1. Ancient and Indigenous Religions

2. RELIGION MEANING - re·li·gion noun 1. a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs. 2. a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion. 3. the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions. 4. the life or state of a monk, nun, etc.: to enter religion. 5. the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith.

4. When we look at ancient religions we tend to think of religions of the ancient world- the Mesopotamians, the Egyptians, the ancient Greeks and Romans.

5. These people who practiced these ancient religions are separated from us by time and space. To understand what there Gods and Goddesses meant to them we need to examine the following aspects; The main belief of a religion The sacred stories and writings of different religions The sacred rituals, prayers and festivals of a religions Sacred space; shrines, household alters and burial places Sacred signs and symbols representing religious stories, objects and ideas Sacred people and social structures, such as priests and priestesses, religious teachers and healers and custodians of the tradition Sacred time ; many ancient religions regulated times for planting and harvesting crops.

7. Earliest religious writings were inscribed on clay or stone tablets. One feature of these religions was the variety of cults around the gods and goddesses. These divine beings were; Worshipped as protectors of the city-states Viewed as the sources of fertility in humans, domestic animals and crops Often erratic in their behavior, harming some people while favouring others Feared and placated in rituals

8. Using the Bible as a source for ancient history, the ancient Canaanite God – God of thunder and lighting is mentioned in Exodus 32: 8-9 “they have been quick to turn aside from the way that I commanded them; they have cast for themselves an image of a calf and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it”

9. http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/gods/home.ht ml

10. Go to the following web site and look at all the Ancient Egyptian Gods and Goddesses ; http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/gods/story/main.html When you have looked at all the Ancient Egyptian Gods take the challenge and see what happens.

11. BOOK OF THE DEAD WRITTEN IN HIEOGLIPHYICS

12. The Book of the Dead is the common name for the ancient Egyptian funerary texts known as The Book of Coming [or Going] Forth By Day. The name "Book of the Dead" was the invention of the German Egyptologist Karl Richard Lepsius, who published a selection of some texts in 1842.

13. BOOK OF THE DEAD HYMN TO OSIRIS. Homage to thee, Osiris, Lord of eternity, King of the Gods, whose names are manifold, whose forms are holy, thou being of hidden form in the temples, whose Ka is holy. Thou art the governor of Tattu (Busiris), and also the mighty one in Sekhem (Letopolis). Thou art the Lord to whom praises are ascribed in the nome of Ati, thou art the Prince of divine food in Anu. Thou art the Lord who is commemorated in Maati, the Hidden Soul, the Lord of Qerrt (Elephantine), the Ruler supreme in White Wall (Memphis). Thou art the Soul of Ra, his own body, and hast thy place of rest in Henensu (Herakleopolis). Thou art the beneficent one, and art praised in Nart. Thou makest thy soul to be raised up. Thou art the Lord of the Great House in Khemenu (Hermopolis). Thou art the mighty one of victories in Shas-hetep, the Lord of eternity, the Governor of Abydos. The path of his throne is in Ta-tcheser (a part of Abydos). Thy name is established in the mouths of men. Thou art the substance of Two Lands (Egypt). …