Priest and Philosopher

The affinity of priest and philosopher is an archaic one. Though both are from the same family, priest is the elder brother and philosopher is the younger brother. There is a certain tension between the two, which is also archaic. The tension is about the ultimate reality and the proper relation to it. The relationship of the priest is inseparable from fidelity to a tradition, whereas the philosopher questions beyond it. The priest needs to be loyal to a community and the authoritative role in defining human importances. He counts in ultimate true, trustworthy, and deserves ethical and spiritual esteem. The philosopher has a call to think, think through the meaning of our fidelities and strikes out from already sanctioned ways.

Priest                                                              Philosopher

Older brother                                                   Younger brother

Traditions                                                        Questions and Goes beyond

Loyalty to a community                                  Loyalty to one's own thinking

has certain authoritative tradition                   Deconstructs authoritative traditions

Ethical and Spiritual Esteem                          Self-thought ethical ways

Both can interchange their views. It is not necessary that the priest is always holding on to traditions and authoritarian aspects. Priest can become critical and the philosopher can also become authoritarian and traditional.