The 42 Negative Confessions

[Raevyn]

These Kemetic confessions were listed in the Book of Coming Forth by Day, and were used as a yardstick to measure one's soul against after death to determine if they had lived in Ma'at.


Ma'at, in it's basic idea, is justice, truth, harmony, and "the right way". It is the way of truth and justice, the way of balance (that is, not all happy get along fluffy stuff, but not mean and hateful either - it's the balance between the two). Kemetics had to proactively create Ma'at in themselves and others.

http://home.earthlink.net/~senni/temple/Page_11x.html

Scroll down to the bottom for modern translations that are easier to understand.

Do you think these are good concepts to live by while trying to be Ma'at? Do you feel you've held these in your life?

[Djiril]

This is the only one I have a problem with:

I have not disputed the Pharaoh/King/Ruler/President/Queen/ruler in charge.There are always times when you need to do that.

[FLipsiDE]

Interesting how many times the 'I don't lie' type of declaration was made there. I suspect that behind it there could be some subtle difference in meanings between them, it would be interesting to know exactly what the differences were.

I have not told lies.
I have not told lies or withheld the truth.
I have not purposely misconstrued the truth.

Also a realted one or two about not pretending to be someone else or telling secrets.

It's interesting the command you not to be sullen. How odd.

"But I don't WANT to help move titanic stones hundreds of miles to build a ruddy big gravestone. I won't!"

"I have not disputed the Pharaoh/King/Ruler/President/Queen/ruler in charge." Boy am I in trouble...

[Raevyn]

*nods* A few comments.

1) I think they were thought of as general guidelines to live by, much like the rede is. The rede says "an ye harm none do what thou wilt", so if you're harming no one do what you like, but also implies "if you harm someone you'd better think about what you're doing". It isn't meant absolutely and literally, but as a guideline for things.

I see the 42 Negative Confessions as a myth or story written down to be used as a guideline for life - much like the rede. So, don't argue with the pharoah, but at the same time don't lie, so if you're lying by agreeing with him well then that's weighed together.

I see ma'at as the application of guidelines rather then strict adherence to them, much like, again, the Rede.

2) This is further encouraged, in my mind, because I know people did at times disagree with the pharoah, and some pharoahs are even believed to a) have been murdered or b) to have had their names erased (the latter being akin to trying to wipe out their existence entirely - which is worse then being murdered, since existence spanned various planes, not just the physical one).

3) The pharoah was the representation of God. Which is why ideally you don't argue with them - I mean, you can argue with God, but it doesn't get you far most of the time.

4) I see the lies bit as distinct - don't tell lies, don't withold the truth which in itself is lying, don't misconstrue the truth which is also in itself lying to a degree. For instance, I can form my response to be truthful but still misleading - think of statistics that are skewed to prove a point, when someone only remembers part of an argument that support their point, and so on. Ultimately these things are the truth, but they might not be the whole truth, or the absolute truth.

Not trying to argue or anything, these are just thoughts I had about it.

[Melysande]

I have stolen.
I have caused people to weep.
I have discussed secrets.
I have been hot tempered.
I have told lies or withheld the truth.
I have cursed.
I have been violent.
I have purposely misconstrued the truth.
I have been impatient.
I have disputed the Pharaoh/King/Ruler/President/Queen/ruler in charge.
I have been loud (yelled or raised my voice in anger).
I have cursed a God.

**sighs** No one's perfect. :(

I do agree that they are more guidelines to live by than hard commandments. I mean, even the Nisut couldn't have been completely clean. In wartime, he'd have sent people off to their deaths or been involved in conflicts himself, so sometimes, he might have killed people.

**shrugs** It's all stuff that would go on the scale to judge how much your heart weighed compared to the feather of Ma'at.