On October 6, 2026, at 5:00 p.m., Taylor Hall room 102 will host the annual Frederic C. Wood Lecture. The event features Molly Worthen a Professor of History at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, who will unpack the tangled history of charisma in American public life. Admission is free and the auditorium opens to the general public, inviting anyone curious about the forces that make certain leaders seem almost magnetic.
The allure and danger of political charisma
When we hear the word charisma in a political context, it can swing between praise for personal charm and suspicion of manipulative power. Historically, the term has served as a convenient shortcut for explaining why crowds rally behind figures whose policies may be opaque. By tracing the relationship between leaders and followers across U.S. history, Worthen plans to show that the phenomenon is not merely a modern media invention but is rooted in theological concepts that date back to the New Testament.
In the original scriptural sense, charisma is linked to transcendence—the idea that a leader’s authority can appear lifted beyond ordinary human limits. Yet the same language can slide into idolatry when citizens begin to worship the person rather than the principles they espouse. Worthen argues that today’s political arena still mirrors these ancient tensions, making the study of charismatic authority as relevant now as it was in the Puritan era.
Meet the speaker: Molly Worthen
Molly Worthen has built a reputation for navigating the crossroads of religion, ideas, and power. At UNC Chapel Hill, she teaches courses that examine how religious thought has shaped North American identity, while her scholarly work extends to global Christianity and diplomatic history. Her interdisciplinary approach equips her to address how charismatic narratives have steered public discourse from the early colonies to the present day.
Recent work and public voice
Worthen’s latest monograph, Spellbound: How Charisma Shaped American History from the Puritans to Donald Trump (2025), traces a line of influence that links early settlers’ spiritual fervor to the magnetic personalities of contemporary politics. The book has been praised for its blend of rigorous archival research and accessible storytelling. In addition to her academic publications, Worthen contributes regularly to major outlets such as The New York TimesThe New Yorker and The Atlantic where she offers commentary on the interplay of faith, education, and political power.
Logistics, sponsors, and how to attend
The Frederic C. Wood, Jr. Memorial Lecture is an endowed series honoring the late associate professor of religion and college chaplain who served at UNC in the late 1960s. This year’s lecture is sponsored by the Department of Religion and co-sponsored by the Program of American and Native American Studies and the Department of History. Because the event is open to all, attendees need only arrive at Taylor Hall before the scheduled start time. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis, and a brief Q&A will follow the presentation, giving the audience a chance to engage directly with Worthen’s insights.
