Embracing religions in moral theories of leadership

Religions are social constituents of present societies that need to be integrated into theories of leadership. In this article, I outline how three distinct characteristics, particularly present in Abrahamic religions, can significantly affect leadership principles and practices: a belief in the existence of and relationship to a God, the faith in and pursuit of a hereafter purpose, and the belief in and attempted adherence to a sacred scripture. Subsequently, I classify two approaches to examine their impact on leadership: a scripture-based lens and an empirical lens. I then highlight how the distinct characteristics of Abrahamic religions can either inform and blend into or transform and modify moral theories of leadership.