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 "The
Book of The Dead" is a generic name given to the various
texts found in early Egyptian tombs — apparently placed there
so the deceased could "bone up" for the great final
examination, or serve as "ticket" for passage through
the dark halls of the unknown into the presence of Osiris,
"the conqueror of death, who made men and women 'to be born
again'." These funeral texts were used as early as ca.
3,700 B.C. Through a long history many changes and additions
were made, and we could not begin to give more than a few
samples; but I want to put some of this material before you, and
then comment upon it.
A
section of The Negative Confession reads: "Hail,
Usekh-nemmt, who cometh forth from Anu, I have not committed
sin. Hail (various 'gods') I have not committed robbery with
violence ...I have not stolen grain… have not uttered lies
...I have not committed adultery, I have not lain with
men." Apparently there was a special "god" for
everything, for each negative in this section begins with
something like: "Hail Basti... Hail Tutu... etc."
"I have not eaten the heart (or, I have not grieved
uselessly)... have not been angry without just cause ... have
not set my mouth in motion (or, talked too much, or
slandered)."
Another
section, The Great Judgment, contains some real goodies. "I
have not opposed my family and kinsfolk... I have not known men
who were of no account (i.e., friend of worthless or profligate
men)... I have not caught fish with bait made of the bodies of
the same kind of fish ...I have not added to the weights of
scales."
First,
we observe that this early civil-
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ization had a sense of
"ought" or what was morally right. Adultery, homosexual
acts (many specified) were wrong, and could adversely affect the
judgment. "Eavesdropping, cursing" or even
"making others to weep" are included in things
considered wrong. There was no lack of moral perception. I found
one: "I have not shut up my ears to the words of
truth." How does our society measure to this standard?
They
related their actions in this life to judgment and the life
beyond. I don't know how seriously they regarded these things
while they had good health, but the thought of death had a
sobering effect. From the number of "Books" found, I
suspect some were prepared to lie to the "gods" — as
today's funeral orations foolishly lie to the true God who knows
all.
The
pagan concepts, and child-like concepts of appeasement,
symbolism, and ceremony, remind one of "Secret Orders"
of our day — and, in fact, we find the source of some of
today's foolishness in these ancient papers.
And
the negative aspects of their "religion" is
overwhelming. One might fill his coffin with "I have nots"
and be woefully lacking in positive service to God. Of course
the whole philosophy is inadequate. We could fall into the same
error on a positive side — thinking a list of "Have dones"
would earn for us heaven. But Christianity is Christ, not man
centered. We can only say, I have sinned, and then turn to
Christ for mercy. In faith that "presses toward the
mark" we have marvelous assurance.
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