ABSTRACT
In small-scale societies with relatively simple technologies, rituals usually are performed by most or all of the adult members of the community. There are many terms used to describe religious specialists. Unfortunately, the terms are not used in a consistent manner. Two terms frequently used to categorize religious specialists are those of shaman and priest. These are not two mutually exclusive categories, but rather ends of a continuum. The distinction between priests and shamans is not always clear-cut, and there are many religious specialists who fall somewhere in between. Siberian shamans perform rituals to heal the sick, divine the future, and ensure success in the hunt. Prophets are found in a wide variety of cultures and include the familiar examples of Moses and Mohammad. Religious specialists often are the main repositories of religious knowledge, retelling key narratives, manipulating religious symbols, and entering into altered states of consciousness through their ritual practices.
