ABSTRACT
A religion, normally inspired by a charismatic leader, begins usually within the context of another, as Christianity, inspired by Jesus, began within Judaism. A few enthusiasts, again usually inspired by a charismatic leader thrown up at a psychological moment, try to recapture the original inspiration. The charismatics of later generations are forced to start other movements to slake their spiritual thirst, and the pattern is repeated. The charismatic movement of the twentieth century may be unique in that, although there are personalities who have made their names in it, none of them can be regarded as its founder nor even primus inter pares. For, whatever their other differences may have been, charismatics who had shared the experience of one or other of the gifts of the Spirit, tongues, healing, interpretation of tongues, felt that they also shared a unity of the Spirit which swallowed up denominational differences.
