moral or ethical system
The courts often consider the existence of a moral or ethical system in determining if a religion is legally valid.
legal standards
“(3) a system of moral practice directly resulting from an adherence to the belief;” —Fellowship of Humanity v. County of Alameda
“3. Moral or Ethical System: Religious beliefs often prescribe a particular manner of acting, or way of life, that is “moral” or “ethical.” In other words, these beliefs often describe certain acts in normative terms, such as “right and wrong,” “good and evil,” or “just and unjust.” The beliefs then proscribe those acts that are “wrong,” “evil,” or “unjust.” A moral or ethical belief structure also may create duties--duties often imposed by some higher power, force, or spirit--that require the believer to abnegate elemental self-interest.” —United States of America v David Meyers
“a formal code of doctrine and discipline,” —IRS definition of a church
Kemetic or ancient Egyptian religion
An example from the Shabaka stela:
There comes into being in the heart; there comes into being by the tongue as the image of Atum! Ptah is the very great, who gives life to all the neteru and their kas. It is all in this heart and by this tongue.
His [Ptah’s] Puat [Ennead] is before him as heart, authoritative utterance, teeth, semen, lips, and hands of Atum. This Puat [Ennead] of Atum came into being through his semen and through his fingers. Surely, this Puat [Ennead of Ptah] is the teeth and the lips in the mouth, proclaiming the name of all things, from which Shu and Tefwt came forth as him, and which gave birth to the Puat [Ennead of Ptah]. The sight of the eyes, the hearing of the ears, and the breathing of air through the nose, they transmit to the heart, which brings forth every decision. Indeed, the tongue thence repeats what is in front of the heart. Thus was given birth to all the neteru. His [Ptah’s] Puat [Ennead] was completed. Lo, every word of the Ntr came into being through the thoughts in the heart and the command by the tongue. Thus all the faculties were made and all the qualities determined, they that make all foods and all provisions, through this word. [Life] to him who does what is loved, [death] to him who does what is hated. Thus life is given to the peaceful and death is given to the criminal. Thus all labor, all crafts, the action of the arms, the motion of the legs, the movements of all the limbs, acording to this command which is devised by the heart and comes forth by the tongue and creates the performance of everything.
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