Invisible religion in ancient Egypt : a study into the individual religiosity of non-royal and non-elite ancient Egyptians
The research presented in this thesis applies Thomas Luckmannâs theory of invisible religion to three aspects of ancient Egyptian culture (festivals, household and personal items, and communication with the dead and with gods). The intention is firstly to address the four key issues that have arisen as a result of previous research into personal religion in ancient Egypt, secondly to determine whether ordinary ancient Egyptians possessed individual religiosity, and thirdly to establish whether the three aspects of ancient Egyptian culture considered can be viewed as examples of invisible religion. With regards to the four key issues, this research concludes: there was a link between individual religiosity and state religion; the intimacy of ordinary ancient Egyptiansâ emotions relating to individual religiosity varied; individual religiosity was not a phenomenon of the lower classes; individual religiosity was not an innovation of the New Kingdom. In addition, it is shown that ordinary ancient Egyptians did possess individual religiosity but that each person would have created, maintained, engaged with, and internalised the universe of meaning (as described by Luckmann) to a different extent. Finally,
Dewsbury, Laura May
BL Religion ; D051 Ancient History
Invisible religion in ancient Egypt : a study into the individual religiosity of non-royal and non-elite ancient Egyptians. The research presented in this thesis applies Thomas Luckmannâs theory of invisible religion to three aspects of ancient Egyptian culture (festivals, household and personal items, and communication with the dead and with gods). The intention is firstly to address the four key issues that have arisen as a result of previous research into personal religion in ancient Egypt, secondly to determine whether ordinary ancient Egyptians possessed individual religiosity, and thirdly to establish whether the three aspects of ancient Egyptian culture considered can be viewed as examples of invisible religion. With regards to the four key issues, this research concludes: there was a link between individual religiosity and state religion; the intimacy of ordinary ancient Egyptiansâ emotions relating to individual religiosity varied; individual religiosity was not a phenomenon of the lower classes; individual religiosity was not an innovation of the New Kingdom. In addition, it is shown that ordinary ancient Egyptians did possess individual religiosity but that each person would have created, maintained, engaged with, and internalised the universe of meaning (as described by Luckmann) to a different extent. Finally,
invisible religion_ancient egypt study individual religiosity non royal non_elite ancient_egyptians present applies thomas theory invisible religion aspect ancient_egyptian culture festival household personal item communication dead god intention firstly address four_key issue_arise previous personal religion_ancient egypt secondly determine_whether ordinary ancient_egyptians possess individual religiosity thirdly establish_whether aspect ancient_egyptian culture consider view example invisible religion regard four_key issue concludes link individual religiosity state religion intimacy ordinary ancient_egyptians emotion relate individual religiosity vary individual religiosity phenomenon low_class individual religiosity innovation new_kingdom addition show ordinary ancient_egyptians possess individual religiosity person would create_maintain engage universe meaning described different extent finally