Ancient African ReligionsAncient African Religions

By

T. Hasan Johnson, Ph.D.

North African North African History TimelineHistory TimelineHistory TimelineHistory Timeline

KemetKemet or Ta or Ta MeriMeri (Egypt)(Egypt)

Ancient Origins of World ReligionsAncient Origins of World Religions

� The Nile River

� The Sun

The Basis of Egyptian SpiritualityThe Basis of Egyptian Spirituality

After developing a calendar to predict seasons and

chart the stars (which takes at least 1,000 years),

they could then predict the seasonal Nile River

flooding, helping Egyptians create the largest

agriculture in the world. They fed their newly agriculture in the world. They fed their newly

developed society with non-perishable grains &

beans in contrast to just cattle—resulting in villages

forming cities, and multiple cities forming “states.”

They’d soon develop a class of craftsmen,

technicians, and intellectuals who’d develop

architecture, literature, philosophy, & spirituality.

Two Hints From Dr. John Two Hints From Dr. John HenrikHenrik ClarkeClarke

#1: “They pulled from African folklore the story about the child and the manger… Only in manger… Only in retrospect, did they name him Jesus Christ...”

#2: [In reference to God] “I have no problem with the she…”

Anthropomorphic Anthropomorphic AstrotheologyAstrotheology

� Anthropomorphic: when a concept is “personified”

as a human figure, often within a narrative to

display how theoretical or metaphorical concepts

interact with other qualities in nature.

� Astrotheology: usually beginning with the

deification of the sun, the use of the movement

of the planets and star constellations in relation to

the sun to articulate religious doctrine.

AfricanAfrican--Centered Scholars on ReligionCentered Scholars on Religion

Solar Myth Theory: crucified saviors were inspired by the ancient African concept of Heru (Horus).

They serve as anthropomorphized They serve as anthropomorphized representations of the sun, and their life stories are analogous to the sun passing thru the 12 constellations of the zodiac; while the Sun is analogous to the spirit.

Egyptian Creation Egyptian Creation –– Memphite Memphite

Theology (The Theology (The PesedjetsPesedjets) 4,000 BC) 4,000 BC

� Amun or Atum sitting atop the mountain Ptah out the Nun (some say Ra-Amun)

� Amun or Atum speaks the Ogdoad (the 8 offspring - Deities of “Chaos”):offspring - Deities of “Chaos”):

◦Naunet & Nu,

◦Amaunet & Amun,

◦Kauket & Kuk,

◦Hauhet & Huh

The Ennead (The Nine Gods of Order)The Ennead (The Nine Gods of Order)

Ptah/Atum produces:

Shu (Air) & Tefnut (Water)

Geb (Earth) & Nut (Night Sky)

Ausar (Osiris) & Auset (Isis) Set & Nephthys

Heru

(Horus)

African Spiritual WorldviewAfrican Spiritual Worldview

“Bringing down” or spirit possession gave spiritual authority to African women, while incorporating African themes to new world religious practices like Santeria (a key theme in most black religious practices). “Catching the spirit” today is emblematic of the philosophical belief that there was no institutional separation between God and was no institutional separation between God and human beings. It underlies the ancient African notion that “solar messiahs” were allegories for one’s own spiritual potential.

Furthermore, the possession of a black body by a divine entity is in direct contrast to white superiority and stereotypes of blackness.

Egyptian AstrologyEgyptian Astrology

Gemini Cancer Leo

Taurus Virgo

Aries Libra

Pisces Scorpio

Aquarius Capricorn Sagittarius

Ten Commandments Ten Commandments vsvs The Book of The Book of Coming Forth by Day and by NightComing Forth by Day and by Night

Originally mis-titled “The Book of the Dead,” it contained the 42 negative confessions listed in the Papyrus of Ani…

Ex. - “I have not committed murder”

…became…

“Thou shalt not commit murder”

Egyptian Mystery TraditionEgyptian Mystery Tradition

Egyptians traversed the man/god gulf with the anthropomorphic god-man (the Christ); suggesting that “god” or christhood is accessible to all, not to just one historical figure. figure.

