Q & A

1. What makes Atenism different from other major religions available today?

A: Atenism is one of the few religions that have a founder who can firmly be rooted in history, and whose details we can verify. We know Akhenaten's parents, grandparents, and most of his close family and administration. We have independent non-Egyptian witnesses to the direct existence of Akhenaten in the form of the Amarna Letters. We have artistic depictions of Akhenaten as well as his possible mummy and genetic information if he belongs to the KV55 tomb. We have his sanctioned inscriptions in the form of stelae and his religious beliefs presented in the form of two hymns/liturgies. Much of the major religions today cannot substantiate many of the purported facts about their founders nor can they firmly anchor their founders in history by unbiased sources.

2. Are all of the beliefs and teachings of Atenway reflective of Ancient Egyptian Atenism?

A: No. Atenism is a very simplistic religion and does not have many doctrines or rituals. However, to best serve the People of Aten, it is necessary to present what we believe to be Aten-inspired wisdom and instructions, as revealed to King Atenmose. 

3. Why is Aten considered a Father deity, and not a female or gender-neutral deity?

A: Besides the fact that Aten is traditionally described as a male deity, there are more practical reasons. Aten is the source of life in the same way that the male is the source of life. Aten provides the energy source which initiates and sustains life, but He does not directly create life. The male provides the x or y chromosome in the form of sperm to the female, but she builds and creates that life in her womb. In other words, the male is the source or first cause, and the female is the creator or producer.  

4. What is the Atenist creation story?

A: Atenism lacks a mythological creation story, but the truth is probably very similar to what scientists have discovered from research. Humans are considered primates and come from the ape family, but are unique in their ability to manipulate and control life as well as enact their will. Due to these special traits of humans, we believe that we have a unique relationship with Aten and a great responsibility to rule the earth in a way that upholds ma'at. 

5. Is there an Atenist afterlife?

A: Yes. Our life force issues forth from Aten and it is to Him we all return. This is the "light" many who have had near death experiences commonly see. 

6. Does Atenway have a special diet or way of eating?

A: Not in particular. Although, King Atenmose prescribes a non-mammalian diet, due to the close similarities between humans and other mammals as well as the health impact of mammalian meats. Ideally, an Atenist would only consume animals that are: Seafood, Fowl, or (if applicable) reptiles. Meats like beef, pork, lamb, and goat are best avoided. The healthiest diet is high in fiber and starch, moderate in fat, and moderate to high in protein. This topic will be discussed more in depth in future blog posts and videos. 

7. Does upholding ma'at involve being nonviolent or pacifist?

A: Not necessarily. Ma'at is about balance. Sometimes the only proper way to restore peace is to inflict a degree of violence. When a people are experiencing oppression and genocide, the only way to restore balance is to remove the oppressor from their position of power. Most times this removal will be a violent affair. When a random person fires their gun at innocent people in a supermarket, the only proper action to restore ma'at is to shoot and kill the perpetrator before they have a chance to take more innocent lives. These are some scenarios in which violence would be an appropriate response. 

8. What is the Atenway stance on abortion?

A: Abortion is affirmed, especially in cases of incest and rape. We do not recommend abortion as a form of birth control, as prevention is a much better route. Life comes from Aten but we humans have a moral responsibility to produce children who are fit, healthy, and strong when possible. 

9.  What is the Atenway stance on suicide?

A: We do not endorse suicide in general. However, in cases of severe birth defects, chronic pain, or unrelenting mental illness, we see it as understandable. Preferably, a painless form of euthanasia would be applied rather than the more traumatizing traditional methods. 

10. Is Atenism or Atenway related to any of the three major religions -- Judaism, Christianity, or Islam?

A: Yes. We believe that Atenism did not merely disappear, but that aspects of it can be seen in the subsequent religious groups nearby. Elements of Atenism can be viewed in the Hebrew torah, especially in Psalm 104 and the exclusivism of the deity of the nation of Israel. In about the 1st century BCE, a semi-Judaic group with many solar practices similar to Atenism is recorded in Alexandria Egypt. This group of people were called Therapeutae, and it is possible that they also influenced or were a pre-cursor to later Christian groups. The Johannine literature in particular displays many parallels to Atenism such as an emphasis on the light and God being that light. Islam also seems to display similar prayer patterns of the earlier Therapeutae in that they both prayed at dawn and dusk towards the east. This topic will be discussed more in depth in future blog posts and videos. 

11. Does Atenway believe in gender roles or relationships?

A: No. We believe in gender functions, not gender roles. A gender function does not rely upon cultural norms or stereotypes. Gender function relies upon biological reality as well as similarity in form to other phenomenon. For instance, the male function is similar to the Aten and the Sun, and the female function is similar to Space and the Earth. This topic will be discussed more in depth in future blog posts and videos. 

12. Does Atenway seek to unify with other religious or spiritual organizations?

A: No. We respect the integrity of other religious organizations and do not seek to mix or merge in a religious sense. However, future business or societal collaborations are welcome. 

13. Are we punished for our sins or sent to a hell after we die?

A: No. We can only be punished in our physical forms. Once our physical form decomposes, we no longer have any individual emotions or thoughts, nor can we choose to do good or evil. Justice can only occur here and now in the same way that injustice can only occur here and now. Hell is a scare tactic for many religions and anyone seeking to retain a light spirit would not engage themselves in worrying about hell nor wishing it upon anyone else.