Mabus Incarnate ~ View topic

The Evolution of Amen-Ra into the Hebrew God

The origins of the Hebrew religion are deeply routed in Egyptian religious practices. However, what has not been discussed before is the possibility that the religion of Akhenaten (father of Tutankhamen) is the oldest form of modern monotheism. Thus, the Egyptian Sun god, Amen-Ra, and the Hebrew god, Yahweh, are one in the same.

In 1353 BCE, the Pharaoh Amenhotep IV came to power. Upsessed with worship of the sun god Amen-Ra, he changed the Egyptian religion entirely in 1346 BCE. The nest year, he changed his name to Akhenaten, which means "he who is of service to Aten." He banned the worship of the other gods and demanded that Amen-Ra be worshiped as the head god. He changed the Egyptian religion from polytheism (belief in many gods) to henotheism (the acceptance that there are other gods, but worshipping only the supreme one). This change of religion cause significant strif in Egypt. Eventually, Akhenaten is killed circa 1336 BCE. His wife, Nefertiti, continues the religion for a short time longer, 1336 BCE to 1334 BCE. When Akhenaten's son, Tutankhamen, ascends to the thrown as Pharoah in 1334 BCE, he reinstates the original Egyptian religion. We know that the beginnings of "monotheism" did not end here. Just fifty-five years later, 1279 BCE, during the reign of Ramesses II, there was an uprising of a minority of Egyptians who believed in one god. These people, known as the Hebrews, fleed Egypt and restablished themselves in Judea forty years later.

It is very likely that there was a second, and possibly a third, generation of henotheists in Egypt who continued to worship by the time of Ramesses II. Also, given the time period and the reported age of Moses, according to the Torah, Moses could have been a priest in Akhenaten's religion.

While this evidence is circumstancial, perhaps the proof lies within the language of the Hebrews and the Egyptians. At the end of every Hebrew prayer, one says "amen," which is the same name as the Egyptian sun god. Is it possible that they say "amen" as to call to that god specifically at the end of the prayer? Also, from the Torah, we know that the Hebrews were not always monotheists, but rather started out as henotheists. In the beginning of the Torah, the word "Elohim" is used to define the creator. Elohim is a plural word in Hebrew: "eloah" means "a god", "-im" is a plural and masculine sufix. Therefore, it can be concluded that Elohim is actually a refence to the entire pantheon of Hebrew "gods" and not just one. Also, the word Elohim is found in Canaanite Ugarit texts.

What we have gathered is that the Hebrews lived amongst the Egyptians. While they were living in Egypt, the Egyptians reformed their religion to be henotheistic (same as the Hebrews). After the Egyptian religion reverted back to its original form, a few continued to follow the henotheistic religion. Just eighty years after the revert, there is an uprising amongst a minority of henotheists in Egypt. After these henotheists left Egypt, they continued to end their prayers with the Egyptian word "amen," which is the same word for the henotheistic Egyptian religion's sun god. Therefore, it is possible that the Hebrews are the followers of Akhenaten's religion. If that is true, then Amen-Ra and Yahweh are one in the same.

Written by:
Jarred James Breaux