This is why the sun was synonymous with the spirit within.

KemeticKemetic to Christian Trinitiesto Christian Trinities� Ausar (Osiris)

� Auset (Isis )

� God, the Father

� Virgin Mary/The Holy Ghost*

Birth/

Creation

Preservation

� Heru (Horus)

Ghost*

� Jesus “Christ”**

*Because of Europe’s attempt to denigrate women, Jesus is the only “God-Man” who’s female

counterpart is a desexualized “ghost.” Simultaneously , from a Gnostic context, both the Virgin

Mary and Mary Magdalene represent the different stages of the feminine “Goddess-Woman”

removed from Christian ideology. The virgin (also mother-Isis) symbolizes the divine Mother,

while Magdalene (wife-Isis) represents the divine feminine as the conduit for the next stage of

life’s process (the birth of the Christ-child).

**Christ is also a Greek derivative of “Ka Res”, a Kemetic (Egyptian ) term meaning “the

anointed,” where “ka” is in reference to the spirit within.

Death/

Rebirth

Ecumenical CouncilsEcumenical Councils

Emperor Constantine of Rome started the ecumenical conferences in Nicea in 325 AD to “Romanize” and “de-Africanize” Christianity (sever all pagan ties). This gave Rome the political authority over the faith to articulate a European agenda to colonize Rome the political authority over the faith to articulate a European agenda to colonize in the name of God.

Catholic Bishops spoke for God on earth and often determined who went to heaven and who were considered “pagans.”

Gnostic FindingsGnostic Findings

The findings of Gnostic texts in 1945 termed “The Nagammati Scrolls” gave crucial information regarding the African-inspired Jews who incorporated Ancient inspired Jews who incorporated Ancient Egyptian narratives and astrotheologicalideas in the first 3 centuries of this millenium.

Other Ancient PreOther Ancient Pre--Christian Trinities Christian Trinities

� The Father - The Son - The Holy Ghost (de-gendered feminine goddess) (Rome)

� Auset - Ausar - Heru (Horus) Egypt

� Brahma - Siva - Vishnu (Krishna) India

Zeus - Dionysus/Bacchus - Semele/Demeter � Zeus - Dionysus/Bacchus - Semele/Demeter (Greece)

� Zeus - Apollo - Parthenis (Greece)

� Attis - Nana (Mother)/Cybele (Wife) (Phrygia)

� Adonis - Myrrh (Syria)

� Aion - Kore (Alexandra)

Other Solar MessiahsOther Solar Messiahs

• Ausar (Osiris) (4-3,000 BCE)

• Mithra (Persian) (1200 BCE)

• Attis (Phrygia) (1200 BCE)

• Krishna (India) (900 BCE)

• Dionysus (Greece) (500 BCE)• Dionysus (Greece) (500 BCE)

• Buddha (India)

• Adonis (Babylonian)

• Births, deaths, and resurrections were often consistent with the vernal equinox (Easter) and the winter solstice (Christmas).

Solar Messiah Narrative ThemesSolar Messiah Narrative Themes• Believed to be God made flesh

• The Savior

• Son of God

• Father is God & mother is virgin (mortal, but often presented as 3 to signify the goddess in 3 phases: mother/sister/wife)

• Born in a cave or cowshed on

• December 25th in front of 3 shepherds• December 25 in front of 3 shepherds

• Offers followers the chance to be born again through baptism

• Turns water into wine at a marriage ceremony

• Rides into town on a donkey while people wave palm leaves to honor him

• Dies at Easter as a sacrifice for the sins of the world

• descends into hell after death, then rises on the 3rd day and ascends to heaven in glory

• Followers await his return as the judge during the Last Days

• his death and resurrection are celebrated by a ritual meal of bread and wine (which symbolizes his body and blood)

Representations of the “GodRepresentations of the “God--man” man” as Whiteas White

Heru (Horus)

Contemporary Africana Societies & ReligionsContemporary Africana Societies & Religions

� Christianity is the largest religion practiced

amongst African Americans

� Islam, however, has the largest population of

practitioners of African descent globally