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| Topic Started: Jan 5 2012, 12:14 AM (89 Views) | |
| AmarnaGirl | Jan 5 2012, 12:14 AM Post #1 |
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I'm curious as to how Atenists view Atenism now as compared to how it was originally in Akhenaten's time. I would think it to be rather different from the way it was in antiquity. (Of course,it's hard to know "exactly" how things were - we just don't have enough historical information,nor do we know what went on inside the heads of the Egyptians themselves.) How do you see Atenism today? Has it changed or do you see yourselves following it as Akhenaten did? I'm sure there are a lot of different views on what Atenism is today,but it just seems VERY self-centered the way Akhenaten did it. It was very much about him,and the Aten,while absolutely a focus for him,to be sure,seems at time almost secondary next to Akhenaten's attention to himself. Do you offer prayers to Akhenaten (and/or his family,through him) to intercede on behalf of the Aten (as he insisted and originally intended people to do) or do you go directly to the Aten,with no intermediary? Atenism in Akhenaten's time was a very impersonal,one-sided system (mainly for the benefit of Akhenaten himself) - it was not a comforting faith for common Egyptians,like the spiritual systems they were accustomed to. But just from reading posts on this forum,it doesn't seem like the majority of people here view Atenism as it was in Amarna. (but I could be wrong here,LOL.) It has evolved to fit our more modern thinking,perhaps? There are SO many different views (academics and others) on who Akhenaten was,what he believed,(or didn't)and what his intentions had been. I have always had an interest in the 18th dynasty,and I think Atenism could have potential as a revivalist religion,(there doesn't really seem to be many devotees today, from what I've found so far,but there could certainly be more out there.) I'm lately trying to sort out my own ideas of the old vs new Aten religion,and I'd love to know what people think on this,thanks! |
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| Ankhesenamun | Mar 25 2012, 04:41 AM Post #2 |
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That sure are some interesting questions. As for me, of course I pray directly to the Aten - I am absolutely against the idea of praying to anyone other than Aten. I don't for one moment think that Akhenaten wanted to be worshipped or prayed to - after all, Atenism is the belief in ONE God, and if we start to worship Akhenaten, then we would elevate him to God-like status, which in itself would be contrary to Atenism. I have never found Akhenaten to be self-centered. This idea was put into the world by people opposed to Atenism - people tend to be either for or against Akhenaten, often passionately so, something that appears to be unchanged since antiquity. I don't think Atenism has to be different today from what it was in Akhenaten's time. I might be alone with this opinion, but the Eternal Truth is the same no matter what era we live in. Saying that, I don't agree with some of the statements on this forum, stating that only true Atenists see the light, and everyone who is not a true Atenist is in darkness. This is very judgmental and an idea that first appeared in Christianity for the purpose of terrifying people into joining, and having their lives controlled by, the church. I let Aten be the judge of who is right and who is wrong - no human can ever be the judge of that - and apart from that, I know a lot of wonderful, positive, loving people who are either Muslims or don't belong to any set belief system (interestingly enough, none of them are Christians - without exception, ALL Christians that I've met have been the most negative, abusive and selfish people imaginable). |
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| AmarnaGirl | Apr 7 2012, 11:11 PM Post #3 |
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*nods* I can certainly agree with some of this: I am pretty hesitant about some of the posts on this forum also - they sound very "fundamentalist" in nature (of course,to each his own,as there is no "set" way to practice Atenism today,so of course,everyone is going to have their own beliefs and ideas. Unfortunately there are not many descriptions available of Aten worship in Akhenaten's time. But I'd love to know how it was done!) I also don't see the idea of direct prayers to Akhenaten myself (I don't pray to the dead - I can respect and honor them,of course,but I don't pray to them.) However,I do think (my own opinion,based on what I've studied of the Amarna Period,YMMV of course.) is that Akhenaten very much intended the people to worship him (in his own way). It was expected of the Egyptian people,that their Pharaohs were seen as the living representatives of gods (usually Horus, or in Akhenatens' case,the Aten) He believed that he was the only one who could interpret the Aten correctly - the common Egyptian didn't actually pray directly to the Aten,they had to go through Akhenaten and/or his family first. Their prayers would be directed to Akhenaten,(or his family) who would then "send" them to the Aten. Shrines in Amarna households had consisted (in place of the usual gods) instead, of statues or pictures of Akhenaten and his family worshiping the Aten. I think it could be possible he may (or may not) have been a self-centered person (unfortunately,we know so little about him,and we can't say with any certainty,what his personality was like.) That being the case,we also know very little of how Atenism was really practiced in Amarna. For most of his reign,the people pretty much continued to worship as they always had. True,the big state temples were now closed (the people had never been allowed inside them anyway - that was for the priests),and the big festivals were no longer held, but private family worship at home continued. (Small amulets and such of the deities Bes and Taweret have been discovered in Amarna ruins.) The Aten was very much almost solely something just for Akhenaten and his family,which is one reason Atenism didn't last long after Akhenaten's death.) Remember,many pharaohs were literally seen as god-like by the Egyptian people,and some were deified after death. Akhenaten most likely DID believe in his semi-divine status,both as Pharaoh,and the son of the Aten. So was Atenism meant as the worship of one god only? Yes,but with Akhenaten always first as the people's divine mediator to that god. Edited by AmarnaGirl, Apr 7 2012, 11:11 PM.
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