Sárospataki Füzetek 18. (2014)

2014 / 1. szám - TANULMÁNYOK - Karasszon István: Vallásreformok az ókori Keleten

Karasszon István

Abstract

In recent decades communist leadership tried to transform the whole of society and one of its most important ideological tool was the fight against religions. This turns our attention to the ancient religious reforms which were led almost exclusively by kings in the Ancient Near East. The study tackles issues of the religious reform of Akhenaten in Egypt, Muwatalli II in the Hittite Kingdom, Sennacherib in Assyria and Nabunaid of Babylon. It turns out that behind the religious movement there was a political aim which led the king to reforming acts. It is highly remarkable that the reforms did not last long. There is an Israelite parallel at hand: The so-called Deute- ronomistic Reform led by king Josiah shows certain similarities to the other Ancient Near cult reforms, but there are striking differences, too. The study concludes that the transformation of a society can only be done with respect to the religious traditions of the given society.

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Sárospataki Füzetek 17. évfolyam I 2014 I 1