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
- Thực hành
- Ordination — laying on of hands for priestly/pastoral ministry
- Key Text
- 1 Timothy 4:14; Acts 6:6; Titus 1:5-9
Islam
- Thực hành
- Imam appointment — no formal ordination; scholarly qualification (ijaza)
- Key Text
- Quran 2:124; Hadith (Bukhari 7137)
Judaism
- Thực hành
- Semikhah (ordination) — authorization to rule on Halakha
- Key Text
- Numbers 27:18-23; Deuteronomy 34:9
Hinduism
- Thực hành
- Diksha — initiation by a guru into spiritual lineage
- Key Text
- Bhagavad Gita 4:34; Mundaka Upanishad 1.2.12
Buddhism
- Thực hành
- Upasampada — full ordination into the Bhikkhu/Bhikkhuni Sangha
- Key Text
- Vinaya Pitaka, Mahavagga 1; MN 65