Kemetic Orthodoxy, as discussed above and separately on our definition page, is a revived practice of an ancient religion particular to the Nile Valley of north Africa, generally defined as "ancient Egypt." Kemetic Orthodoxy focuses on liturgy and rites originally practiced through the end of the pharaonic period (roughly 4500 BCE through 30 BCE), with emphasis on the earliest-known sources. What may be surprising is that ancient religion is far from undocumented: there is a wealth of available information surrounding the traditional practice of this faith, and Kemetic Orthodoxy focuses on ancient texts and original rites for its formal or "state" practice, as Kemetic religion is highly traditional and conservative. Personal practices permit a great deal more individualism, but are still generally based on traditional models.

Kemetic Orthodoxy in practice is different from other "Egyptian" or "Kemetic" spiritual organizations based upon New Age or Neo-Pagan models, most significantly in the areas of interaction with Deity, organization of priesthood, and liturgical practice. While Kemetic Orthodoxy might be understood to be a "Pagan" religion in the context of the Roman Catholic Church (i.e., a religion not of Christian or Biblical origins), we do not classify ourselves as Pagan as we neither follow the spiritual teachings of the Holy See, nor do our spiritual practices derive from the practices of spiritual groups which do refer to themselves as Pagan or Neo-Pagan today.

When Netjer interacts with the Kemetic Orthodox within a ritual context, it is very intimate, personal and face-to-face, more often than not in the form of Saq, or oracular, full trance possessions similar to that of other African religions such Ifa, Lukumi and Vodou. This differs strongly from New Age "channelling" or the "drawing down the moon" of Neo-Pagan religions, where a speaker is regarded as the mouthpiece of Deity but remains fully or semi-conscious during the rite, or simply speaks pre-planned words "in the name" of Deity.

Additionally, many New Age and Neo-Pagan paths are religions of priests and priestesses, where each member is considered clergy and all that is required in many cases to become a priest is to declare oneself so. In Kemetic Orthodoxy, in antiquity as today, not all people are called to priesthood nor is priesthood absolutely crucial to spiritual fulfillment. The clergy ordination process in Kemetic Orthodoxy has no accomplishment or degree system either; members of the faith, both clergy and devotee, are granted roles according to vocation and spiritual needs, instead of initiations granted solely for money, knowledge, seniority or work.

In many ways, and especially the manner in which the religion is administered and sacerdotal functions, Kemetic Orthodoxy is much more similar to the Judeo-Christian family of religions than with Neo-Pagan or New Age ones. Kemetic religion had profound influence on the Greeks and Romans, and as observed in other parts of this FAQ, elements of Kemetic religion can be observed within such non-Kemetic contexts as Sufi poetry, Coptic Orthodox liturgy and the Christian conception of "heaven.".

See also:
Toward More Meaningful Terminology in Kemetic Religion (Part One)
Toward More Meaningful Terminology in Kemetic Religion (Part Two)