Religions 2012, 3(3), 763-789; doi:10.3390/rel3030763
Article

Charisma, Medieval and Modern

Gary Dicksonemail
School of History, Classics and Archaeology, University of Edinburgh, William Robertson Wing, Old Medical School, Teviot Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, UK
Received: 26 July 2012; in revised form: 8 August 2012 / Accepted: 10 August 2012 / Published: 23 August 2012
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Charisma, Medieval and Modern)
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Abstract: Popularized by the mass media, Max Weber’s sociological concept of charisma now has a demotic meaning far from what Weber had in mind. Weberian charismatic leaders have followers, not fans, although, exceptionally, fans mutate into followers. This essay aims to trace some of the dimensions of Weberian charismatic religious leadership in comparative perspective, medieval and modern. Examples include: preachers, “double charisma,” professors, “collective charisma,” religious radicals, the economy of charisma, transgressive sexuality, demagogues, living saints.1
Keywords: charisma; Weber; medieval; leaders; followers; fans; saints

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MDPI and ACS Style

Dickson, G. Charisma, Medieval and Modern. Religions 2012, 3, 763-789.

AMA Style

Dickson G. Charisma, Medieval and Modern. Religions. 2012; 3(3):763-789.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Dickson, Gary. 2012. "Charisma, Medieval and Modern." Religions 3, no. 3: 763-789.

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