical questions. the archaeological questions. the questions of Egyptian law and regulations and how do they fit in modern American Egyptian daily life. for example, how proficient you are in Ancient Near Eastern calendars. the cycle of the seasons. how much of a close attention do you pose to the annual flooding of the Nile, as Egyptian life, even in modern times is still focused on agriculture alon the Nile Valley, how much are you aware of the changes that the construction of the Aswan Dam which was completed in 1970 has made to the cultivation of this narrow strip of land, which stretches all the way from the Delta in the north to the Southern parts of Egypt, into modern Sudan, or what the Egyptians referred to in ancient times as Nubian lands.
I am going to ask you about the reasons you idolize the now deceased gods of the Egyptians while you take no part in the challenges of the modern Egyptians. nor do you show proficiency in the challenges the Egyptian people confront and face in our time.
All the real relevant questions. that any adherent to any religion would desire to be inquired about. especially by a man as myself. who for 31 years was living in a country which borders Egypt. who's family fought against the Egyptian army in modern times, at least on two fronts. and who's nation's history has been claimed to be interwoven with the history of Egypt both in antiquity and in our current time.
Of course. I also ask these dilemmas as an archaeologist. who has explored the desert of Sinai, the Pyramids at Giza, the temples in the Southern part of Egypt. and needs to know the kind of revisionism men and women of profession should expect. should we expect a Jesus mania, whenever an archaeologist makes new discoveries in the village of Nazareth in the first centuries, or should we also be prepared for Egyptomania whenever the tomb of a Pharaoh who has been deemed to be lost to the sands is discovered lying in a royal tomb?
I, for a change. really like to know what is it that you believe of our cultures, our dead gods, our politics, our history, our people and our lands. modern, and ancient.

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All very good questions! Shall we take them one at a time? Which would you like to discuss first? If I don't know the answer(and I may not) I will have no problem saying so, and referring to sources that do.

Jacksnyte said:

All very good questions! Shall we take them one at a time? Which would you like to discuss first? If I don't know the answer(and I may not) I will have no problem saying so, and referring to sources that do.

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Well as I already posed relevant dilemmas on my previous post above. I'll throw in another one.
What is the significance of the Pyramids to you?
the physical ones at Giza. and the pyramidal shape itself.

Caladan said:

Well as I already posed relevant dilemmas on my previous post above. I'll throw in another one.
What is the significance of the Pyramids to you?
the physical ones at Giza. and the pyramidal shape itself.

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This is the official House of Netjer stance on the topic, and, after doing a bit of research myself, I see it as making the most sense:


"The Giza pyramids are artificial, sacred mountains which also served the final resting places of Nisuts of the Old Kingdom's Fourth Dynasty (about 2700 BCE). In Kemetic mythology, creation is said to have begun when the Bennu bird (the Greek "phoenix") rose from Nun, the waters of potentiality, upon a mountain known as the Ben-ben. The Ben-ben was pyramidal in shape and images of it were installed in temples.

A pyramid is therefore a large-scale version of the "mountain of creation," within which the body and ka (divine essence) of a deceased Nisut could rest for eternity, and served as a testament to the greatness inherent in and the respect paid to the person of that ruler."

I was wondering:

1. What are the main beliefs?
2. How do you practice?
3. What are the important things to know about it?

The Sum of Awe said:

I was wondering:

1. What are the main beliefs?
2. How do you practice?
3. What are the important things to know about it?

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All this and more may be found here

Jacksnyte said:

This is the official House of Netjer stance on the topic, and, after doing a bit of research myself, I see it as making the most sense:


"The Giza pyramids are artificial, sacred mountains which also served the final resting places of Nisuts of the Old Kingdom's Fourth Dynasty (about 2700 BCE). In Kemetic mythology, creation is said to have begun when the Bennu bird (the Greek "phoenix") rose from Nun, the waters of potentiality, upon a mountain known as the Ben-ben. The Ben-ben was pyramidal in shape and images of it were installed in temples.

A pyramid is therefore a large-scale version of the "mountain of creation," within which the body and ka (divine essence) of a deceased Nisut could rest for eternity, and served as a testament to the greatness inherent in and the respect paid to the person of that ruler."

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With all due respect. I am an archaeologist who lived in the middle east.
I've taken at least ten classes which discussed in detail the architecture, the religion, the symbolism, the rituals and the allegories of the ancient Egyptians.

What I would expect from modern and normal men and women, would be a simple answer illustrating that the pyramids were built for the Egyptian monarchs. were constructed by hard working Egyptian workers, who lived in town-camps outside the perimeter and were paid for their work.
The labour was sweaty and under the hot sun, and the labourers experienced construction accidents which resulted in death or serious injury such as losing a limb.
It was a hard and difficult work. for the prestige of the Pharaoh. in order to house his body after his death. and I would say devoid of any spiritual meaning to the hard working everyday workers, who broke their backs a day after day on the construction site.
just like they do all over the middle east today. often for the prestige of modern day Pharaohs.

