Kemetism
This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
|
Part of a series on |
Ancient Egyptian religion |
---|
Ancient Egypt portal |
Kemetism (also Kemeticism; sometimes referred to as Neterism) "deity"), or Kemetic paganism, is a neopagan religion and revival of the ancient Egyptian religion and related expressions of religion in classical and late antiquity, emerging during the 1970s. A Kemetic or Kemetic pagan is one who follows Kemetism.[1]
There are several main groups, each of which takes a different approach to its beliefs, ranging from
Kemetism and Kemetics
The movement's name is based on an
Kemetics refer to the ancient Egyptian deities as the Netjeru, also referred to as the Neteru or the Netjer.[6] Commonly Kemetics like to refer to the Netjeru with their ancient Egyptian name, in example they would refer to Horus as Heru, Thoth as Djehuty, and Anubis as Anpu.
Kemetics do not consider themselves direct descendants of the ancient Egyptian religion but consistently speak of its recreation or restoration.
Relationship to tradition
The common feature of these reflections is the more or less accentuated belief, referred to by Erik Hornung as Egyptosophy,[12] that "mysterious Egypt is the cradle of a special esotericism" by which the highest "transcendence of cognition beyond the conventional framework of conceptual-logical thinking" can be achieved, because "Egypt was a land where gods lived among men, i.e. A land in which people were in direct contact with (hidden) natural forces which we (people of the modern age) have made the subjects of fairy tales."[15]
However, this approach is not only found in authors sympathetic to
Kemetism therefore stands as the youngest alongside other unique reflections upon the same object, from which it differs in emphasis on the religious aspect of ancient Egyptian tradition. The others are usually devoted to other parts of it, such as "Egyptian wisdom" or magic[18] and interprets the culture and religion itself and its gods symbolically, unlike Kemetism,[19] and consequently, they reflect rather an "imaginary Egypt", i.e. "an idea (of Egypt) independent of time, which is only loosely related to the historical reality."[20] In contrast, the goal of Kemetist groups is a more or less rigorous restoration of the religious system in its historical form, although Kemetists generally admit that a completely accurate imitation of ancient practices is not always possible or even advisable.[21]
The degree of knowledge and understanding of the original ancient Egyptian thought plays an important role here,[22] while their difficulty is due to the very nature of the subject: ancient Egyptian religion underwent complex transformations during the Pharaonic period, within which there was always "a multitude of approaches"[23] and has always had its "local dimension",[24] in which one and the same god could have different forms of cult in individual nomes or even individual temples and be involved in different mythological contexts.
In this respect, it can be seen quite dissimilar to the common tradition of Judaism and Christianity, and it is questionable to what extent the difference of traditions can be bridged with regard to the fact that Kemeticism develops in the area of Euro-American civilization. This is important considering Kemetic traditions originally operated in an African context i.e. polyvalence with Nubia. Due to its long development moreover, it is difficult to seek a purely "original" form of Egyptian religion that can be easily pointed to and reconstructed (see Reconstructionism), but only of its forms in certain historical periods.
The mentioned interpretive tradition, beginning in the Hellenistic period, did not merely adopt Egyptian religious ideas, but also fundamentally transformed them.
Jeremy Naydler generally distinguishes two modes of religious reflection on the ancient Egyptian tradition: It can be conceived as a re-stitching consisting in "attempts to "return to Egypt" in pursuit of a renewed state of "consciousness of the people of those times", or as an effort to "enter into conversation with the Egyptian experience" of spiritual life, by which he states, one can get closer to the spiritual roots of the modern world.[21] These two points of view are hard to distinguish from each other.[29]
Religious practice
The conceptual content of the principle of maat implies the vital necessity of ritual worship of gods, possibly a universal divine force. The most common objects of veneration from the individual
The practice of religious ritual and other manifestations of religious life varies from individual associations. Its centrepiece, as in the original Old Egyptian religion, is usually a cult image, most often in the form of a statue or other representation depicting the likeness of the worshipped god. Its role in the cult may be conceptualized differently not only by different currents, but also by different individuals, with no precise boundaries between the different attitudes.[30]
In a schematic distinction, the most widespread modernist Kemetism today generally attaches a more symbolic meaning to the cult image, understanding it as a means of enabling Kemetists to better focus on God (or divine power) as the proper object of veneration[31][32] Consequently, there is no need to strictly observe a particular ritual procedure.[33]
The minority traditionalist current understands the cult image as a real representation of the divine being in the human world. Therefore, in accordance with ancient Egyptian tradition, it may recommend its preservation in a special sacred container - nau, from which it is to be removed only in the course of a religious ritual, described as precisely as possible and strictly observed,[citation needed] of which the presentation of sacrifices is the most essential part. S in the absence of a binding doctrine, however individual Kemetists may choose any combination of these aspects.
