Ancient Religous Beliefs

Ancient Religous Beliefs

Ancient religion had had a huge impact on modern day religion. The belief in one god (monotheism) or many gods (polytheism), the belief in the afterlife and burial methods helped form religion into what it is today. Ancient Egyptian culture contributed a lot to many other ancient religion beliefs. Today there are many different beliefs, such as the belief in Jesus Christ, and belief in Allah are some examples.

Ancient Egyptians had a polytheistic religion meaning that they believed in more than one specific god. The Egyptians believed that their pharaoh was god in human form and he was one of the major gods they believed in. At one point in history, Egyptians neared monotheism when Akhenaton gained power. Akhenaton believed in only one god, Aton, and believed that everyone in Egypt should as well. Akhenaton soon tried to compel to the Egyptian population in the not-quite monotheistic worship of himself. After the death of Akhenaton the Egyptians extinguished the belief in one god and began worshiping the many gods again. The Egyptians had a god for everything, a god of sun, god of music and god of the dead. The most common Egyptian god was Amon-Re who was believed to be self created and was thought to have created the entire world.

Ancient Israel had a completely different perspective on worshiping the god or gods. The had a very explicit monotheistic religion called Judaism. Judaism was the belief in the future, advent of the savior figure who would establish a kingdom of justice and peace on earth.

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