Final answer:
Shamans are typically found in small-scale, subsistence-based societies and are known for engaging directly with the spiritual realm. Priests are ordinarily part of more organized, institutionalized religions. Shamanic elements can still be present in the practices of larger religions like Christianity and Islam.
Step-by-step explanation:
Shamanism and priesthood represent distinct forms of religious leadership. Shamans are often associated with small-scale, subsistence-based societies such as bands of hunters and gatherers. They are known for entering altered states of consciousness to interact with the spiritual world and perform functions like healing and divination. Priests, on the other hand, are typically found in more organized, institutionalized religious frameworks common in large state societies, like those seen in Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism. While priests perform recurring ritual events within their religious commitments, shamans address individual and specific needs and may participate in the standard work of the community.
Despite these differences, shamanic practices can still be found within organized religions, such as the 'laying on of hands' in Christianity or the mystical practices in Islamic Sufism. Due to the adaptive nature of religion, elements of shamanism are incorporated into larger religious structures, making shamanism a fundamental component of numerous world religions. It has been historically documented in shamanic cultures around the world, from the Kwakiutl shamans of the Pacific Northwest to the shamanic healing practices of the !Kung San in Central Africa.