this post was submitted on 03 Aug 2024
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That's actually a great thought. Of all things, worshipping the sun has merit. But you can't control people with that concept, because you can't control the sun. People who want to find solitude in the things that actually matter, and are available to anyone, must be converted into sheep. And they literally call themselves that, as their Lord is their shepherd.
WTF
But think of all the things that puritans offer! Like working! And... Um. Uhh...
Working, and hating fun. What a fantastic religion!
Oh, so Akhenaten couldn't control people?
Didnt they mostly just pay the workers?
Well, Michelangelo got paid for painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel as well. Who's "they" and what's your point?
That people weren't tricked into work. They were paid for it and likely held great pride in it.
I reacted to, paraphrased: "you can't control people with sun worship".
During his reign, Akhenaten instated monotheistic worship of Aten - the sun disc - and did away with all other gods worshipped in Egypt at that time. Whether or not the workers who built his monuments were paid well I do not know - I suspect you have the Diary of Merer in mind, but remember that Khufu's and Akhenaten's respective reigns were more than a thousand years apart - as a pharaoh, Akhenaten could most certainly control people. And if you believe religion can be used as a means to control people, this is definitely a historic example of sun worship being used to this end, wouldn't you agree?