Prophets play an important role in many religions around the world. They are seen as messengers from God who reveal divine teachings and guide followers on the righteous path. But how exactly does someone become recognized as a prophet? The process varies across different faiths and traditions.
Selection by God
In monotheistic religions like Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, prophets are chosen directly by God to fulfill a divine mission. The Hebrew Bible and Quran state that God selected particular individuals like Moses, Isaiah, and Muhammad to act as prophets and transmit His message to humanity. These figures did not volunteer or apply for the role, but were selected by the will and command of God.
For instance, when God appears to Moses in the burning bush in Exodus 3, He declares “I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” Moses did not seek out this prophetic assignment, but was specifically chosen by God to be His prophet and communicate His word. The Quran similarly emphasizes that Muhammad was selected as the final prophet by the command of God, not through any desire or effort of his own.
Thus, prophets in the Abrahamic faiths do not choose or strive for prophethood on their own initiative. According to scripture, it is solely God who selects His messengers based on His divine wisdom and plan for humanity. Prophets are recipients of God’s will rather than self-proclaimed spokesmen.
Ancestral Lineage
In some indigenous cultures, the role of prophet or spiritual leader is passed down ancestral family lines. Among the Maya, for instance, shamans and day-keepers who made divinatory almanacs tracing back to ancestral prophets held prominent religious authority. In pre-Columbian Mayan society, these hereditary priests and astrologers possessed esoteric knowledge from prophetic ancestors that enabled them to interpret mystical insights and prophesize the future.
Similarly, prophets and holy men in parts of Polynesia traced their gifts back to ancestral origins. On the Hawaiian islands, kahunas (priests) who practiced divination, sorcery, and natural magic claimed to inherit mystical abilities from familial bloodlines descending directly from the gods. Among the Maori in New Zealand as well, priests known as tohunga passed down magical craft and psychic arts through generations of lineage.
In these traditions, prophetic gifts and visions are not individual callings but ancestral inheritances. The prophet does not receive a direct divine commission, but rather taps into prophetic lineages extending back centuries through familial descent.
Signs from Childhood
Some cultures recognize prophets based on signs observed since childhood. In African indigenous religions, future diviners often display unusual behaviors and qualities as children that signify their spiritual gifts. For instance, a young Sukuma prophetess in Tanzania may be prone to trances and seizures interpreted as early signs that ancestral spirits speak through her.
Among the Nuer of Sudan, prospective prophets exhibit antisocial tendencies in youth, such as aloofness and wandering in the wilderness for days. If these behaviors persist into adulthood, the individual may undergo initiation rites to harness their prophetic abilities. Prophets in traditional African societies are not made but born – their childhood eccentricities provide evidence of inborn spiritual powers that are developed through initiation.
Similar principles apply for shamans in Siberia and other Arctic regions. Shamans often recount spiritual experiences and visions occurring early in life that foreshadow their selection as prophets and healers. Revelation does not suddenly strike these prophets as adults, but unfolds gradually from telltale signs in childhood.
Divine Possession and Revelation
Direct personal experience with the divine is another way prophets are chosen in indigenous cultures. Through rituals, ascetic practices, and trance states, individuals cultivate mystical experiences that connect them to spiritual realms. The profound visions they encounter are interpreted as gifts and messages from deities and spirits.
This process occurs most dramatically through divine possession, wherein a deity overtakes a devotee and speaks through their voice and gestures. In Vodou, for example, devoted adherents allow the Loa (spirits) to “mount” or fully possess them during ceremonies. A Loa may then deliver revelations and prophecies to gathered believers through the possessed intermediary.
Similar practices occur across cultures in Africa, Asia, the Americas, and beyond. The prophet voluntarily invites spirit possession in order to convey divine teachings. While dangerous, this provides a direct link to the gods that confers prophetic authority.
Even without full possession, mystics in many traditions experience dreams, visions, and trances induced through meditation, dance, intoxicants, and other rituals. These states of altered consciousness give glimpses of divine truths that shamans and saints interpret as prophetic illumination. Whether through full possession or intense visions, personal revelation cements sacred authority.
Discerning False Prophets
With so many potential paths to prophethood, religious communities must be discerning when evaluating self-proclaimed prophets. Scripture provides some guidance on distinguishing true versus false prophets.
In the Bible, Deuteronomy 18:21-22 states: “You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD?” If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed.”
Thus, biblical prophets can be tested by whether their revelations prove accurate over time. The Quran similarly warns in Surah al-Hajj 22:53: “Every man is bound to taste death: but only once will you receive your reward. Those that are righteous, will receive their reward and more with their Lord. They that are cursed will receive their punishment and more. In the end you shall all return to Us.” Only divine prophecy will inevitably come true.
Beyond predictive power, communities may also assess the righteousness and wisdom of a prophet’s message. Tradition often provides criteria for judging if revelations align with scriptural values or seem divinely inspired versus selfish and misguided.
Ultimately, in most traditions, only a minority of mystics and seers actually attain widespread recognition as genuine prophets. While many may experience visions or claim divine communications, only those that pass doctrinal and practical tests earn authority as prophets worthy of devotion.
Modern Recognition of Prophets
While many established faiths believe prophecy ended centuries ago, some modern communities continue recognizing living prophets.
In the Bahá’í Faith, prophets establish new stages in religion’s gradual evolution. Bahá’ís believe God sends Divine Educators like Abraham, Krishna, Jesus, Muhammad, and most recently Bahá’u’lláh to educate humanity based on its current needs. So while major prophets come infrequently, Bahá’ís expect additional prophets in the future as society evolves.
Mormons also believe in modern prophets. The President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is considered a living prophet who receives contemporary revelation from God to guide the church. Mormons believe the divine authority to lead believers was passed down from founder Joseph Smith to the present day through successive church Presidents.
Thus, for some religious groups, prophecy continues into the modern era through recognized lines of prophetic succession. However, in many traditions, the age of prophecy ended long ago and faithful await messianic prophets heralding the apocalypse or afterlife. False contemporary pretenders may be seen as deceivers or even Antichrists.
Conclusion
In summary, there are diverse views on how authentic prophets arise and gain authority in different faiths. While specifics range from divine selection to hereditary powers, a common theme is some mystical awakening providing revealed wisdom. Prophets often convey messages from the divine through their writings, speeches, and personal examples. Their prophecies and teachings transcend ordinary perception – often spanning past, present, and future. Even with rational scrutiny, the profound insights prophets voice retain an aura of enigmatic mystery and sacredness for many believers. In a world of uncertainty, prophets provide guidance and hope.