The Asbury University Honors Program will be hosting Molly Worthen for a colloquium event entitled “The Holy Ghost in American Politics: How to Make Sense of Charismatic Leaders, Then and Now” on March 5th at 7 p.m. in the Gyertson Screening Room in Miller.
Worthen is a journalist and historian of American religion whose research centers around North American religious and intellectual history. She also regularly contributes articles to the New York Times and has contributed to many other publications. Her newest book is entitled “Spellbound” and presents a history of charisma within religious and political systems in the United States.
Her work exploring the intersection of faith, power and public life will serve as the foundation for the evening’s discussion. In the official event announcement, the Honors Program frames the lecture by asking:
“What is charisma? In the context of politics, sometimes we use the word as a synonym for charm; in other cases, it can imply immoral manipulation. Just as often, charisma is a hazy word that we punt to when, frankly, we don’t understand a leader’s appeal at all. A survey of the dynamics between leaders and followers across American history helps us cut through the confusion and recover insights from the Christian tradition. Charisma in secular politics remains more connected to charisma in the original New Testament sense than we might think—and theological concepts like transcendence and idolatry are more relevant than ever.”
The event is open to students, faculty and community members. Following the lecture, members of the honors program will have the opportunity to participate in a question-and-answer session with Worthen at Windsor Manor.
