Re-Charismatisation – When Charisma Revives The Case Of Theosophy In Denmark

Abstract

Through the formative years of the Theosophical Society (1875–1930) the group experienced several severe splits due to disputes about leadership. In order to minimise the occurrence of splits, the Theosophical Society gradually toned down charismatic abilities as a mean of leadership requirement, which induced decades of organisational ‘calmness’. However, reintroducing charismatic authority as a management tool during the 1970s this institutionalized organisational structure was once again challenged by the Danish section of the Society, causing new splits to occur. Using the theosophical history in Denmark as a launch pad, this article aims to analyse why such charismatic claims were reintroduced despite the experience of outcome from previous incidents. With charismatic authority as a fulcrum, this article will take as its theoretical point of departure scholarly traditions following Max Weber in his theory on charismatic leadership, which will be discussed in relation to resource mobilization theory. Based on both in-depth interviews and analysis of theosophical journals, it will be concluded that re-charismatisation can be seen as a way of survival for an otherwise ailing religion.