Charisma
The word charisma comes from the Greek χαρισμα, gift .
In the Christianisme a charisma is a Don of the Holy Spirit to the believers.
Description of the charismas in the Holy Scriptures
Charismas, or spiritual gifts according to Saint Paul, are described in several passages of the First Will and the New Testament.
In the first epistle of Saint Paul to the Corinthians,
Saint Paul describes the diversity of the charismas (wisdom, speech of
Science, faith, cures, power to operate miracles, Prophétie, understanding of the spirits, diversity of languages, and gift to interpret them.
It makes a comparison with the body: “In the same way, indeed, as the body is one, while having several members, and than all the members of the body, in spite of their plurality, form one body, thus is it Christ. As well this in only one spirit is as we all were baptized in only one body, Juifs or Greeks, slaves or free men, and all we were watered of only one spirit. ” (1Co, 12,12-13).
Saint Paul describes the hierarchy of the charismas, and makes an anthem with the Charité. “When I would speak the Langue S about the men and the angels, if I the charity, I do not have am not more but bronze which sounds or cymbal which resounds. When I would have the gift of prophecy, and that I would know all the mysteries and all science, when I would have the plenitude of the Foi, a faith to transport mountains, if I do not have charity, I am nothing. When I would distribute all my goods in alms, when I would deliver my body to the flames, if I do not have the Charité, that is not used to me for nothing. ”
Saint Paul establishes a hierarchy of the charismas for the common utility. “Seek charity, also aspire to the spiritual gifts, especially to that of prophecy. Because that which speaks in Langue does not speak to the men, but with God; nobody indeed includes/understands: he says in spirit of the mysterious things. That which prophesies on the contrary, speaks to the men; he builds, exhorts, comforts. That which speaks in Langue builds itself, that which prophesies builds the assembly. I would certainly like that you speak all in Langue S, but more still than you prophesy; because that which prophesies overrides that which speaks in Langue S, unless this last does not interpret so that the assembly draws construction from it. ” (1Co, 14,1-5) About the speech in Language S, Saint Paul reconsiders the need for interpretation: “This is why that which speaks in language must request to be able to interpret. Because if I speak in Langue, my spirit is in Prière, but my intelligence does not withdraw any fruit from it. ” (1Co, 14,13-14).
For more details on the speech in languages and interpretation, to see the Glossolalie.
The Churches of the Alarm clock (charismatic Revival and Pentecôtisme), attach an particular importance to the speech in Langue S (especially according to chapters 12 and 13 of the First epistle to the Corinthians).
In social psychology
The charisma is the quality of the man who allures, influence, even fascine the others by its speeches, its attitudes, its temperament, its actions. A powerful charisma, i.e. attractive, turbid and neutralizes the judgment of others; this is why one can so easily direct and to handle the others when one has charisma.
A “charismatic” authority is a way of directing people by taking the ascending one on them by means of its charisma. Concerning the capacity of some to carry out groups while exploiting the emotional aspects, one speaks about “charismatic leader” or “charismatic chief”.
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