Introduction to playing a role

In the previous chapter we looked at the different institutional forms that religion can take. In this chapter, we will look more specifically at roles played by individual people.

We all play different roles in life. If you are told that someone is a teacher, you would expect that person to dress, talk and behave in a specific way. If you were told that the same person was a bricklayer, you would have different expectations. Religion is no different in this respect. Different members play different roles.

Keep in mind that the roles we describe below overlap considerably. A Catholic priest's primary role may be to mediate between God and the people, but he will also deliver sermons like a minister, do church administration like an elder, and perhaps even perform healing ceremonies like a healer. The same is true for most of the other roles.