TSD 8134 - Authority and Leadership in Spiritual Communities

Institution:

California Institute of Integral Studies

Subject:

Description:

In the face of growing religious pluralism and spiritual eclecticism, religious groups with powerful, even authoritarian, leaders are growing in number, while groups with little control over their members are declining in number. Sectarian, even fundamentalist, movements are increasing in many world religions. Accusations of "brainwashing," "undue influence," improper sexual behavior, and imprisonment are levelagainst authorities in all sorts of spiritual organizations, from established churches to small cults. This course will examine the creation and perpetuation of legitimate authority and leadership in spiritual communities, and how the attribution of charismatic power to leaders can lead to the development of illegitimate authority. We will analyze the nexus of sacred influence and secular power in a number of spiritual communities in order to understand how spiritual communities are associated with a number of social problems.

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.ciis.edu

Phone Number:

(415) 575-6100

Regional Accreditation:

Western Association of Schools and Colleges

Calendar System:

Semester

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