Characteristics Of Charismatic Leaders

2281 Words10 Pages

Charismatic Leaders: Introduction to New Religions Introduction Charisma is a Greek word meaning “gift understood as bestowed as a divine source”. Charisma benefits both the leader as well as the followers. Charisma can be seen as a path by uncultivated men or women to gain a religious career. Charisma can also be seen as a path in which a leader either destroys or develops the society. Charisma is one of three legitimization strategies used by religions.Charismatic leaders are those who often form the basis of new religions.This essay will delve more into what charismatic leaders and how they construct their charisma, maintain and distribute in new religions and alternative spiritualities. The pioneering sociologist Max Weber defines charisma as: “A certain quality of an individual personality by virtue of which he or she is set apart from ordinary people and treated as endowed with spiritual, superhuman or at least specifically exceptional powers or qualities. These are such as are not accessible to the ordinary person but are regarded as of divine origin or as exemplary and on the basis of them the individual concerned is treated as a leader” ( Weber inWessinger 2012, 81). On the other hand Followers are regarded as the strength of a charismatic leader.Followers help to maintain and distribute the teachings taught by their leader. However, all charismatic leaders do not pursue the same kind of powers or skills. Typology Charismatic leaders due to their divine gifts

Open Document