Although even in this case the religious reverence shown does not belong directly to the cult image as a physical thing, but to the worshipped god who is present in it in a special way, monotheistic religions raise the objection of idolatry in this context. Kemetism, however, regards it as inappropriate, since there is nothing within its framework that realistically corresponds to this notion. "The Egyptians (in fact) did not experience any marked separation of the psychic from the physical realm... (and therefore) the world of material objects could also be imbued with divine power... These could serve as effective mediums through which spiritual forces manifested themselves on the material plane... In ancient Egypt there was no such thing as idols, because the ancient Egyptian mentality could perceive no such thing. It was not until the Israelites created the idea of idols."[34]
In Egypt, as Stephan Quirke notes, any object could become more than a mere physical object by performing a special ceremony: it could "live permanently and thus open the way between this world and the world of the gods. The mummified body in a coffin, the cult image of a god, the statue of a king or a deceased nobleman, were all soulless objects that opening the mouth transformed into living forces, or, more precisely, into receptacles for the invisible and elusive force we call life."[35]
Worship
Followers of Kemetism generally worship a few gods (Maat, Bastet, Anubis, Sekhmet, or Thoth, among others), but recognize the existence of every god. This worship generally takes the form of prayer, offerings, and setting up altars.[36] Altars are most often constructed using a statue or two-dimensional representation of one or more given deities, as they serve as the focal point of worship. Additional items include candles, votive offerings, prayer beads, incense burners, and one or more dishes for food offerings.[37] Most Kemetic offerings try to keep to tradition, offering the same or similar items the ancient Egyptians would have offered. It is common during worship for Kemetics to pray in the dua (𓀃) gesture, which models the hieroglyph meaning worship and adoration.[38][39]
Principles of Kemetism
The idea of god/gods
The looseness of the Kemetist doctrine is best captured just by defining the object of Kemetist religious veneration. Although the
Today, the minority definition of this problem is the traditionalist notion of individual gods as wholly individual beings with a separate
In contemporary times, one can encounter within Kemeticism the prevalent, but somewhat more distant from the original ancient Egyptian conception, idea of a single universal divine force manifesting itself in various forms, which are the gods themselves, so that they are understood as somewhat separate but nevertheless mere aspects of it. In this case, the Kemetists follow the late antique
Another variant of modernist Kemetism is monolatry, but based on the same sources. In these conceptions, leaving aside the external features derived from ancient Egyptian culture and the use of Egyptian mythological context, Kemetism in many respects bears a strong resemblance to, for example, the religion of Wicca;[44] perhaps this is related to the fact that it is developed in areas with a predominantly Anglo-Saxon tradition.
Given this possible dualistic understanding of the object of religious veneration in Kemeticism, it is ultimately up to the individual to decide whether to focus more on an abstractly conceived divine power in the practice of their religion, or whether to prefer the more original worship of individual gods.
Virtually the only Czech Kemet website Temple of the Land of Kemet notes: "This does not mean that we deny that there is one universal deity, but we argue that it probably does not exist in the way monotheists imagine it, and that this does not necessarily imply a denial of a plurality of gods. Individual gods and goddesses in their multiplicity share this divinity in the same way that we humans share one universal 'humanity'. The gods ... represent certain types of energies and qualities. The universal 'one god' of the monotheists can hardly be present in a similar way."[8] The same source elsewhere questions whether it is even possible to make this universal divine power itself an object of religious veneration,[42] thus categorically rejecting any form of not only monotheism but also the aforementioned henotheism or monolatry. Czech Kemeticism would thus place itself in the traditionalist stream of this movement.
