Abstract
The phenomenon of religious leadership is a complex one. This article proposes that Ernest Becker's insight into the human tendency to deny death contributes to a better understanding of both the psychological and sociological dimensions of religious leadership. Specifically, it examines the role of transference in the leader-follower relationship and probes how this mechanism promotes the birth and demise of religious leaders. Some practical suggestions for healthy leader-follower relations are offered.
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References
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For a brief analysis of such views, see Willner, R.A.,The Spellbinders. New Haven, Yale University Press, 1984, pp. 42–61.
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See, for example, Bass, B.M., ed.,Stogdill's Handbook of Leadership: A Survey of Theory and Research, revised and expanded ed. New York, The Free Press, 1981.
Willner, R.A.,op. cit., p. 5.
Ibid., p. 19.
Ibid., p. 8.
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—,The Denial of Death. New York, The Free Press, 1973, p. 139.
Ibid.
—,Escape from Evil. New York, The Free Press, 1975, p. 128.
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Hocart, A.M.,The Life-Giving Myth ed. and with an introduction by Lord Raglan. New York, Grove Press, 1952, p. 51.
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Ibid., p. 52.
Ibid., p. 23.
Ibid., p. 51.
—,The Denial of Death, op. cit., p. 166.
Ibid., p. 168.
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Ibid., p. 57.
See, for example, Keating, C.J.,The Leadership Book. New York, Paulist Press, 1978, pp. 5–22.
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Kenel, S.A. The birth and death of religious leaders. J Relig Health 26, 97–105 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01533679
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01533679