The Ancient Greek word charisma became known through the Pauline epistles to Christian communities in the first century of the Common Era, wherein the word charisma denoted and described a gift of divine origin that demonstrated the divine authority possessed by the early leaders of the Church.
These are such as are not accessible to the ordinary person, but are regarded as of divine origin or as exemplary, and on the basis of them the individual concerned is treated as a leader.
How the quality in question would be ultimately judged from an ethical, aesthetic, or other such point of view is naturally indifferent for the purpose of definition.
[4][a] In the modern era, some psychologists have defined charisma in terms of practical outcomes (i.e. charismatic leaders are effective).
[7][8][9] It was shown to correlate strongly with general intelligence [10] and observers infer that those signaling charisma are more competent.
Weber interchanges authority and dominance[H]as been considered in sociological terms as indicating the legitimate or socially approved use of power.
[P]ower legitimized on the basis of a leader's exceptional personal qualities or the demonstration of extraordinary insight and accomplishment, which inspire loyalty and obedience from followers.
His charisma risks disappearing if he is "abandoned by God" or if "his government doesn't provide any prosperity to those whom he dominates".
[18]A religion which evolves its own priesthood and establishes a set of laws and rules is likely to lose its charismatic character and move towards another type of authority.
[citation needed] In politics, charismatic rule is often found in various authoritarian states, autocracies, dictatorships and theocracies.
"The search for a new charismatic leader (takes place) on the basis of the qualities which will fit him for the position of authority."
In ancient times, oracles were believed to have special access to "divine judgment" and thus their technique in selection was perceived to be legitimate.
Eileen Barker discusses the tendency for new religious movements to have founders or leaders who wield considerable charismatic authority and are believed to have special powers or knowledge.
Charismatic leaders are unpredictable, Barker says, for they are not bound by tradition or rules and they may be accorded by their followers the right to pronounce on all aspects of their lives.
Barker warns that in these cases the leader may lack any accountability, require unquestioning obedience, and encourage a dependency upon the movement for material, spiritual and social resources.
[23] Len Oakes, an Australian psychologist who wrote a dissertation about charisma, had eleven charismatic leaders fill in a psychometric test, which he called the adjective checklist, and found them as a group quite ordinary.