Modern Book of the Dead

The Book of the Dead once served as a guideline for the way in which ancient Egyptian people should plead their case in the afterlife in order to avoid being sent to the “bad place”. It was popular among society. People would read the book for guidance on how to convince their god that they were worthy of grace rather than punishment for any transgressions they may have committed. This book reflects the values of Egyptian society at the time by highlighting what would be considered grave transgressions. This is reflective of what was important in daily life. It is also is inadvertently reflective of what were probably very common transgressions among Egyptian society. Actions denied in the book were likely so common that they were believed to be what would first come to mind when deciding ones fate.

Additionally, the The Book of the Dead shows us what was considered just and unjust when it came to social interaction between and across classes in society at the time. A more modern book of the day created for society today would be reflective of such changes in human justice and social norms. For example, the original Book of the Dead has clear disparities in punishment for people from different classes of society. A double standard exists depending on who suffers the injustice and who is the perpetrator.

This concept closely contrasts with the Judeo Christian belief that god will ultimately refer to a Book of Life after you die to decide whether or not you are deserving of going to heaven in the end. It is said that he will look over transgressions committed that habe already been recorded in this book before he makes his decision. Unlike the Egyptian belief system, there is not an opportunity to reason with god. What is done, is done. Once your spirit has left your physical form, you are not believed to be able to actively change your fate. Any deeds that can be done in order to better your chances of going to heaven in the end must be completed during life on earth. Nonetheless, there are commonalities between these religious beliefs systems as they each developed over time. They each included an afterlife, and a final judgement period. Civilizations originating in the fertile crescent did not believe anything happened to you after you died. The Book of the Dead serves as further confirmation that this was not the case in ancient Egypt.

I have not spent more than thirty minutes on TikTok a day.

I have not declined a phone call I knew was important.

I have not drank out of the milk carton in the fridge.

I have not forgotten to flush.

I have not screenshotted, and sent a conversation I had over text message with someone to a friend for the sake of making fun of him or her.

I have not snoozed my alarm clock.

I have not left the light on when leaving a room.

I have not staged a social media post.

I have not texted my friends during church.

I have not dated my best friend’s crush.