In both basic Kemetist conceptions of god/gods, the sun usually plays a non-negligible role: Regardless of whether it is worshipped as a god by particular Kemetists or not, as in Ancient Egypt[46][47] is considered to be an analogous image of the divine power as the universal source of every single existence and of all existence in general.
Order
Another important principle of Kemeticism is maat, order. This concept was one of the cornerstones of (not only) religious thought of the
The word maat itself is difficult to translate due to its complexity and combines concepts such as truth, harmony, and stability, or simply right action. It represents all that is right and necessary for the right course of things. It is the universal unchanging cosmic order encompassing the world of men and the world of gods and their interconnection as well as their interdependence.
The expression of the functioning of the maat in the world of the gods is mainly myths and legends, in cosmic sense it is manifested in regular unchangeable and from human point of view eternal natural cycles (especially in solar and lunar cycles. Therefore, the
As a result, in the Egyptian concept, the respect of rules of all kinds by each individual was merged into one with the support and maintenance of the cosmic order, while their non-observance (especially by the ruler, but not only by him) could lead to its disruption. The collapse of the maat would lead to the demise of the world and the victory of chaos (egypt isfet).
In this sense, the Kemetic movement refers to the generally prevailing traditional ethical ideas, to the "good manners" or customs in which "maat" in the human world naturally and more or less unquestionably shows itself. There is no explicitly binding text codifying moral norms. Instead, Kemetists are formally non-binding in their interpretation of the concept of maat in relation to human conduct, inspired by ancient Egyptian scriptures.
The most prominent (though by no means the only) source for understanding maat in a more general social sense is the ancient Egyptian Books of Wise Advice for Life. Only chapter 125 of the Books of the Dead, containing the testimony of the deceased before the underworld court, by which he proves his moral purity by listing the deeds he did not commit (the so-called negative confession), is of a somewhat normative nature.
Since all these ancient texts are exclusively
Kemetic organizations
Kemetic Orthodoxy
The American Society of Kemetic Orthodoxy was founded in the 1980s. It brings together members from various states and, according to its own characterization, attempts to follow the Egyptian traditions as closely as possible and to revive them.[48]
Entirely in this spirit, it is headed by an authority (currently Tamara Siuda) using some of the titles and other attributes of ancient pharaohs. She is conceived as the present incarnation of the royal ka, gold embedded in the spirit of Hora, an aspect of divinity embodied in the human form of a spiritual leader of the community.[48]
On the other hand, it is in this movement that the departure from the traditionalist (i.e., closest to Egyptian religion) conception of god/gods, expressed in the concept of monolatry as official doctrine, is most pronounced.[4]
Fellowship of Isis
Another type of Kemetic organization is the Fellowship of Isis, formed in Ireland. It differs from most others in that, following the model of late antiquity in the henotheistic sense, it focuses on the cult of the goddess Isis, transposed into ancient Greek and Roman settings. Egyptian traditions are therefore heavily modified in him by their ancient interpretation, by religious syncretism, and by modern multiculturalism.[49]
Other Kemetist societies include The Living Nuhati, and the defunct French Ta Noutri.[50]
Kemetism in the Czech Republic
In the
Atonist Kemetism
Atonistic Kemeticism (or Atonian Kemeticism) is a Kemetic movement, inspired by Atenism. This form of Egyptian religion existed only during the brief reign of Akhenaten, during whose reign all other Egyptian cults were banned and only worship of Aten was allowed.
See also
- Egyptian mythology
- List of Neopagan movements
- List of religions and spiritual traditions
- Hermeticism
- Temple of Set – an unrelated religion, centered around the Egyptian god Set
- Ausar Auset Society - Pan-Africanist society centered around Kemetism
Notes
- ^ Daugherty, Michelle (2 October 2014). "Kemetism. Ancient Religions in our Modern World". Michigan State University. USA. Archived from the original on 28 February 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
- ^ Harrison, PM (2012). Profane Egyptologists: The Revival and Reconstruction of Ancient Egyptian Religion. UCL (University College London).
