Do Most Clergy Lead or Follow?

Overall, do most of the clergy of the various religions typically follow, keep pace, or lead economic, social, political, and ethical changes in a society?

For instance, has most of the clergy in America been leading, keeping pace with, or following on gay marriage?

Again, did most of the clergy in America lead, keep pace with, or follow on the issue of civil rights?

What about other issues specific to America and/or to other societies? Did most of the clergy lead, keep pace with, or follow?

Is there any difference in the leadership of the clergy between conservative and liberal issues? Does the clergy tend to lead more often on conservative issues than on liberal issues?

Friend Sunstone,

Do Most Clergy Lead or Follow?

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Guess what they 'preach' and what they 'practise', guess a survey may come up with mismatches there.

Love & rgds

other..

In the bible is says to be in the world not of the world, so if he is actually following scripture, then it's neither of the two.
It is my understanding that religion is supposed to be separate from social, political, and ethical changes.
For example, if they don't approve of porn, don't watch it, but don't judge those that do, nor try to lobby to get it banned, if it is not affecting them directly.

But of course, we know that is not the case with many clergy and their members.

I believe that many clergy are decent sincere people. But I don't think the idea that one has superior knowledge/position/understanding regarding God can be healthy. I think that they try to lead. It's just that from my perspective they are trying to lead in the wrong direction.

They follow and lead ? Keep pace with change ? You mean compromise to accommodate irregularities in some of the dna hehe i guess they do.

Sunstone said:

Overall, do most of the clergy of the various religions typically follow, keep pace, or lead economic, social, political, and ethical changes in a society?

For instance, has most of the clergy in America been leading, keeping pace with, or following on gay marriage?

Again, did most of the clergy in America lead, keep pace with, or follow on the issue of civil rights?

What about other issues specific to America and/or to other societies? Did most of the clergy lead, keep pace with, or follow?

Is there any difference in the leadership of the clergy between conservative and liberal issues? Does the clergy tend to lead more often on conservative issues than on liberal issues?

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Not all change is good . Some of is bad and is a threat to a moral society.

I don't see it as the duty of clergy to be doing these things. Their principal duties are to provide services to the members of their community and not to impose on non-adherents beyond that. When they do not, they tend to get criticized of being "too political." I see them as mediators or perhaps interpreters for broader social changes to help their membership understand and reconcile with these changes, but not necessarily as movers and shakers. There are plenty of clergy who take upon themselves a more activist role, granted, and when they do, I feel their roles should be reflective of the religion.

Speaking of clergy in Neopaganism, when they do take an activist role, they tend to be on the cutting edge because contemporary Paganism sprung out of the countercultures of the 60s and 70s. It retains that counterculture attitude today, and doesn't have the vested interest in preserving traditional status quos as the older religions do in my country. Countercultural movements like Neopaganism have long been strongholds for progressive stances on social issues (or regressive, if you're in the "moral decline" camp). Not all Neopagan clergy are activists by any stretch; your typical local coven/grove/circle leader pretty much sticks to providing services for their local community or group, and perhaps forwards the occasional service project. They lead change only in the sense that they represent the change they wish to see in the world, not necessarily because they are political activists.

Sunstone said:

Overall, do most of the clergy of the various religions typically follow, keep pace, or lead economic, social, political, and ethical changes in a society?

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Follow. Group identity is such a fragile thing that I would not expect otherwise.

(...)

Is there any difference in the leadership of the clergy between conservative and liberal issues? Does the clergy tend to lead more often on conservative issues than on liberal issues?

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I don't think there is a definite trend towards one or the other. It will depend mainly on the expectations of the specific group and community.

My clergy tries to hold back religious change to the greatest degree they can. We work on the principle that earlier generations do it better than later ones.

It depends what the change is.

Moral principles don't change.

CMike said:

It depends what the change is.

Moral principles don't change.

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Eh, it isn't that simple, especially in relation to politics.

Well, within the Roman Catholic Church, I would say it depends. As far as priests go, they both lead and follow. As far as bishops go, they also both lead and follow but they primarily lead. Cardinals, who are also bishops, also primarily lead but they also follow. The Holy Father, or Pope, primarily leads but yet he also follows. All clergy within the Roman Catholic Church follow God but priests, for example, must follow their bishops directives and such as well as that of the Universal Magisterium.

CMike said:

It depends what the change is.

Moral principles don't change.

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That is arguable at most. Slavery and racism used to be morally acceptable, and have had something of a hint of ressurgency.

LuisDantas said:

That is arguable at most. Slavery and racism used to be morally acceptable, and have had something of a hint of ressurgency.

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Racism how?

Some lead, some follow, and some get the hell out of the way.

CMike said:

Racism how?

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For one, there are racial quotas left and right here in Brazil now, and it began about ten years ago.

LuisDantas said:

For one, there are racial quotas left and right here in Brazil now, and it began about ten years ago.

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What does that have to do with religion, and especially Judaism?