How Reformed is too Reformed?

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[Lykaios]

I know I am not a full Reconstructionist anymore; that I may (very likely) never have been.  But I have to wonder if I even fit in the category of ‘reformed kemeticism’. I don’t really know if I’m phrasing this question right, but, what I’m trying to ask is…how far is too far for ‘reformation’ before we are talking about eclecticism instead? I don’t know how else to do this, so I just briefly itemized what I believe:

I use academic sources as my main source of inspiration (about 80% of the time), but not my exclusive source (there is that other 20%). I have no intention to ‘recreate’ an ancient faith; I only seek to build a modern faith on the foundations of the former. I worship the Netjer exclusively but also believe that other pantheons and gods exist. I believe in the duty to uphold the principles of Ma’at and honor the scared nature of community (even if I sometimes disagree vehemently with that community). I do not recognize any one nisut and believe that the job of bridging the two worlds can be accomplished by any individual who is dedicated enough to the task and deeply in touch with the Netjer. I deviate from ancient Egyptian beliefs about afterlife, incorporating a kemeticized version of reincarnation. I believe in the sacred power and magic in language, words, and names. I also believe in the use of talismans to work magic and allow other forms of magic, sometimes modern ones, to blip on my radar when considering options for workings. I believe in a soul with multiple ‘parts’ (Ba, Ka, Ren, etc…). I don’t follow the festival calendar strictly, other than a few major festivals, but I honor local festivals, traditions, and holidays as if they were part of my faith because (as mentioned above) I believe community is sacred. I purify and cleanse myself before prayer and I make offerings.

In general, I have a lot of Kemetic underpinnings to my faith, but is that enough? Can I be considered ‘reformed’? Or am I too ‘out there’ for that?  (Or am I too incoherent this late at night to be making any sense at all?)

[RandallS]

I use academic sources as my main source of inspiration (about 80% of the time), but not my exclusive source (there is that other 20%). I have no intention to ‘recreate’ an ancient faith; I only seek to build a modern faith on the foundations of the former. I worship the Netjer exclusively but also believe that other pantheons and gods exist.

While I can't comment on the specifically Kemetic stuff, I can comment on these three.  First, almost all recons use some non-academic sources -- if only to fill in the holes in the information academics provide. Some recons don't admit this, of course.   Second, the desire to create a modern faith instead of recreating exactly an ancient faith even where it does not work in the modern world is the essence of the "reformed" in "reformed reconstructionism."  Third, most ancient people recognized that gods other than their own existed.

[Lifewish]

In general, I have a lot of Kemetic underpinnings to my faith, but is that enough? Can I be considered ‘reformed’? Or am I too ‘out there’ for that? 

If you're too "out there" to be counted as Reformed Kemetic, then so am I.  I'm right there with you, nearly word-for-word.

Lifewish

[Darkhawk]

In general, I have a lot of Kemetic underpinnings to my faith, but is that enough? Can I be considered ‘reformed’? Or am I too ‘out there’ for that?  (Or am I too incoherent this late at night to be making any sense at all?)

Not only do you not sound "out there", you sound like most of the well-informed mainstream Kemetics I've seen who aren't doctrinaire about their god-kings.

[Lykaios]

Not only do you not sound "out there", you sound like most of the well-informed mainstream Kemetics I've seen who aren't doctrinaire about their god-kings.

(reply to all)

I’m actually glad to hear that. My feel for this kind of stuff is warped by my self-imposed semi-isolation. I’m not usually afraid of deviating from the norm, but I’ve been so out of touch lately that I’m not even sure what the norm is anymore. I don’t know if it’s just me, but it feels a like the Kemetic community in general is disjointed for how small it actually is. I have trouble with keeping track of all the different groups and definitions of what ‘Kemetic’ is and figuring out which groups I fit into and which ones I don’t. I have a lot of ideas and a lot of things I’d love to ‘put out there’ as it were, a strong desire to contribute, but I never know where to start or what group/s would even be interested in what I have to say much less benefit from it.  I guess my problem is mostly in my head, but I’m still glad to know I’m not a raving heretic yet.

[Darkhawk]

I guess my problem is mostly in my head, but I’m still glad to know I’m not a raving heretic yet.

Aw, but the raving heretic side is so much fun!


... pardon, that was my inner Setian loose again.

[Journey]

(reply to all)
I’m actually glad to hear that. My feel for this kind of stuff is warped by my self-imposed semi-isolation. I’m not usually afraid of deviating from the norm, but I’ve been so out of touch lately that I’m not even sure what the norm is anymore. I don’t know if it’s just me, but it feels a like the Kemetic community in general is disjointed for how small it actually is. I have trouble with keeping track of all the different groups and definitions of what ‘Kemetic’ is and figuring out which groups I fit into and which ones I don’t. I have a lot of ideas and a lot of things I’d love to ‘put out there’ as it were, a strong desire to contribute, but I never know where to start or what group/s would even be interested in what I have to say much less benefit from it.  I guess my problem is mostly in my head, but I’m still glad to know I’m not a raving heretic yet.

Well, I have been branded a raving heretic by some and so be it.   I use conventional and non-conventional sources as well as talking to the deities themselves and spirit guides. I think my trouble with strict re-cons stemed from the fact that I practice what would be termed as ancient Egyptian folk magic as opposed to Temple magic and Temple rituals. A lot of my beliefs and practice stem from little known books and my own research. But my biggest problem was the way I updated / moderized / westerized some practices. Too extreme for some I guess. But if I haven't ticked off the deities then I really don't care how many humans I tick off. 

[Nehet]

(reply to all)

I’m actually glad to hear that. My feel for this kind of stuff is warped by my self-imposed semi-isolation. I’m not usually afraid of deviating from the norm, but I’ve been so out of touch lately that I’m not even sure what the norm is anymore. I don’t know if it’s just me, but it feels a like the Kemetic community in general is disjointed for how small it actually is. I have trouble with keeping track of all the different groups and definitions of what ‘Kemetic’ is and figuring out which groups I fit into and which ones I don’t. I have a lot of ideas and a lot of things I’d love to ‘put out there’ as it were, a strong desire to contribute, but I never know where to start or what group/s would even be interested in what I have to say much less benefit from it.  I guess my problem is mostly in my head, but I’m still glad to know I’m not a raving heretic yet.

I totally get what you're saying.  I find myself wanting community, but I don't feel like I'd fit into HoN or any of the major temples.  There are other sites, but most of what I've seen doesn't appear to be very active, or very well organized. 

[Darkhawk]

I totally get what you're saying.  I find myself wanting community, but I don't feel like I'd fit into HoN or any of the major temples.  There are other sites, but most of what I've seen doesn't appear to be very active, or very well organized. 

One of the things that I've personally found useful is finding religious community with non-Kemetics.  In many ways I think it's easier to build an eclectic community than a Kemetic one; at least the ground assumptions are that we have to work through and find workable compromises with each other's different positions. :/

I'd write more but it's late and I have to be up in five hours.

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