An examination of the various methods and theories used in the psychological study of religious leaders
Written in 1999; 1,962 words; 7 sources; APA; $ 62.95
Paper Summary:
This paper then attempts to ascertain what the factors are that determine whether a person who tries to found a religion, will be seen as a great prophet, perhaps even the Son of God, or as just another half-crazed mortal. The paper investigates this question by comparing the founders of successful religions to religious leaders who failed to attract a mass following. The paper studies this issue while examining the various methods and theories used in the psychological study of religious leaders.
"Successful prophets combine their phantasmal visions and drive with exceptional charisma and dramatic skill, as well as mundane leadership skills that are key to the success of any group. Unsuccessful prophets may have one or more of these elements, but as in other domains, it takes just the right combination to create an effective revolutionary religious leader. Another quality which prophets seem to possess but which works best in small doses is mental illness. Madness and genius have often been linked, and the realm of religion is no exception: both creativity and charisma may be genetically linked to manic depression (Oakes, 1997)."
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