India can lay claim to have one of the oldest religions and the most developed one when we consider the Philosophy and Theology attendant on various forms of her religion, although the actual practice may not have measured up to the ideal. This kind of discrepancy between theory and practice is the common lot of all religions, which points to the divided nature of the human being who is not able to do what one wants to do as warned by Jesus pointing out to his disciples about the willingness of the spirit and the weakness of the flesh (Mark, 14: 38). The Vedic religion, Brahmanism, Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism may be seen as different stages of the development of the Indian religion. Even in the ancient Vedic times a special priesthood is discernible in as far as the father of the family , the original offerer of sacrifices usually sought the advice and assistance of a Brahmin Buddhism, through the reforms effected by King Asoka in the 2nd century B. C. minimized the importance of Brahmanism. However, Lamas in Buddhism have developed a hierarchy in Tibet seemingly alien to their opposition to priesthood.
There was priesthood in the Iranian religion of Zoroastrianism with a special priestly caste. The human sacrifices practiced from time immemorial were abolished by Zoroaster. There was no exclusive priestly caste in Greece as the nobility and even kings offered sacrifices to gods and public worship was undertaken by the State. The ancient Romans considered religion, sacrifice and the priesthood as obligations of the State. At the beginning of their history, kings themselves were the priests offering sacrifices. As a Republic, the Roman Empire allowed Patricians to be priests, which was later (around 300 B. C.) extended to Plebeians also. Later still various classes of priests were added and the emperor himself was the High Priest (Pontifex Maximus). The ancient Germans worshiped the gods without temples and images. Their services took place in sacred groves and their priests had judicial powers who were highly respected. The Celtic priests or the Druids, originally from Ireland and Britain, were transplanted to Gaul (France) in the third century before Christ. They too were highly respected by the people and were exempt from taxes and military service as they belonged to a priestly and ruling class. They were mainly teachers, judges and physicians. The people believed in Divine Providence, immortality and transmigration of souls. They had images of gods and practiced human sacrifices.
Sinism is the oldest religion of the Chinese and it had no distinct priesthood. They practiced monotheism and State officials offered sacrifices of animals , fruits and incense in the name of the ruler. In the 6th century B. C. Confucius endorsed this system without priests and debased the concept of religion, deifying the emperor as 'the son of Heaven'. Against this system without priests, Laotse (born in 604 B. C.) introduced monasticism and priesthood with a high priest at its head (Taoism: Tao means reason). In the first century B. C. Buddhism entered the scene as a rival of both these religions, although Confucianism is the official religion of China today. Shintoism is the original national religion of Japan. There are no dogmas, moral codes or sacred writings in Shintoism. The emperor being the son of the Deity is the high priest and his palace is also the temple. The Egyptians had their ancient religion completely under the influence of priests. Although the ruler was the only priest in principle , a special priestly caste had evolved from 3400 B. C. onward. Moses himself learnt a few things from the Egyptian mode of worship. Yet he was completely original in the establishment of Jewish priesthood, under divine inspiration, based on the unique idea of Yahweh's covenant with his chosen people. Among the Semites, we have the Babylonian-Assyrian priests, also known as Chaldean. Among Syrians, Phoenicians, Ammonites and Philistines the cult of Moloch and Astarte was prevalent. The howling and dancing priests tried to appease Moloch by sacrifices of children and self-mutilation. The Phrygian goddess Cybele was similarly pacified. The priests of Baal of the Canaanites encouraged the Jews for idolatry and the cult of Astarte was an invitation to immorality. The ancient Arabians had a plain religion without any priesthood. Modern Islam has a clergy for leading the prayers (Imams), but no real priesthood.
