The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (2185 page)
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Semikhah
(Heb., ‘laying on’ (of hands)). The Jewish rite of
ordination
. In biblical times, leaders were ordained by the laying on of hands (e.g. Numbers 27. 22; 11. 16–17). Membership of the Great
Sanhedrin
required ordination, and it was agreed by the time of
Judah ha-Nasi
that religious decisions could only be made by those qualified (B.Sanh. 5b). The formula for Semikhah was ‘Yoreh Yoreh. Yaddin Yaddin’ (‘May he decide? He may decide! May he judge? He may judge!’); and in the early days any ordained teacher could ordain his students.
ordination
. In biblical times, leaders were ordained by the laying on of hands (e.g. Numbers 27. 22; 11. 16–17). Membership of the Great
Sanhedrin
required ordination, and it was agreed by the time of
Judah ha-Nasi
that religious decisions could only be made by those qualified (B.Sanh. 5b). The formula for Semikhah was ‘Yoreh Yoreh. Yaddin Yaddin’ (‘May he decide? He may decide! May he judge? He may judge!’); and in the early days any ordained teacher could ordain his students.
Semiotics
(study of signs):
(study of signs):
Semi-Pelagians
(Christians who believe that God's grace is a necessary precondition, but that works have status thereafter):
(Christians who believe that God's grace is a necessary precondition, but that works have status thereafter):
Semper reformanda
(always to be reformed):
(always to be reformed):
Sen, Keshub Chunder
(Keshab Chandra Sen)
(Keshab Chandra Sen)
(1838–84).
Indian reformer, and third leader of
Brahmo Sam
j
. He joined the Brahmo Sam
j in 1857, working with Debendran
th
Tagore
to promote its aims, and lecturing widely in English on theistic doctrine and Brahmo philosophy, establishing branches of the Sam
j in Bombay, Madras, and other centres.
Throughout his life Sen claimed to have had mystical experiences. He almost became a Christian in 1866, the only obstacle being an inability to accept the uniqueness of
Christ
, though he turned against the philosophical system of Hinduism, including
Ved
nta
, supporting widow remarriage and repudiating the wearing of the sacred thread (
upanayana
), finally breaking with Debendran
th Tagore in 1865. In 1866 he established the Bh
ratvarsh
ya Brahmo Sam
j, which preached the brotherhood of all under the Fatherhood of God, a teaching enshrined in the
loka-sa
graha
scriptures.
Sen later adopted still more social reforms. He relied increasingly on direct inspiration, which enabled him, despite his previous opposition to child-marriage, to marry his 13-year-old daughter to a Hindu prince. Many of his followers abandoned him for this, setting up in 1878 S
dh
ran (General) Brahmo Sam
Indian reformer, and third leader of
Brahmo Sam
j. He joined the Brahmo Sam
j in 1857, working with DebendranthTagore
to promote its aims, and lecturing widely in English on theistic doctrine and Brahmo philosophy, establishing branches of the Sam
j in Bombay, Madras, and other centres.Throughout his life Sen claimed to have had mystical experiences. He almost became a Christian in 1866, the only obstacle being an inability to accept the uniqueness of
Christ
, though he turned against the philosophical system of Hinduism, including
Ved
nta, supporting widow remarriage and repudiating the wearing of the sacred thread (
upanayana
), finally breaking with Debendran
th Tagore in 1865. In 1866 he established the Bhratvarshya Brahmo Samj, which preached the brotherhood of all under the Fatherhood of God, a teaching enshrined in theloka-sagrahascriptures.
Sen later adopted still more social reforms. He relied increasingly on direct inspiration, which enabled him, despite his previous opposition to child-marriage, to marry his 13-year-old daughter to a Hindu prince. Many of his followers abandoned him for this, setting up in 1878 S
dhran (General) Brahmo SamOther books
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