Are priests/religious leaders divinely appointed? (religion, science, about, history)
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NO! There is no such thing, for the very simple reason gods and all the rest of the trappings of the ancient superstition are just that, ancient superstitions from a time when little was known about the real world and that lack of knowledge created a great fear.
Today we know the "why and how" of things that created the fears in the past, yet to continue to cling to these superstitions, Moderator cut: edit
I've been trying for weeks now on the science threads to have an atheist tell me how the universe got here. No one can. Until you can, I think you're full of hot air.
Of course, you have the right to believe your silly superstitions. I will tolerate that. Can you tolerate my views?
Some are. Some are not. Nevertheless, the thread is about priests and religious leaders. Rabbis are religious leaders.
A little more than that - are priests/religious leaders divinely appointed? Rabbis are regarded as the equivalent of Priests in other religions, but, as i say, they are not quite the same.A sort pf mix of theologian and lawyer, though they lead religious services, though in fact the synagogue ruler can do the same -or anyone can be given the privilege of conducting the Jewish prayers.
Quote:
I heard differently.
I'm willing to be corrected, but I gather that the Kohens are regarded as the family appointed by God to be His priests. Priests I take as divinely appointed and perhaps even Holy because I recall (Josephus) that they had to be trained in building as only they could be allowed to build the 2nd temple. As I say, the calling fell into abeyance after the destruction of the temple and religion became (perforce) centred in synagogues.
Certainly welcome and inputs from experts in that area.
The pope is like the POTUS where the office should be respected but the person - meh.
The official title of the Pope is the Vicar of Christ, Vicarius Filii Dei
The word Christ means anointed one so one can extrapolate this anyway one chooses. Jesus and Christ are not interchangeable although many folk do. Jesus Christ is again a title of Jesus, the anointed one.
If you see where I am gong with this, being the vicar of the anointed one and the typical church hierarchy, it can be construed as blasphemous. Ergo, the pope "is god"
It really does not matter as god is a man made invention. The pope is elected by a vote of cardinals and bishops and taken the current incumbent, it is hardly likely there was any divine appointment with his record covering up the priest abuse scandal.
Easy to knock the RCC but we see so many other "falls from grace" of evangelical pastors so it is not limited to the RCC.
Again one must ask, if god exists how does the "anointed ones" fall soooo short of the (alleged) teachings of Jesus? We always hear the excuse man is fallible but if one takes the OT at face value, YHWH would not be amused and the fact he/it does nothing to prevent any of this from happening suggests he is only the figment of men's collective imaginations.
I find it weird that we atheists hold these clergy to a higher standard/expectation than their followers do. Even the god of the bible falls horribly short of our expectations, he should do better based on the biblical track record of supplying manna and quail to the Exodusees and Jesus feeding 4000+ and 5000+ from pithy available resources yet, in Africa, a kid dies every 6 seconds from starvation. I guess god does not like black folk?
Even the god of the bible falls horribly short of our expectations, he should do better based on the biblical track record of supplying manna and quail to the Exodusees and Jesus feeding 4000+ and 5000+ from pithy available resources yet, in Africa, a kid dies every 6 seconds from starvation. I guess god does not like black folk?
He sure does not.
Because not only the famines but also the slavery issues of the past.
White man lorded it over the black man, often in the name of Christian religion.
Rabbis are regarded as the equivalent of Priests in other religions, but, as i say, they are not quite the same.A sort pf mix of theologian and lawyer, ...
Not the rabbis I know. Not the rabbi at my synagogue. Please consider the possibility that I know something about my religion and its leadership.
Not the rabbis I know. Not the rabbi at my synagogue. Please consider the possibility that I know something about my religion and its leadership.
Sorry, that line wasn't well explained. I meant to say that other religions suppose Rabbis to be the equivalent of a priest, but this is a misconception. A Rabbi is learned in the Torah and acts like a sort of Torah - lawyer but is not a priest - though synagogues generally expect him to arrange and conduct services as part of his job. And if a Temple priest was holy (you haven't confirmed or denied that) a Rabbi isn't any more than any other man. Just more learned in the law.
Now if this is wrong, I trust you will explain where and not just say 'That's not what I heard, and I know what I'm talking about'.
Sorry, that line wasn't well explained. I meant to say that other religions suppose Rabbis to be the equivalent of a priest, but this is a misconception. A Rabbi is learned in the Torah and acts like a sort of Torah - lawyer but is not a priest - though synagogues generally expect him to arrange and conduct services as part of his job.
Well said. Sorry to have misunderstood the previous remarks.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AREQUIPA
And if a Temple priest was holy (you haven't confirmed or denied that) a Rabbi isn't any more than any other man. Just more learned in the law.
A problem here is that 'holy' has come to mean something different. Kadosh (holy) means something closer to "set aside for religious purposes". In this sense the Priest was certainly 'holy', but I know of nothing to suggest that a priest was likely to be godlier or more inerrant that those around him. He was a merely a religious functionary with an honored function.
So, with respect to the thread's title, it would probably be better to say that the priestly function was divinely appointed.
I've been trying for weeks now on the science threads to have an atheist tell me how the universe got here. No one can. Until you can, I think you're full of hot air.
Of course, you have the right to believe your silly superstitions. I will tolerate that. Can you tolerate my views?
Now why would you say that, your last post in the science area is about Windows 8
That's rich, holding a book that is pure fairy tales and superstitions from cover to cover. Guess you have to play that card, for you have the whole deck in your hand.
Last edited by Asheville Native; 10-02-2012 at 06:36 AM..
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