The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (441 page)

Brahmo Sam
j
.

19th-cent. Hindu reform movement. It had its antecedent in the Brahmo Sabha (1828) of R
m Mohan Roy (1772–1833), who was impressed by Western achievements, but who believed that Indian spirituality was greater. The Brahmo tradition of reinterpreting early Hinduism in the light of new knowledge led to the organizing of Brahmo Sam
j in 1843 by Debendranath
Tagore
(father of the poet). The presence of Keshub Chandra
Sen
in the movement led to Tagore continuing with the Adi Sam
j, while Sen led the Brahmo Sam
j to further division and a cult-like focus on himself—though he also engaged in much social reform. The movement continued into the 20th cent., but rapidly declined in influence and membership.

 
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Braid(e) Movement
.

The first modern prophet and revival movement in Nigeria, and one of the first in Africa. It arose in Nov. 1915 at Opobo, within the semi-independent Anglican community among the Ijaw people in the E. Niger delta, through the healing and prayer ministry of a lay leader in the Bakana parish, Garrick Braid (
c.
1880–1918). The independent ‘Christ Army’ churches that appeared continued after his death, and many churches in E. Nigeria now claim him as founder.

 
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Brain-washing
.

Coercive methods of conversion or changes in behaviour. Based on

(i) Pavlov's discovery that fear among his laboratory dogs (induced by floods) led to the erasing of certain learned behaviours and to relatively greater ease in implanting new ones; and
(ii) the use of deprivation techniques in breaking down political and other prisoners, it was argued that religious threats of hell-fire (e.g.), followed by promises of salvation (accompanied by rhythmic and emotional music), produced conversion by comparable mechanisms.

 
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Branch Davidians
.

Cult derived from Seventh Day
Adventists
, whose centre, at Waco in Texas, was destroyed after an FBI siege intended to arrest its leader, David Koresh. The name of the cult goes back to the promises of Isaiah 11. 1, ‘A branch will spring from the stock of Jesse [the father of David], a new shoot will grow from his roots: on him will rest the spirit of the Lord, the spirit of wisdom and insight …’.

 
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