Caladan said:

With all due respect. I am an archaeologist who lived in the middle east.
I've taken at least ten classes which discussed in detail the architecture, the religion, the symbolism, the rituals and the allegories of the ancient Egyptians.

What I would expect from modern and normal men and women, would be a simple answer illustrating that the pyramids were built for the Egyptian monarchs. were constructed by hard working Egyptian workers, who lived in town-camps outside the perimeter and were paid for their work.
The labour was sweaty and under the hot sun, and the labourers experienced construction accidents which resulted in death or serious injury such as losing a limb.
It was a hard and difficult work. for the prestige of the Pharaoh. in order to house his body after his death. and I would say devoid of any spiritual meaning to the hard working everyday workers, who broke their backs a day after day on the construction site.
just like they do all over the middle east today. often for the prestige of modern day Pharaohs.

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I can appreciate the fact that you have taken the classes. You should be proud of your accomplishments! The thing is, a large portion of the people on here have no idea about these things, and I would like to help increase everyones knowledge base, including my own! As to whether or not the pyramids had any spiritual meaning to the workers who built it...who really knows? Unless one was there, one can't really claim to know one way or another (unless one or more of these workers kept a diary).
Oh, and I'm curious: what are your definitions of "modern", and "normal"? Those labels can be extremely subjective!

I don't understand why be asking quite a broad question, *in a religious forum*, and expect completely materialistic and non-spiritually oriented answer.

What I don't understand yet more is why be automatically pushing 'normalcy' and 'modernity' on people and imply they are not enough of either if they don't adhere to that view.

I recently saw a documentation about Akhenaten on tv and would like to know what Kemetics think about him and his idea of Aten as the only god.
Is there a branch of Kemetics who believe in Aten?

yes we're called Atenists

and we don't share the same views that other Kemetics do about the heretical Pharoah and his ideas.

We look to Akhenaten in a more positive light as our divine mediator and spiritual teacher.

Aten is the personified sun disk, it's a form of Ra as the main object of worship and praise. I believe that Akhenaten's religious "reforms" were actually in honor of his father's (Amenhotep III) divinity, as the dazzling Aten.

I have a question about ancient Egyptian religion. To what degree exactly the pharaoh was considered a god? Was he a real god or just a god´s representative on earth? Was he an embodiment of god?

blue8 said:

I have a question about ancient Egyptian religion. To what degree exactly the pharaoh was considered a god? Was he a real god or just a god´s representative on earth? Was he an embodiment of god?

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The kingly Ka was said to inhabit his body. Basically, he had a direct line of communication with Netjer.

Egyptian Phoenix said:

However, if you'd like verification of the credentials of our faith's leader as an Egyptologist and her contemporaries who admire her work, I can certainly provide you that. Did you know she has worked with Zaheed Hawas?

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The minister's name is Zahee Hawas زاهي حواس, the Egyptian Minister of Antiquities‎. According to the Egyptian media, he is in jail right now for corruption issues

Egyptian Phoenix said:

However, if you'd like verification of the credentials of our faith's leader as an Egyptologist and her contemporaries who admire her work, I can certainly provide you that. Did you know she has worked with Zaheed Hawas?

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Your faith leader?
So you have a Paraoh and that is currently a woman?

Marble said:

I recently saw a documentation about Akhenaten on tv and would like to know what Kemetics think about him and his idea of Aten as the only god.
Is there a branch of Kemetics who believe in Aten?

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The cult of Aten was a cult of personality is what a Priest once told me and upon closer examination it makes sense. Akhenaten claimed he and his family were the sole mediators between the people and the only god Aten.

During his reign the people were told not to worship the gods or have household shrines, which they still did anyway. It was all about Akhenaten and the people worshipping him as Aten's representative.

As for rather or not there are modern day Atenists, I've certainly met fellow Kemetics who admire Akhenaten but not to the level of worshipping solely Aten.

Aten was based off of an older god who is a form of Ra called Ra-Heruakhety. That is who most acknowledge Aten actually is.

Marble said:

Your faith leader?
So you have a Paraoh and that is currently a woman?

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The formal title within the Kemetic Orthodox Faith is Nisut and yes we do believe that Reverend Tamara Siuda our spiritual leader acts in the religious office of being Nisut, that is as head of the Faith.

Marble said:

I recently saw a documentation about Akhenaten on tv and would like to know what Kemetics think about him and his idea of Aten as the only god.
Is there a branch of Kemetics who believe in Aten?

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When I Wikipediaded(whatever) it, it said there was but no ones really said what it involves x

Sorry if this has been asked already do u believe in eternal damnation for bad people and are u pilytheistic

Nothing like eternal damnation, not in the Christian sense. Hearts destroyed by Ammit, yes. What happens with that, if there's any 'after' and how it lasts or doesn't, is as far as I know a mystery, and not of great concern because one would have to be übersinner to end up that way. It doesn't come as particularly common punishment.

Polytheistic, that depends who you ask. Certainly poly theistic as in believing in existence and divinity of many gods. How the specifics get phrased is a different question, and if one identifies with the label is yet another one..