Druidus
Keeper of the Grove
What is the equivalent of a priest in your religion?
Also, does your religion even have priest-like members? What are the differences between the responsibilities of your "priest" and that of another religion?
I'll start:
There were and are three types of "priest" in Druidry. They are the Bard, the Ovate, and the Druid.
The Bard was the poet, and the keepers of tradition and memory. They spent twelve years learning grammar, and memorizing hundreds of stories and poems (they didn't believe in writing such important things down, as it dampened the memory). During these twelve years, they also learned philosophy, and how to write, using the "Ogham" writing script. An example of a ritual where a Bard would preside would be in honouring the ancestors, though Ovates would take part if it was also for the purpose of conversing with the ancestors, over realms.[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/font]
The Ovates were the healers, or doctors, of the Celts. They worked with both death, and life. They conversed with the dead, propheciesed the future, and utilized tools of divination. Basically, they were the sorcerers and healers. They trained for about the same amount of time as a Bard.
Finally, the Druids. A Druid was expected to fill many roles, including that of [font=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]priests, teachers, ambassadors, astronomers, genealogists, philosophers, musicians, theologians, scientists, poets (not to a Bardic extent) and judges. For this, they trained for twenty years, though often it was longer. They were also the "wizards" of the Celts, performing feats of "magic" that differed from the Ovates. Druids could contact the spirits of other plants and animals, and, as I theorize, used this to watch Julius Caesar's armies through birds (Julius says that's what they did). In times of war, Druids often might take the role of a general.
All "priests" regardless of whether they wished to be Bards, Ovates, or Druids, were expected to learn the basics of all three classes. It may seem that they spent a lot of time in training, but much of it was akin to what we learn in school today.
So, what about you?
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Also, does your religion even have priest-like members? What are the differences between the responsibilities of your "priest" and that of another religion?
I'll start:
There were and are three types of "priest" in Druidry. They are the Bard, the Ovate, and the Druid.
The Bard was the poet, and the keepers of tradition and memory. They spent twelve years learning grammar, and memorizing hundreds of stories and poems (they didn't believe in writing such important things down, as it dampened the memory). During these twelve years, they also learned philosophy, and how to write, using the "Ogham" writing script. An example of a ritual where a Bard would preside would be in honouring the ancestors, though Ovates would take part if it was also for the purpose of conversing with the ancestors, over realms.[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/font]
The Ovates were the healers, or doctors, of the Celts. They worked with both death, and life. They conversed with the dead, propheciesed the future, and utilized tools of divination. Basically, they were the sorcerers and healers. They trained for about the same amount of time as a Bard.
Finally, the Druids. A Druid was expected to fill many roles, including that of [font=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]priests, teachers, ambassadors, astronomers, genealogists, philosophers, musicians, theologians, scientists, poets (not to a Bardic extent) and judges. For this, they trained for twenty years, though often it was longer. They were also the "wizards" of the Celts, performing feats of "magic" that differed from the Ovates. Druids could contact the spirits of other plants and animals, and, as I theorize, used this to watch Julius Caesar's armies through birds (Julius says that's what they did). In times of war, Druids often might take the role of a general.
All "priests" regardless of whether they wished to be Bards, Ovates, or Druids, were expected to learn the basics of all three classes. It may seem that they spent a lot of time in training, but much of it was akin to what we learn in school today.
So, what about you?
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