As for the Jews, during the time of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (the Patriarchs), the offering of sacrifices was done by the father or head of the family (Genesis, 8: 20; 12: 7; Job, 1: 5). Later on, there were regular priests (Exodus, 19: 22 ff.). In the Mosaic priesthood, we have Levites, priests and the high-priest. The Jewish priesthood became a special class after Sinaitic covenant through Moses by the choice of the tribe of Levi by Yahweh. The house of Aaron from the tribe of Levi was to discharge all priestly functions (Exodus, 29: 1-37; 40: 12 ff; Leviticus, 8: 1-36). The Jewish priesthood ceased with the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70 A. D. by the Roman emperor Titus. The later Rabbis are not priests, but only teachers of the Law. The next Post shall discuss the relevance of priesthood in religions.
There was priesthood in the Iranian religion of Zoroastrianism with a special priestly caste. The human sacrifices practiced from time immemorial were abolished by Zoroaster. There was no exclusive priestly caste in Greece as the nobility and even kings offered sacrifices to gods and public worship was undertaken by the State. The ancient Romans considered religion, sacrifice and the priesthood as obligations of the State. At the beginning of their history, kings themselves were the priests offering sacrifices. As a Republic, the Roman Empire allowed Patricians to be priests, which was later (around 300 B. C.) extended to Plebeians also. Later still various classes of priests were added and the emperor himself was the High Priest (Pontifex Maximus). The ancient Germans worshiped the gods without temples and images. Their services took place in sacred groves and their priests had judicial powers who were highly respected. The Celtic priests or the Druids, originally from Ireland and Britain, were transplanted to Gaul (France) in the third century before Christ. They too were highly respected by the people and were exempt from taxes and military service as they belonged to a priestly and ruling class. They were mainly teachers, judges and physicians. The people believed in Divine Providence, immortality and transmigration of souls. They had images of gods and practiced human sacrifices.
Sinism is the oldest religion of the Chinese and it had no distinct priesthood. They practiced monotheism and State officials offered sacrifices of animals , fruits and incense in the name of the ruler. In the 6th century B. C. Confucius endorsed this system without priests and debased the concept of religion, deifying the emperor as 'the son of Heaven'. Against this system without priests, Laotse (born in 604 B. C.) introduced monasticism and priesthood with a high priest at its head (Taoism: Tao means reason). In the first century B. C. Buddhism entered the scene as a rival of both these religions, although Confucianism is the official religion of China today. Shintoism is the original national religion of Japan. There are no dogmas, moral codes or sacred writings in Shintoism. The emperor being the son of the Deity is the high priest and his palace is also the temple. The Egyptians had their ancient religion completely under the influence of priests. Although the ruler was the only priest in principle , a special priestly caste had evolved from 3400 B. C. onward. Moses himself learnt a few things from the Egyptian mode of worship. Yet he was completely original in the establishment of Jewish priesthood, under divine inspiration, based on the unique idea of Yahweh's covenant with his chosen people. Among the Semites, we have the Babylonian-Assyrian priests, also known as Chaldean. Among Syrians, Phoenicians, Ammonites and Philistines the cult of Moloch and Astarte was prevalent. The howling and dancing priests tried to appease Moloch by sacrifices of children and self-mutilation. The Phrygian goddess Cybele was similarly pacified. The priests of Baal of the Canaanites encouraged the Jews for idolatry and the cult of Astarte was an invitation to immorality. The ancient Arabians had a plain religion without any priesthood. Modern Islam has a clergy for leading the prayers (Imams), but no real priesthood.
As for the Jews, during the time of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (the Patriarchs), the offering of sacrifices was done by the father or head of the family (Genesis, 8: 20; 12: 7; Job, 1: 5). Later on, there were regular priests (Exodus, 19: 22 ff.). In the Mosaic priesthood, we have Levites, priests and the high-priest. The Jewish priesthood became a special class after Sinaitic covenant through Moses by the choice of the tribe of Levi by Yahweh. The house of Aaron from the tribe of Levi was to discharge all priestly functions (Exodus, 29: 1-37; 40: 12 ff; Leviticus, 8: 1-36). The Jewish priesthood ceased with the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70 A. D. by the Roman emperor Titus. The later Rabbis are not priests, but only teachers of the Law. The next Post shall discuss the relevance of priesthood in religions.
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