Religious leaders
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In modern times, Jewish rites are performed by the rabbi, a Jewish scholar and teacher. A rabbi is specifically ''not'' a priest, as the priestly classes cannot return to [[Judaism]] until the Temple is rebuilt. As with clergy in the other [[Abrahamic religion]]s, men have traditionally held the role of rabbi, and women are still not permitted to be rabbis in [[Orthodox Judaism]], although all other forms of Judaism now accept women rabbis. | In modern times, Jewish rites are performed by the rabbi, a Jewish scholar and teacher. A rabbi is specifically ''not'' a priest, as the priestly classes cannot return to [[Judaism]] until the Temple is rebuilt. As with clergy in the other [[Abrahamic religion]]s, men have traditionally held the role of rabbi, and women are still not permitted to be rabbis in [[Orthodox Judaism]], although all other forms of Judaism now accept women rabbis. | ||
| − | To become a rabbi, one must attend formal schooling. Rabbis oversee community rituals such as | + | To become a rabbi, one must attend formal schooling. Rabbis oversee community rituals such as [[circumcision|the bris], weddings and funerals. |
==Islam: the imam== | ==Islam: the imam== | ||
Revision as of 22:14, 23 November 2011
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Every organized religion in the world has individuals or groups that are there to guide followers through the trappings of their faith. By and large, their primary roles are similar: performing the rites and ceremonies that a particular religion requires, such as birth rituals, coming-of-age rituals, death rituals, and whatever else the religion tosses in. They often take on the role of moral leader and teacher or "guide" as well.
This page identifies some of the major categories of religious leaders and compares their roles.
Contents |
Priests
The definition used by anthropology is that a priest is a person who has been given authority to perform sacred acts for the population, acting as a link between the unwashed masses and their deity. One of a priest's most important functions is to perform sacrifices to a god or goddess(including *The God*, YHWH, who required ritual live animal sacrifices, until He performed the "Ultimate Sacrifice" and sorta, kinda killed His son.) [1]
Priests and priestesses are found throughout the religious world, including neo-pagan religions, Shintoism, Hinduism, and most so-called "indigenous" or "traditional" religions.
Christianity
Roman Catholic and Orthodox Priests
Roman Catholic and Russian and Greek Orthodox priests are the only Christian religious leaders who maintain the title of "priest". Like other cultures' priests, their rituals are full of magic and mysticism. They transform pieces of wafer cracker into the literal, living flesh of Jesus[2]. They also practice the healing ritual of the laying on of hands, and exorcisms where they remove demons from people. Their blessing alone creates "holy water", which is believed to heal the sick and give protection from demons[3]
Catholic priests take vows of celibacy and are considered to be married to Jesus. In spite of this, they are supposed to be the primary source of counsel and advice for troubled married couples and families in general. To become a Priest, you must be accepted by the Church at large, attend a specialized training, and dedicate your life in a formal ceremony. The entire Catholic Church recognizes the legitimacy of each Priest.
Roman and Orthodox Priests must be male. Women can hold no positions of religious authority in the Church, though they can be nuns.
Ministers, Reverends and Preachers
One of the main changes brought about by the Protestant Reformation was the removal of specialized set of men who were the only people able to intercede between the faithful and God, and the institution of the formal position that that each person's relationship with God was direct and personal. But, there was still a need for someone to perform rituals, teach the faithful about their faith, and generally be a moral pain in the butt for the "sinners".
There is no real distinction between the titles minister, reverend or preacher, all three do effectively the same roles in their individual churches. Unlike their Catholic brethren, they are allowed (even required) to be or have been married, they do not have the ability to perform supernatural acts, and they do not (despite what individuals might claim) hold ultimate authority over anyone, theologically. They are guides, and as the titles suggest, should be held in high honor, but are not themselves a special set or sect of people. Anyone can call themselves a minister without any formal training or organized rite and legitimacy. However, the larger denominations of Protestant Christianity require formal advanced theological training usually at a University. Also, as there is no formal "Protestant Church", each individual church or denomination may or may not vest legitimacy in other Church's ministers.
Since the late twentieth century, many Protestant denominations have increasingly allowed women to be ministers.
Judaism: the rabbi
For much of its history, the Jewish faith was administered by Priests, a class of Jewish citizens who were given social, economic and political power far beyond that of just performing the scared rites of the people. They were second in power only to the Kings, and when the Romans took over, it was the Priestly classes they were most worried about.
In modern times, Jewish rites are performed by the rabbi, a Jewish scholar and teacher. A rabbi is specifically not a priest, as the priestly classes cannot return to Judaism until the Temple is rebuilt. As with clergy in the other Abrahamic religions, men have traditionally held the role of rabbi, and women are still not permitted to be rabbis in Orthodox Judaism, although all other forms of Judaism now accept women rabbis.
To become a rabbi, one must attend formal schooling. Rabbis oversee community rituals such as [[circumcision|the bris], weddings and funerals.
Islam: the imam
An imam is a Muslim religious leader. Like preachers and ministers, he guides people in their religious path, teaches them about the Qu'ran, and sometimes performs rituals. In theory, Sunni imams hold less religious power than Shi'a imams, functioning as a leader in prayer and as a community leader, rather than a moral guide. This, however, depends greatly on the local community.
Anyone can become an Imam, one does not have to attend special schools or be appointed by the larger religious community.
Imams are almost universally male. Only recently have any women stepped into the role, always in so-called western style mosques, and always bringing up serious controversy where it occurs.
Monks and nuns
Monks and nuns are people who choose to devote their life to religious worship, and set themselves aside (at least for a given time) from the rest of society for such solitary practice. While they may reside with others, the core tenant of being a monk or nun is this personal, solitary focus on devotion.
Buddhism
Monks and nuns in Buddhism not only maintain the solitary devotion of monks in general, but they act (for a short term or for a lifetime) as a community's connection to the divine, performing various personal rituals and celebrations for births, marriages, funerals, and the sick. However, they do not "lead" the community in these prayers and rituals as a priest or minister might do, they perform them in solitary, as a way of honoring the person being celebrated. The family may sit around the monk to share and watch the experience, but it is generally not a group activity.
Both women and men perform these rites and rituals.
Christianity
In Christianity, monks and nuns are individuals who wish to devote their life to the worship of God. While they may serve as teachers, they do not have any of the intercessory powers of Priests. Their devotion is personal and private.