[Destro]

Reads like some Protestant views on the priesthood to me:

In Islam there’s no church as an institution as such, there’s no clergy. Islam doesn’t accept the notion that a particular group of people can claim for themselves to be representatives of God on earth. The entire human race is regarded, in a sense, as representatives of God on earth.

[k2blader]

In Islam there’s no church as an institution as such, there’s no clergy.

The Bible is clear that the Church includes the entire, worldwide body of believers in Jesus Christ. Protestants have clergy who "shepherd" churches (small "c", localized gatherings/families of believers).

Islam doesn’t accept the notion that a particular group of people can claim for themselves to be representatives of God on earth. The entire human race is regarded, in a sense, as representatives of God on earth.

Protestants believe all Christians, *not* all of humanity, can claim, and in fact *are*, representatives of God on earth.

P.S. I come from a Baptist background, which is not to say my source is the Baptist Faith and Message, but rather the Word. If any Protestants out there reading this thread disagree with me or would like to add anything, please do.