Why Would God Appoint Priests?
7 0f course, the term priests in this context is used loosely to describe the collective of holy men that are said to do God s work.
2But if God is truly omnipresent and omnipotent, then surely he will be able to hear and see us individually. 3If this is so, then why do we need a myriad of priests?
4Many are put on a pedestal by their flock , because they – by their own declaration – are the chosen ones , worthy of contact. 5This suggests that ordinary people are not worthy to receive God s message directly, nor stand in his presence. 6Surely this is a contradiction in the message, and against the nature of what God is supposed to stand for. 7If he is present everywhere and all-powerful, then what is the purpose of priests?
8Why are they required to pass prayers along or help grant forgiveness on God s behalf? 9It seems redundant, adding a level of unnecessary red tape to religion. 10This concept is predominantly found in the Catholic Church, though other sects are guilty of this too.
11Protestant denominations do not generally take this approach; their prayers are believed to be heard by God directly as Jesus functions as a priest on their behalf. 120ne explanation for this view can be found in the Bible:
“And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. (Matthew 27:50 – 51)
13The reference to the temple indicates that when Jesus died, the need for a hidden temple of priests was no longer necessary. 14In light of the above Biblical reference, it seems unusual that this practice still persists or ever existed.
150ne Bible verse that has been used to explain the need for priests is John 20:23, which reads:
“If you forgive anyone s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven. (John 20:23)
16Following his crucifixion, Jesus appeared to his disciples saying the above words. 17The Catholic Church considers this to be justification that forgiveness is to come from those who work on God's behalf rather than Jesus himself.
18This is not a very convincing argument and it appears the Catholic Church maintains the need for the Pope and the priesthood simply as a way of continuing a centralised control over its members. 19Not only does it insist on keeping this unnecessary tradition, it also continues to insist that only men can be ordained as priests. (20This male/female bias was discussed in more detail in the chapter regarding the gender of God.)
21Much like Protestant ministers, Rabbis can be very powerful within their local community as well. 22It can be argued that in many cases they are much more so because they receive rabbinical ordination and education in matters of Jewish law, answering questions related to the law and settling any disputes that may arise. 23Many individuals grow up attending services from a young age, so they look up to these people as authority figures, surrogate parents in many respects. 24As such, when the holy man within the community says something, it is accepted without question. 25In their eyes, these individuals can do no wrong and are exalted as God s manifestation on earth.
26However, it must be remembered that these individuals are still human beings. 27Whatever interpretation they make of the words within any of the scriptures is bound to be tarnished by prejudices. 28It is unfortunate that many adherents of these faiths take the word of a man. 29Also, because of the training they receive, a lot of these interpretations are merely regurgitation of a central message. 30In essence, the headquarters of the faith maintains control, and the word is farmed out to the respective followers without question.
31If God is omnipresent, then the question of why intermediaries are required must be raised. 32If it is true – as is taught within all these sects – that God is all around us, then what is their purpose? 33A contradiction arises within the message because these individuals are singled out as the chosen ones of God. 34If this is the case, then where does the rest of the congregation fit in?
Historical Views of Priests
35Though ancient religions lacked the central authority that many modern-day religions have, many did have an established priesthood that was deemed necessary for people to interact with the gods.
36Ancient Rome and Greece both had polytheistic religions with large temple complexes built to appease a number of different gods and goddesses. 37They were typically maintained and operated by priests (or priestesses). 38Most religious functions of the time involved rather complex rituals and sacrifices, rather than simple prayer, which meant people with more knowledge and authority than the average follower were necessary to perform these tasks. 39Ancient Egypt, Sumeria and many other regions had the same approach.
40Religions such as Yoruba and Shinto also maintain a class of priests that perform rituals. 41Unlike Catholicism though, it doesn t tend to focus on sin and personal salvation, which makes the comparison a little difficult. 42However, these priests are required to perform many tasks that ordinary adherents of the faith are not able to. 43For instance, when it comes to ancestor veneration or offering sacrifices to certain gods, a holy man must be sought for the purpose. 440ften requiring years of training, it is exclusionary for those who simply wish to practice their faith. 45It also acts as an extra barrier to the spirit world or gods that surely everyone should have access to.
Centralised Control
46When all is said and done, very little reasoning can be found for hierarchical structure in religion. 470ther than as a means of power and control, little purpose can be found to justify it. 48After all, many have found their own path to the Divine through various means, both alternative and mainstream. 49If a more personal relationship with any god is the goal, then surely it makes sense to communicate directly.