Christianity and Ancient Egyptian Religion—A Comparison
The religion practiced by ancient Egyptians and modern Christianity have many of the same basic beliefs and practices, but there are also many glaring differences between them. These similarities are probably why it was so easy for the Egyptian people to accept Christianity when it was brought to them early in the first century A.D.
Christianity and Ancient Egyptian religious beliefs are similar in many ways. Both Christians and Ancient Egyptians believe that children are a blessing from god, and that death is a transitional stage leading from this world to the next that there is an afterlife that lasts forever.
Christians and Ancient Egyptians also agree that a person must live right and be honest to get into the afterlife. Christians believe a person must be saved and then live a righteous life, while Egyptians thought that good works alone would get them into the afterlife. Both also believed in the resurrection of the body, and in a final judgment to determine what your spirit [soul] would spend eternity.
Even though there are many ways that Christianity and the religion of Ancient Egypt were alike, there are some real differences between them.
Ancient Egyptians believed in many gods, which we call today—polytheism, while Christians believe in only one God or monotheism.
Ancient Egyptians used many scrolls filled with instruction, spells and incantations to guide them to the afterlife known as the “Book of the Dead.”
Christians use the “Holy Bible” to help them live right and reach heaven.
Ancient Egyptians spent their entire life and most of their wealth to prepare for the afterlife. They constructed elaborate tombs and gathered all their
worldly possessions to be buried with them. They believed that they could literally take it with them into the next world, but Christians believe their reward will be in heaven. They also believe that you can’t take it with you.
It is plain to see that the religion practiced by ancient Egyptians and modern Christianity have many of the same basic beliefs and practices. It is just as clear that there are also many real differences between these two religions.