Understanding religious conversion

Bibliographic Information

Understanding religious conversion

Lewis R. Rambo

Yale University, 1993

  • : hbk
  • : pbk

Available at  / 26 libraries

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Note

Includes bibliographical references (p. 209-234) and index

Description and Table of Contents

Volume

: hbk ISBN 9780300052831

Description

Discusses the dynamics of religious conversion, presenting it as a process of change with personal, cultural, social and religious implications. The text draws on insights from psychology, anthropology, theology, missiology and interviews with converts from disparate backgrounds.
Volume

: pbk ISBN 9780300065152

Description

Religious conversion provides converts with an opportunity to embrace a community of faith and a philosophy that nurture and guide, that offer a focus for loyalty and a framework for action. Whether the conversion is from one religious tradition to another, from one denomination to another, from no involvement to participation in a religious community, or is an intensification of commitment within one's faith, the process can be complex but compelling and transformative. In this book Lewis Rambo discusses the dynamics of conversion, presenting it as a multifaceted process of change with personal, cultural, social, and religious implications. Drawing on insights from psychology, sociology, anthropology, history, theology, and missiology, as well as on interviews with converts from disparate backgrounds, Rambo explores the forces that shape the conversion experience. He considers various theories of conversion, examines the role of cultural and social factors in the conversion process, and describes how different religions and disciplines view conversion. While acknowledging the individual nature of each conversion experience, Rambo discerns stages that are illuminating. These include opening oneself to new options; seeking a resolution to the dilemma or deprivation that makes change seem attractive; meeting the agent who embodies the religious vision; learning new roles, rituals, and rhetoric; and committing oneself to a new way of life. His book will not only encourage empathy for the converting process but will also provide a nuanced strategy of critique and evaluation of religious conversion throughout the world.

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Details

  • NCID
    BA20650829
  • ISBN
    • 0300052839
    • 9780300065152
  • LCCN
    92039404
  • Country Code
    us
  • Title Language Code
    eng
  • Text Language Code
    eng
  • Place of Publication
    New Haven, CT
  • Pages/Volumes
    xx, 240 p.
  • Size
    24 cm
  • Classification
  • Subject Headings
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