[blue-duncan]

“what do you think is “laying of the hands” all about? Empty ritual? Magic?”

I suppose it depends on what the “layer on of hands” believes he/she is doing. It is not empty ritual to corporately, by the Holy Spirit, identify someone who has been called of God for a ministry by laying on of hands, but to think that one is specially possessed with the authority to pass on the Holy Spirit to another is to believe that Benny Hinn is special too.

[kosta50]

but to think that one is specially possessed with the authority to pass on the Holy Spirit to another is to believe that Benny Hinn is special too

No one believes that! The priest merely petitions the holy Spirit to come and affects a change — a sacrament.

From the Orthodox Divine Liturgy:

The Priest (in a low voice): Lord, God Almighty, You alone are holy. You accept a sacrifice of praise from those who call upon You with their whole heart. Receive also the prayer of us sinners and let it reach Your holy altar. Enable us to bring before You gifts and spiritual sacrifices for our sins and for the transgressions of the people...Once again we offer to You this spiritual worship without the shedding of blood, and we ask, pray, and entreat You: send down Your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these gifts here presented. And make this bread the precious Body of Your Christ

The priests, who considers himself a sinner, humbly give praise to God on behalf of the congregation and asks that, in His goodness, His Spirit comes and affects the change.

No hocus-pocus, no magic, no arrogance.