Essay On Ancient Egyptian Religion

Most people describe a “god” as a powerful and omnipotent being who created the world, and guides his people to be morally just. Whether it is God of Christianity, Yahweh of Judaism, or Allah of Islamism, most “Western” religions have the same monotheistic feel, and even Buddhists who are neither monotheistic nor polytheistic all follow the same concept of working towards a more honest life. However, in ancient times, religion was not at all like this. In Ancient Mesopotamia, and Ancient Egypt, religion was polytheistic, and there were not many teachings that prevented people from becoming sinful. It was not until the Hebrews came along, that this new idea of monotheism and righteousness was considered. The religious structure and implementation of the Hebrews was more developed than that of the Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilizations.
Hebrew religion consisted of a single omnipotent god, Yahweh, while the Mesopotamians and Egyptians had multiple gods who each controlled their own section in nature. This means that the Hebrews only had to follow orders from one god, whereas Mesopotamians and Egyptians had to work hard to keep all of the gods happy. If what one god’s orders conflicted with another god’s orders, the people were forced to take sides, and unity would break. This could cause disputes amongst the two sides, and war could potentially break out. Alongside monotheism, the covenant also plays a major role in the structure of Hebrew religion. It is a pact that Abraham made with Yahweh, which both Yahweh and the Hebrew people had to follow. In exchange for land, a great nation, and guidance, the people had to worship Yahweh as their only god. This covenant keeps the Hebrews united, all following one god and one message, instead of listening to a whole pantheon of gods, all with different