- ^ "Khémitisme, Tradition païenne égyptienne, la religion des anciens égyptiens" (in French). Archived from the original on 2008-12-19. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
- ^ a b "What is Kemetic Orthodoxy? Introduction". Archived from the original on 2008-09-11. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
- ISBN 978-80-7277-306-0.
- ^ "Netjer | Kemet.org". www.kemet.org. Retrieved 2023-03-25.
- ^ "International Network of Kemetics". Archived from the original on 2008-10-05. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
- ^ a b Raneb, Djehutijdjedef. "Egypt - the image of heaven" (in Czech). Retrieved 2009-09-26.
- ISBN 80-7341-698-0.
- ^ Verner, Bareš, Vachala, p. 139
- ISBN 80-242-0806-7.
- ^ ISBN 80-7185-436-0.
- ^ Forman, Werner; Quirke, Stephen (1996). Afterlife on the Nile. Translated by Bareš, Ladislav. London: Opus Publishing. pp. 17, 177n.
- ^ Hornung, p. 74n
- ISSN 0862-7606. Available online
- ISBN 80-7281-109-6.
- ^ Hornung, p. 184
- ^ In the Czech environment, probably the most influential and still unsurpassed example is Pierre de Lasenic, Egyptian Hieroglyphs and their Philosophy [dead link]
- ISBN 80-85320-18-5.
- ^ Hornung, p. 90
- ^ ISBN 80-7207-245-5.
- ISBN 80-86263-37-1.
- ISBN 80-7341-698-0.
- ISBN 80-7298-052-1.
- ISBN 80-7277-235-X.
- ^ Hornung, p. 24
- ^ a b Raneb Jehutijjedef. "A few little tips before you decide to address the gods" (in Czech). Retrieved September 26, 2009.
- ^ Sannion. "What's in a name?". Archived from the original on 2007-12-06. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
- ISBN 80-7362-125-8. in comparison with Lasenic, for example.
- )
- ^ Dutton, Erik. "In Praise of Idols". Archived from the original on 2009-10-17. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
- ^ Kallistos. "On Images". Retrieved 2009-06-15.
- )
- )
- ^ Forman, Werner; Quirke, Stephen (1996). "Afterlife on the Nile". Translated by Bareš, Ladislav. London: Opus Publishing: 21.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - ^ "Kemetic Starter Guide". The Twisted Rope. 2011-11-08. Retrieved 2018-12-12.
- ISBN 978-1-365-87722-3.
- ^ "Feeding the Ka". www.joanannlansberry.com. Retrieved 2023-05-28.
- ^ "Ancient Egypt: the Mythology - Adore". www.egyptianmyths.net. Retrieved 2023-05-28.
- ^ "papyrus | British Museum". www.britishmuseum.org. Retrieved 2024-04-07.
- ISBN 80-7298-052-1.
- ^ a b Raneb Jehutijdjedef. "Cult – the way to the gods" (in Czech). Retrieved 2009-09-26.
- ISSN 1212-1371. Retrieved 2008-08-24.
- ^ Krogh, Marilyn C. "Kemetic Orthodoxy: ancient Egyptian religion on the Internet – a research note". Retrieved August 19, 2007.
- ^ Wilkinson 2003, p. 33.
- )
- ISBN 80-7298-052-1.
- ^ a b "Biography of Hekatawa I, our Nisut (AUS)". Archived from the original on 2011-01-11. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
- ISBN 80-242-0806-7., which is not, however, the official text of the community.
- ^ Ta Noutri is referred to as a Kemetic organization by the website Religioscope Archived 2007-11-24 at the Wayback Machine and the website Unisson Archived 2008-03-27 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "List of civic associations" (in Czech). Archived from the original on 2009-06-27. Retrieved 2008-08-18.
References
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (May 2011) |
- Marilyn C. Krogh; Brooke Ashley Pillifant, Kemetic Orthodoxy: Ancient Egyptian Religion on the Internet: A Research Note, Sociology of Religion (2004).
- Ellen Cannon Reed, Circle of Isis: Ancient Egyptian Magic for Modern Witches (2002), ISBN 978-1-56414-568-0.
- J. G. Melton, Encyclopedia of American Religions, 5th ed., Detroit (1996).
- ISBN 978-0-500-05120-7.
External links
- Media related to Kemetism at Wikimedia Commons