Ancient and Indigenous Religions
RELIGION
• MEANING - re·li·gion
• noun 1. a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose
of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a
superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and
ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing
the conduct of human affairs.
• 2. a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally
agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion;
the Buddhist religion.
• 3. the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and
practices: a world council of religions.
• 4. the life or state of a monk, nun, etc.: to enter religion.
• 5. the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith.
When we look at ancient religions we
tend to think of religions of the ancient
world- the Mesopotamians, the
Egyptians, the ancient Greeks and
Romans.
These people who practiced these ancient religions are
separated from us by time and space. To understand what
there Gods and Goddesses meant to them we need to
examine the following aspects;
• The main belief of a religion
• The sacred stories and writings of different religions
• The sacred rituals, prayers and festivals of a religions
• Sacred space; shrines, household alters and burial
places
• Sacred signs and symbols representing religious
stories, objects and ideas
• Sacred people and social structures, such as priests and
priestesses, religious teachers and healers and
custodians of the tradition
• Sacred time ; many ancient religions regulated times
for planting and harvesting crops.
Earliest religious writings were inscribed on clay or stone tablets.
• One feature of these religions was the variety of cults around the gods
and goddesses. These divine beings were;
• Worshipped as protectors of the city-states
• Viewed as the sources of fertility in humans, domestic animals and
crops
• Often erratic in their behavior, harming some people while favouring
others
• Feared and placated in rituals
Using the Bible as a source for
ancient history , the ancient
Canaanite God – God of thunder
and lighting is mentioned in
Exodus 32: 8-9
“they have been quick to turn
aside from the way that I
commanded them; they have
cast for themselves an image of
a calf and have worshiped it and
sacrificed to it”
http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/gods/home.ht
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Go to the following web site and look at all the Ancient
Egyptian Gods and Goddesses ;
http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/gods/story/main.html
When you have looked at all the Ancient Egyptian Gods
take the challenge and see what happens.
BOOK OF THE DEAD
WRITTEN IN HIEOGLIPHYICS
The Book of the Dead is the
common name for the ancient
Egyptian funerary texts known as
The Book of Coming [or Going]
Forth By Day. The name "Book of
the Dead" was the invention of the
German Egyptologist Karl Richard
Lepsius, who published a selection
of some texts in 1842.
BOOK OF THE DEAD
HYMN TO OSIRIS.
Homage to thee, Osiris, Lord of eternity, King of the Gods, whose
names are manifold, whose forms are holy, thou being of hidden
form in the temples, whose Ka is holy. Thou art the governor of
Tattu (Busiris), and also the mighty one in Sekhem (Letopolis). Thou
art the Lord to whom praises are ascribed in the nome of Ati, thou
art the Prince of divine food in Anu. Thou art the Lord who is
commemorated in Maati, the Hidden Soul, the Lord of Qerrt
(Elephantine), the Ruler supreme in White Wall (Memphis). Thou
art the Soul of Ra, his own body, and hast thy place of rest in
Henensu (Herakleopolis). Thou art the beneficent one, and art
praised in Nart. Thou makest thy soul to be raised up. Thou art the
Lord of the Great House in Khemenu (Hermopolis). Thou art the
mighty one of victories in Shas-hetep, the Lord of eternity, the
Governor of Abydos. The path of his throne is in Ta-tcheser (a part
of Abydos). Thy name is established in the mouths of men. Thou art
the substance of Two Lands (Egypt). …