Book Report Assignment
For Post #21358 Pages 60 to top of 65
Posted by Asar Maat
Udja,
The Neterian clergy and the control over the Pharaoh (King or Queen) and the Governance of society: Conclusion
In EM 3 page 60, Sebai Maa discusses conclusions regarding the section on “The Neterian clergy and the control over the Pharaoh (King or Queen) and the Governance of society” including the important leadership roles in the ancient Egyptian government, changes leading to the degradation of Egypt, and early Christian conquest leading to the closing of the Egyptian Temples, based upon the writings from Diodorus.
Regarding the ancient Egyptian leaders in important matters, the priests were highly involved in support of the king, who made decisions. A hallmark of Neterian spirituality held by the priests was that decisions are to be made from the perspective of truth as opposed to personal desire or emotion. This was particularly in light of knowing that issues of personality could cloud the judgment of leaders. This idea was later popularized by the Buddhists as the concept of Nirvana meaning “without desire”. Through the study of Shetaut Neter-Egyptian Mysteries the clergy become elevated people who gain self-mastery of this ideal and are able to not only uphold the laws but also explain their relevance and be an example to others.
Unfortunately, changes in the rule of Egypt over the course of many dynasties contributed to the degradation of society. The rule of Egypt by the Asiatics ushered in rule new to Kamatian culture including male dominance and minimization of the female gender and the wisdom of the clergy leading to less spiritual and more lay management of the society. Later the New Kingdom period saw an uplifting of poetry and prose centering around romantic themes of love interest. In the Ptolemaic period the introduction of sexual imagery in sculpture and papyrus distorted and made pornographic in some instances the tantric iconography of earlier times.
The final downturn of Egypt came with rule under Christians and then Muslims, which enacted the physical destruction of monuments, the total razing of Temples, and the murder of priests and priestesses damning the culture and spiritual pillars of ancient Egyptian culture once upheld by priests and priestesses.
Early Christian and Roman-Christian Conquest Periods and the Closing of Egyptian Temples
In EM 3 pages 61-top 65, Sebai Maa discusses periods of conquest in Ancient Egypt by the Romans (30 B.C.E) – 395 A.C.E) and the Early Christians (300-450 A.C.E.) whereby orthodox Christians misunderstood the Egyptian mysteries, blatantly disregarded their own professed values, and co-opted mysticism. The early Christians from Rome did not live in harmony with the native people of Egypt or Muslims (600-1000 A.C.E.), (the later were seen as worshiping the same God). The Christians devolved such as in the Crusades to act violently in ways contrary to their own values of peace, compassion, and neighborly love. Moreover, significant saints of the Christian Church who once wrote of Ancient Egyptian wisdom were misunderstood and misrepresented by the orthodox Church leaders affirming a limited Christian mysticism.
The early Christians misunderstood the symbolism and worshiping of Ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses as Divine images as “similar and sacred representations akin to their nature” (Dionysius the Areopagite) and mistakenly distorted sexual imagery from Ancient Egyptian iconography. The early Christians developed a particular hatred followed by violence against the Ancient Egyptians. This violence exemplified by the Christian Crusades for example, were the outgrowth of disregard for the doctrines of love, forgiveness, and compassion (e.g., Matthew 5 and 22) in favor of conquering political and economic interests against those of other faiths and the same faith if in economic competition. The Gnostic Christians who followed more closely the Ancient Egyptian teachings were also persecuted. Mercilessly, the aims that laid a foundation for the Crusades were later carried out in the destruction of Native American culture, the African slave trade and the Christian missionary movement in Africa. This legacy of conquer and violence is a signal for modern Neterians to be aware of the dangers that can come from Christian fundamentalism. Sadly, traditional Christian literature and scholarship developed for example, by the first great Christian mystic St. Paul and others articulated in the New Testament writings (Paul’s letters and Gospel of John [John 10:30-34]) are found in the Christian Church, yet the teachings are veiled, confused, and de-emphasized by the church leadership as anomalies, and thus essentially nullified as important aspects of Christine doctrine and practice.
Dua Sebai Maa, Seba Dja
Clergy Students/Hemu
Htp
Asar Maat
