

Molly Worthen on Being Spellbinding
13 snips May 28, 2025
Molly Worthen, a history professor at UNC-Chapel Hill and author of 'Spellbound,' explores the magnetic force of charisma in American culture. She tracks five distinct types of charisma from revival tents to political rallies. Worthen and her host discuss how charisma drives both spiritual conversion and dangerous cults of personality. Reflecting on her journey from atheism to faith, she examines why certain figures resonate so deeply. The conversation uncovers the complexities of human connection and the evolving nature of authority in modern society.
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Experience at a Revival Meeting
- Russell Moore attended a revival meeting where many people were on the floor writhing and laughing but he stayed standing.
- He was fascinated and bewildered by how people were swept up in the charismatic experience despite it seeming crazy.
Charisma Explains Religious Impulse
- Molly Worthen sees charisma as a key to understanding religious and political impulses often overlooked by traditional religiosity metrics.
- Charismatic leaders fulfill a deep human hunger for transcendent meaning beyond institutional religion.
Charisma Is Relational Power
- Charisma is relational and depends on followers buying into the leader's story more than the leader's personal charm.
- It offers followers a balance of agency and comfort by giving them a compelling shared narrative.