Why is it often stated that Brahmans who are priests are looked down upon by Brahmans who are not priests?
545685
I do not know in which context you read that. The Brahmans were scholars. And there was a kind of hierarchy in Brahmanism. Something like a dean in a university may not be much impressed by a school teacher. Just thinking himself to be more knowledgeable.\n\nBut priests are pretty high in the this hierarchy rather on top.\n\nthey can be devided roughly in two types:\n1: Learned brahmans, performing all the rites, and receving great respect\n2: village brahmans, who made much of their living by fortune telling and magic and were less honoured.\n\nActually the brahmans related with tantrik practices were not that respected.\n\nOf professional priests there were various types and classes.\n \n# rishis or seers, who composed the vedic hymns\n# ritvij who performed sacrificial ritual and had speciallised duties\n# hotra- invokers\n# udgatra-canters\n# ardhvaryu- priests to perform the manual operations of the ceremony.\n\nSo priests are the one making all rules how can they look down upon thmselves?? the notion is misunderstood.\n\nThere were other divisions within the order. The brhman of lateer vedic age were devided into exogemous septs (gotra), a system copied by other classes and has survived even today.\n\nBut the varied duties of priests did not provide a livelihood for more than a few brahmans. The smriti literature contains special sections on duties when in distress which carefully defines what to do legitimately when unable to earn living by normal calling.\n\nOpinions differed as to whether brahmans engaged in secular professions was worty of respect according to practicing members or not. no clear rule about that but in practice , priests got the privilages other brahmans did not.\n\nThe brahmans who were related with medicines and especially those who performed surgeries were looked down. The reason was that it required study of corpse and priestly brahmans thought it lowly practice to study dead. \n\nSo I doubt that anybody ever looked down on priests among brahmans. It is other way round. Though brahmans were never unchallanged and people have been making fun of them even in vedic age. The excessive rituals were one reason for that.Many thought priests were making things complicated to look more special. Hindus are not known to follow their brahmans with their mouth shut, though they may avoid it in a direct way. But still priests are well respected.
187298
The focus of a priest is the people. The focus of a spiritual master is himself.
786567
I have no religious beliefs but it is my understanding that all the major religions say that we are all equal in the eyes of God. To grant special status to one person or section of a congregation is therefor merely pandering to that person's ego. Of course the dictates of common good manners should apply at all times and to all visitors equally.
490012
Some of the best Priests I know are Jesuits.\n\nThey are a Holy group of men dedicated to defending the Truth.
703324
Because in the eyes of the religious, anything that is different from what they have been told to believe must be put down...and this to them is perfectly acceptable.\nIt's truly sad that a belief system that preaches love and understanding can hold such a double standard when it comes dealing with alternative views.
439784
I don't think they are hatful. I think many of the leaders are frustrated or perhaps selfish or otherwise suffering from the trials that life brings with it, but I don’t think the majority of the people are hatful.  \n\nI do believe however that many of the followers of these faiths are misguided...just as you are. Not in their choice of religion or faith, (or lack there of) but in the way they practice. Certainly there is no reason for Christians to treat practitioners of other religions with hostility. Nowhere in the bible does it say that Jesus teased, belittled and harassed those that would not follow him. Yet many Christians feel obligated to do so today? \n\nStill, I think you are looking at the minority of the practitioners and allowing their actions to be interpreted as the actions of the majority of people. Regardless of your faith or beliefs, try to be companionate and understanding and look at the situation with some perspective.  \n\nI hope this helps.
1043392
I am Catholic but i was not raised too strictly, sometimes i make my own beliefs. in my opinion there are lots of people out there that fit the word "saint" who are working, in a quiet way or not, to help others selflessly, and in turn bring out the good in others.
873145
Agreed, 100%.  I believe these people must be insecure with themselves and their beliefs to have to put down others.  It is not our position to judge others, so says God.
441273
not all of them are like that, but for the ones who are...\n\nthey think they're something special :)\n\nthey think they're the chosen one...\n\nthey feel powerful judging others, almost god like, cause they are in a group. they dont realise that they are playing god, there by making the biggest mistake of all
552541
I believe it comes from a lack of understanding others.  People tend to hate that which they cannot understand.  Combine that with spiritual insecurity and it leads them to try to convince others that their path is the only righteous way towards God.  People speaking of religious tolerance have it all wrong.  To say that you tolerate someone else's religion means that you have pasted judgment on them.  This is something only God can do.  In the end, each person would be a better off if they lead by example and found the place that best allows them to worship and work on their relationship with God.
323899
it shows shallowness of their own beliefs, added with ignorance and narrow mindedness.\n\n we have to deal with regular basis as hindus.
1010288
Not a thing.  It's really sad for people to make others feel like they are less worthy among others simply because they don't follow their religion.  To me, it makes those of that religion self-righteous.  It shows they lack compassion for other people Unless that person happens to believe as they do.
657420
See my friend....it is all because how they brought up.....may be you might have got very good atmosphere since birth...but always think about a problems from other point of view....that is called real judgement.....so let us pray for them with god.....
467644
Nope, it's not just you.\n\nFrom what I've seen, the ppl replying that way are the ones who are "holier than thou" and like to quote scriptures as a way to back up their self-righteous behavior.\n\nOpinions are great, until someone tries to trample all over someone else's!\n\nI imagine I'm like many, in that if someone tries to shove their opinion down my throat it usually makes me stand that much more firm in my own belief.  My opinion is my truth and not that of anyone else's.
1064586
They are listening but don't want to apprear to be.\n2Co 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. \nThey need to hear too.
495909
Ok let me ask you and answer your question in a very crude way first.\n\nWhy do u think Christians pray to a metallic idol of Jesus in a Chruch to fulfill their wishes? It was also made out of metal and out of man's Hands.\n\nWhen Hindus use idols in worship, they are worshipping God (Brahman) and not the idols themselves. The idol is just a piece of stone until God is invoked in it, and then it serves as a means to focus and meditate on God and is not believed to be the God in physical sense. As Hindus believe that God is Omnipresent; that God is within everyone and everything; that the soul and the supreme are not different; therefore, worshipping different Gods, deities, Goddesses, or Idols, is worshipping the Supreme because everyone and everything is God.\n\nHindus do not worship the idol as God, but worships the Almighty who resides in that 'idol', as God resides everywhere. His immanence in all that is animate and in all that is inanimate is a fundamental tenet of Hinduism.\n\nI had heard this on one of the videos which I recently saw on the internet.\n\nHindus say everything is God, while the Muslim say everything is God's. The only difference between Hinduism and Islamism is the 's!
664608
It is a class system. In the Hindu religion the higher caste you are in the closer to Nirvana you are. Depending on how you live your life you go up or down castes until you reach the top and get to Nirvana. The fact that most people are of lower castes is justified in that most people don't live very pure lives.