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| Atenism and Entropy; Your beliefs about entropy and thermodynamics | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: May 2 2013, 07:26 PM (402 Views) | |
| fish | May 2 2013, 07:26 PM Post #1 |
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Hello Atenists. I have some questions about your faith. I have here a set of questions that relate to your faith and the modern scientific understanding of universal laws and I am interested in your views on this. If I may I shall pose the questions without explanation of the scientific terms. They can all be researched quickly on Wikipedia, though I expect that some of these aspects are already incorporated in your thinking. 1) How is modern Atenism modified to take account of the fact that there are trillions of life giving stars not just one and that they are all basically the same? 2) Can Atenism be seen, in the light of modern science, as the worship of the second law of thermodynamics and the associated scientific paradox of the "Past Hypothesis"? 3) What is your view on thermodynamic entropy and information entropy as it relates to your faith? 4) What is the destiny or goal of mankind or perhaps all life and complexity in the universe in the very long run (many many many millions of years)? What paths are open? 5) What do you believe as Atenists about the eventual heat death of the universe? Is it avoidable? What happens after heat death has happened? 6) What is the purpose of life as far as Aten is concerned? If you have written material that answers these questions that will do fine. Otherwise I hope you can answer any or some or all of my questions directly. Thanks! Fish |
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| Maaritaten | May 2 2013, 07:58 PM Post #2 |
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Hi there! I think many of your questions stems from a misconception of Atenism - while it is tradtionally viewed as sun worship, and indeed the word 'aten' itself signifies the sun disc, we believe that the sun is a mere symbol, however powerful, of the divine. The divine, the living Aten, manifests itself in the sun and its' life giving energy but it is not consubstanial with the star itself. If there is scient life with intelligence comparable or above that of humans I would find it reasonable that whatever star they have would fill a similar role if the divine so chooses to manifest itself. Atenism is not concerned so much with classical theological topics as with simply stating that we are here, we are created and sustained by the Aten, and his manifestation is the sun. The meaning of life is not stated in any of the texts and would therefore only be speculation from our side, but the destiny of mankind is, we hope, to be (re-)united with the divine. On your question about the ultimate fate of the universe I can only tell you that the hymns and prayers speak of Aten, and indeed the world, being born and created anew every day. Traditional egyptian religion spoke regularly of zep tepi, the first time, but Atenism never does. I would believe, siding with some scientists, that after the universe implodes (or whatever the current theory is) then there will be some sort of counter-reaction and we will again see new life forming in a new universe. Sorry if I you didn't get any exact, substantial answers but that's the best I can do
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'Let me be satisfied seeing You, Oh Living Aten!' - adapted from the Hymn of Tutu, Chamberlain of the Two Lands | |
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| fish | May 3 2013, 05:08 AM Post #3 |
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Hi Maaritaten, thanks for the reply. What you say makes sense. Apart from leaving the obvious question about how you define the nature of the Living Aten? If every star is a manifestation of one Living Aten (which makes both spiritual and scientific sense I would say), what can you say about the nature of this divinity? Presumably Atenism does not address from whence this divinity arose, and you are also saying I think that there is no doctrine which sheds any light on what its purpose for man or other living things may be? Please correct me if I'm wrong. |
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8:33 PM Jul 10