I thought I would put this coply to another thread as a new topic as it is a valid question:
From what I’ve found of course there will be some continuity in some way. Even though the official end of the Egyptian “religion” (they of course didn’t have a name for it - this is our modern concept) ended when Rome converted to Christianity in 328AD, elements would have remained in society long after.
We know that the Christian Coptics continue with parts of it as they still use various aspects of the language and ritual. Just look them up with the references to Hathor for example.
We know that some traditions still remain in various groups in Africa such as in the Sudan.
What we also know is that the “religion” as it was practiced back then in it’s entirety is gone and all that we can access is fragments.
Where does this leave us re-constructionists? I honestly don’t know.
Do you know of the bloodlines that migrated out of the Nile Valley civilisation under the instruction of the Pharaoh Ramses ll to protect and preserve the knowledge. Bloodlines of priests, healers, blacksmiths, scribes and so forth that dedicated their lives to the Divine world. That was first and foremost in the lives of the people. You’re right, it is not a religion, its a way of life a state of being.
This knowledge, culture has been kept uncorrupted.
The sidereal calendar, pharaonic, Kemetic calendar is based on the 1461 year cycle of the sirius star it is still used today. It shows their Holy days and days of rest, its what I use living in a Kemetic Temple.
The bloodlines had to hide the knowledge so eventually people would believe it was a dead culture.
I go back every year to the places where the culture is alive in its entirety, hidden in plain sight.
This is the Great Book Of Divine Ordinances, Code of Human Behaviour, translated by my spiritual mater Neb NABA Lamoussa Morodenibig (Kemetic High Priest & Master Healer, whose lineage can be traced back to the pharaonic era (Nabateans are the knowledge keepers) from the papyri NW, NBSNI & INSA.This is where the 42 laws of Maat came from.
I know the story of how this came to be. One of many stories handed down from mouth to ear for generations taught in the Kemetic initiatic camps. What is important about this book
Is that it was given to humanity from the Divine on 19th Tehuti (I only use the Kemetic names for the NTRU (gods), it is these codes that kept humanity thriving for hundreds of thousands of years.
Even if the ancient Egyptian religion was taught to groups that still survive today, I doubt the practices would be the same after thousands of years. Especially if there is no written history, only an oral one. Things will have changed or been forgotten. European pagan practices still exist within the Christian church but the church cannot really claim to be a continuation of those people.
As modern practitioners, all we can do is try our best to interpret the archaeological record, trust the gods and our instincts.
I think it’s a challenge to combine ancient practices with modern ways of living. I think it would be impossible to replicate ancient practices exactly in the modern world.
And the question is, do the gods want us to replicate the exact same practices when we are living in a different time and place to the ancient Egyptians?
Is Ma’at living in a balance of both worlds? I don’t know the answer to that or the best way to practice this. It is something I am struggling to work out at the moment!
Ooh, I do like the idea of it being Ma’at to have one foot in the modern world and one in the ancient. Neither way is/was perfect but we can take their lessons and move forward. I think that’s why fashion and lifestyles like cottage core have become so popular. We need modern technology (communications, medicine, hygiene etc) but we also need to learn to slow down and appreciate nature.
