A Rabbi is a religious teacher (the word literally means teacher), not an intermediary between a person and God. There is no need for a Rabbi to confess a sin, pray or do anything really. A person leading prayers doesn't have to be a Rabbi (I've let on more than one occasion). A person reading from the Torah does not have to be a Rabbi. That being said, the inclusion of Rabbi in the list below is false. The grouping of Judaism into an 'organized religion' is also false as there is no central authority. Any Jewish organization that looks like an organization of the religion is really not a needed part of the religion. It's useful for some things, but is not the same as the Vatican (for example).
> Why do Baptists need ministers? > Why do Jews need Rabbis? > Why do Muslims need Imams? > Why do protestants need Reverands? > > Your questions speaks to the very heart of "organized religion". If you > believe that all you need is the ability to "talk to God", then you have > no > need for any of the offerings of the organized religions. Most people > however, prefer to reflect on their beliefs within a community of > like-minded believers (their "church"), which will include those held in a > high esteem within that order...aka clergy, or rabbi, or..... > > So the answer to your specific question about catholics would be: Because > that's what they believe! In it's simplest form though, it's really just a > means to understanding the religious beliefs. The idea being that a priest > is learned about the ways of the Catholic theology, and reflections upon > his > teachings will bring you that much more understanding of your proposed > faith. > > > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:196345 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
