Christianity
Islam
Judaism
Hinduism
Buddhism
Ordination & Religious Leadership
The formal setting apart of individuals for religious leadership is practiced in every tradition. Ordination confers authority to teach, lead worship, and guide the community, whether as priest, imam, rabbi, pandit, or bhikkhu.
Across the World's Religions
Christianity
- 修行
- Ordination — laying on of hands for priestly/pastoral ministry
- Key Text
- 1 Timothy 4:14; Acts 6:6; Titus 1:5-9
Islam
- 修行
- Imam appointment — no formal ordination; scholarly qualification (ijaza)
- Key Text
- Quran 2:124; Hadith (Bukhari 7137)
Judaism
- 修行
- Semikhah (ordination) — authorization to rule on Halakha
- Key Text
- Numbers 27:18-23; Deuteronomy 34:9
Hinduism
- 修行
- Diksha — initiation by a guru into spiritual lineage
- Key Text
- Bhagavad Gita 4:34; Mundaka Upanishad 1.2.12
Buddhism
- 修行
- Upasampada — full ordination into the Bhikkhu/Bhikkhuni Sangha
- Key Text
- Vinaya Pitaka, Mahavagga 1; MN 65