Moskalenko L. The Phenomenon of Religious Leadership (the Case of Jewish Religious Traditions)

This thesis deals with the complex research of religious leadership illustrated by Judaism. The work contains the structural analysis of religious leadership, the basic mechanisms of influence of leader on followers and the direct role of leader's personality in this communication process has been distinguished. The structural analysis of religious charisma as a natural mechanism of affecting adherents that has the reflection in Judaic traditions has been offered. The formation of charisma is tightly interrelated with personal energy of religious leader. This energy is generated under the influence of number of such factors as personal qualities, the peculiarities of individual socialization and specific character of social group of "pre-charismatic" period. The analysis of intercommunication of objective and subjective factors in forming the religious character illustrated by activity of Nachman from Bratslav was carried out. New criteria in typology of religious leadership in Hasidism have been marked out. The new criteria in typology of religious leadership in the context of Hasidic traditions have been marked out. Such new types of leadership as leader-ideologist, leader-educator and leader-organizer have been worked out.