Final answer:
Priests are full-time religious specialists found in societies with substantial occupational differentiation, acting as intermediaries between deities and humans. Shamans are part-time practitioners who interact with the spirit world to address specific needs such as healing. Their roles and societal contexts differ significantly.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main difference between priests and shamans is that priests are full-time, specialized religious practitioners found in societies with a higher degree of occupational specialization, while shamans are part-time religious practitioners who engage directly with the spirit world. Priests serve as intermediaries in structured religious settings, and their role requires formal education and adherence to specific religious standards. On the other hand, shamans are seen as capable of transcending the normal reality through journeys or trance states to communicate and sometimes manipulate the spiritual realm for specific goals such as healing or locating lost individuals.
Confusion may arise because some societies might utilize individuals who perform roles akin to both shamans and priests, serving dual capacities as situationally demanded. Moreover, shamanic practices can be found across various religions and are not confined to hunting or foraging societies. Ultimately, the correct answer to the student's question is D: Shamans are both medical and spiritual leaders, priests are solely spiritual leaders.