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This article is about the religious movements of people in Ancient Egypt, for later religions, see Christianity or Coptic Christianity, and Islam. For mythology only, see Egyptian Mythology.

Egyptian Religion is a variety of similar religious movements which are known to have existed in Ancient Egypt and believed to have been founded there. These movements were both monotheistic and polytheistic throughout the whole of Egyptian history. ^[1] The source of these beliefs, monotheistic and polytheistic, is unknown as they reach back into prehistory ^[2] and it cannot be discerned which may be older. ^[3] Egyptian religion can be broken down into more specific versions of monotheism and polytheism, such as pantheism, panentheism, and henotheism.

Monotheism and Polytheism grew side by side, both strengthening at the same time ^[4] Many scholars, as did Egypt's neighbors in earlier times, had for years assumed the Egyptians to be merely polytheistic, ignoring its monotheistic side. {ref|ignoremono}} There were also two sides to these Egyptian movements, that of a philosophical elite and that of the normal people. ^[5] The educated elites never put the polytheism on the same level as the monotheism, however,^[6] and these beliefs of the elites is believed to have been watered down throughout time, but remaining in the tenants of Hermeticism,^[7] a panentheistic system.

Egyptian Monotheism

(Main Article Egyptian Monotheism)

According to E. A. Wallis Budge, The whole of Egyptian religion and theology was based upon the monotheistic beliefs of Egypt. ^[8] This single, monotheistic God was first given the name NTR (also written Neter to make the word pronouncable by English Speakers), symbolized by what is believed to be an axe (originally made of stone). ^[9] However, Ra, began to be used, rather than NTR,^[10] and the Sun represented God accurately by giving both light and life.

However, Ra was not the only Sun god used. Amun rose to solar deity status and eventually had his identity fused with Ra, to make Amun-Ra. To a lesser extent, the same happened with Atum, though less prominently. Aten was another Solar deity who briefly overtook Ra as the monotheistic God without fusing with Ra in Atenism.

Egyptian Polytheism

(Main Article Egyptian Mythology)

Endnotes

1. ^ (Budge Egyptian Religion pp. 17-8)
2. ^ (Budge Egyptian Religion p. 18)
3. ^ (Budge Egyptian Religion p. 30)
4. ^ (Budge Egyptian Religion p. 30)
5. ^ (Budge Egyptian Religion p. 18)
6. ^ (Hall The Secret Teachings of All Ages p. 39-40)
7. ^ (Budge Egyptian Religion p. 108)
8. ^ (Magical Egypt)
9. ^ (Budge Egyptian Religion p. 17)
10. ^ (Budge Egyptian Religion p. 19)
11. ^ (Budge Egyptian Religion p. 25)

References

Budge, E. A. Wallis (1900). Egyptian Religion. Kessinger.

Hall, Manly P. (1928). The Secret Teachings of All Ages. San Francisco: H.S. Crocker Company.

"The Invisible Science." Magical Egypt. Chance Gardner and John Anthony West. 2005.