Prophets certainly tend to be charismatic, which suggests that charisma can potentially serve as an index of ethical leadership, but prophets aren’t always charismatic, at least not in an obvious way.
The Exodus tradition is built on a hope for a world free from military violence and economic exploitation. The Song of the Sea looks forward to a world where the machines of war, banished to the bottom of the sea, can no longer threaten us.
We invited Mac Loftin, Hanna Reichel, and Phil Christman, authors of recent books speaking to our present moment of crisis, to reflect on the other two books — and the state of the world.
We invited Mac Loftin, Hanna Reichel, and Phil Christman, authors of recent books speaking to our present moment of crisis, to reflect on the other two books — and the state of the world.
As is the case with religion, progressive intellectuals tend to look on charisma with suspicion, relegating it to the realm of authoritarian and manipulative politics.