FHN: The level of education and training is vastly different.
Yes, priests have much, much more training and education.
I am not endorsing the Catholic church, or any other religion for that matter. It's just that the level of training is much greater.
For example, here are the educational requirements for candidate for the Catholic priesthood in the Albany, New York diocese:
The educational requirements for priesthood ordination are as follows:
- Four-year undergraduate degree in any field of study.
- Two-year Pre-Theology Program - Thirty (30) credit hours in selected areas of philosophy and twelve (12) credit hours in selected areas of theology.
- Four-year Master of Divinity degree from a Catholic seminary.
Compare this to the educational requirements for a JW elder:
- Requirements:
- Do you know God's name?
- Can you be obedient to any and all directions from the "Faithful and Discreet Slave," even if they makes no sense?
- Are you older than 23?
- Have you successfully served as a Ministerial Servant for at least "a number of years," putting up with the BS from the local elders?
- Note: BS in this context does NOT stand for Bachelor's of Science
- Are you able to at least appear to go out in the Field Ministry 10 hours per month, on average?
- Do you and every member of your family own an iPad or equivalent device?
- Possible Disqualifications:
- Do you have any education beyond secondary school? (This is actually a negative).
- Definite Disqualifications:
- Are you prone to "Independent Thinking" and/or research on your own?
- Would you turn a pedophile over to the local police?
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