What is it that causes people to follow religous leaders?

They follow them b/c they are their light in the darkness of society. These leaders preached societal justice for many of societies downtrodden or trampled peoples such as the poor, slaves, and women. They also preached a unified belief, that being the belief in One All-Powerful God and not many gods or a god that could be circumvented or ignored. Personally, they also had very good characters that they were renowned for in the people around them so that a person would have to actually be crazy not to trust them. They were modest and never faulting in honesty and trustworthiness and helped everyone around them, even long before they claimed prophethood.

I hope this addresses your question.

There can be enormous social pressure. Widespread lack of education means people don't have the tools to question what they are told. Many religions quite happily executive non believers, eg. Islam, Christianity in the past. Plus they make claims that cannot be proved, but which sound wonderful (eg. life after death) - never underestimate the power of wishful thinking.

Chuck Norris killed the Pope with a roundhouse kick to the chest after an argument over who had a better beard, Jesus or Norris.

Gullibility.

Jesus was a good man, well worthy of being followed. Everyone follows SOMEone, whether they recongnise it or not, you dress like a hollywood starlett, you do your hair like a pop star you like, you try and talk like your favourit college professor, you try and walk like your dad....

everyone needs role models, why not a perfect man?

Well, I follow Jesus because he touched me, because all his teachings are practical and true, and because he promises me more than I could ever dream of.

I don't follow religious leaders, I follow God; God is not a religious leader.

some have good personalities but with JESUS HES THE MOST HIGH GOD SO THERES A BETTER reason!!!

Weak minds

Upbringing, or possibly weakness.