The Charismatic Personality

Earlier this year I saw for the first time the movie Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple. It is about Jim Jones and his following and everything leading up to their mass suicide. For a brief explanation of Jim Jones and his church read this http://www.religioustolerance.org/dc_jones.htm. It is just the basics but it will give you an idea of what was going on. The following videos are the first twenty minutes of the movie, but I hope after watching them you will see why I think Jim Jones is an example of the charismatic leader.

Jones clearly has the personality that is talked about in a charismatic leader. This is especially obvious when he is able to get his followers to leave their homes and loved-ones to travel across the country with him. He does get some of his authority from tradition,being a reverend in the church, but his power to break away from the mainstream religion and still keep his congregation comes from his charisma. Jones's movement also seems to fit Weber's theory in that it came about during a time of social unrest because of the fights for racial equality. Jones's church's strong stance on race and emphasis on having members of many races I think makes it hard to deny the effect that the attitudes and struggles faced by people of the times had on the creation of Jones's church. Eventually these ideas of equality spread not just to races but also economic statuses. Jones seem to pride himself on the fact that people from all different backgrounds. Some methods of routinization cal be found in Jones's church. The most obvious one I can think of is how his message is based off the bible. Like the Rastafarian movement he takes something familiar to everyone and frames it in a new light emphasizing certain parts. Despite using tradition as a way to routinize his church some flaws are that he is the only leader. Jones is in charge and has the final say in everything no one would be able to carry-on after him. Also he becomes much more radical over time, which will not gain him more followers. Finally Jones personally just looses it and so his church falls apart. I just thought it was interesting all of the people who could be considered charismatic leaders.