Changes

Priests and priestesses have been known since the earliest of times and in the simplest societies. They exist in all or some branches of [[Judaism]], [[Christianity]], Shintoism, Hinduism, and many other religions, as well, and are generally regarded as having good contact with the deities of the religion to which they subscribe, often [[interpreting]] the [[meaning]] of [[events]], performing the [[rituals]] of the [[religion]], and to whom other believers often will turn for advice on [[spiritual]] [[things|matters]].

Priests and priestesses have been known since the earliest of times and in the simplest societies. They exist in all or some branches of [[Judaism]], [[Christianity]], Shintoism, Hinduism, and many other religions, as well, and are generally regarded as having good contact with the deities of the religion to which they subscribe, often [[interpreting]] the [[meaning]] of [[events]], performing the [[rituals]] of the [[religion]], and to whom other believers often will turn for advice on [[spiritual]] [[things|matters]].

In many religions, being a priest or priestess is a full-time job, ruling out any other career. In other cases it is a part-time role. For example in the early [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Iceland history of Iceland] the chieftains were entitled goði, a [[word]] meaning "priest". But as seen in the saga of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hrafnkels_saga Hrafnkell Freysgoði], being a priest consisted merely of offering periodic [[sacrifices]] to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norse_mythology Norse] gods and goddesses; it was not a full time job, nor did it involve ordination.

In many religions, being a priest or priestess is a full-time job, ruling out any other career. In other cases it is a part-time role. For example in the early [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Iceland history of Iceland] the chieftains were entitled goði, a [[word]] meaning "priest". But as seen in the saga of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hrafnkels_saga Hrafnkell Freysgoði], being a priest consisted merely of offering periodic [[sacrifices]] to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norse_mythology Norse] gods and goddesses; it was not a full time job, nor did it involve ordination.

In some religions, being a priest is by human election or human choice. In others the priesthood is inherited in familial lines.

In some religions, being a priest is by human election or human choice. In others the priesthood is inherited in familial lines.

Women officiating in modern [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paganism Paganism], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neopagan Neopagan] religions such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicca Wicca], and various [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polytheistic_Reconstructionism Polytheistic Reconstructionism] faiths are referred to as priestesses; however, in contemporary [[Christian]] churches that ordain women, such as those of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglican_Communion Anglican Communion] or the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Christian_Community Christian Community], ordained women are called priests.

Women officiating in modern [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paganism Paganism], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neopagan Neopagan] religions such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicca Wicca], and various [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polytheistic_Reconstructionism Polytheistic Reconstructionism] faiths are referred to as priestesses; however, in contemporary [[Christian]] churches that ordain women, such as those of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglican_Communion Anglican Communion] or the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Christian_Community Christian Community], ordained women are called priests.

==External Link==

==External Link==

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica_Eleventh_Edition Priest, Encyclopedia Brittanica 1911]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica_Eleventh_Edition Priest, Encyclopedia Brittanica 1911]

[[Category: Religion]]

[[Category: Religion]]

[[Category: Anthropology]]

[[Category: Anthropology]]