It's often said that traditionally Islam doesn't have the concept of clergy. According to Bernard Lewis' the Ayotollahs are a departure from classical Islam. He even says that in this respect Islam is probably suffering from a disease inherited from Christianity.
But my question is aren't the so called 'scholars' and Imams or even the caliph in some ways the same as the clergy?
Yes that was one of them RIBS, I was more concerned with the way he seemed to be directing it all on the Archbishop and the Pope. Don't get me wrong, I don't like both of them, particularly the Archbishop. Had they built those palaces out of the money they made, I would have agreed with him. But really they are fulfilling roles. A simple dwelling would not have done that role credit unfortunately. The way it would have not done the role of a monarch much credit. Those people were representing something important to society, which was different back then. Their buildings needed some grandeur in the end.
In a way those palaces are not their homes... They just reside there.
Good argument ras111, I thought of the point when watching the vdeo, but couldn't come up with a conclusion like you did. It'd serve as a good vid response, not that I like the Archbishops either, just to tell facts to Condell's fanboys.
How's the following video? Good or extreme?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KV0WvEMK7lo