Conversion:
- The word ‘conversion’ comes from a Latin word ‘convertere’ meaning ‘to turn around’ or ‘change direction’.
- As a religious experience, conversion can be described as an event which has such a profound effect on an individual that it encourages him/her to adapt a whole new approach to life.
- Beliefs and convictions gained as a result of the conversion help strengthen the individual, reshaping their outlook of life entirely.
- Conversions can follow a pattern of despair and emptiness leading to a newfound realization of the importance of faith in life. (E.g. Nicky Cruz).
- Conversions can be gradual process, as well as sudden, In the RC and Anglican Church’s it is taught that the individual is on a personal journey of moving over closer to God rough prayer, worship and celebrating the sacraments.
McGuire (Religion: The Social Context, 1997) defined conversion as:
‘a process of religious change which transforms the way the individual perceives the rest of society and his or her personal place in it, altering one’s view of the world + strengthening the individual’
William James – Varieties of Religious Experience
Speaks of the self of individual following a conversion becoming:
Speaks of the self of individual following a conversion becoming:
‘unified and consciously right, superior and happy, in consequence of its firmer hold on religious beliefs.’
L. Rambo + R. Farhadian: 7 stages of conversion:
1) CON
2) CRI
3) QUE
4) ENC
5) INT
6) COMM
7) CONS
- CONTEXT. Includes all the social, cultural + external religious influences. It’s the environment of the subject.
- CRISIS. An event experienced by the subject causing upheaval to his or her existing way of life. This could be from preaching, bereavement, social dislocation, direct revelation or combination. It is possible that the subject may have an outer body or near death experience.
- QUEST. This aspect asks questions about the conversion. How did subject respond? How externally beneficaly was the conversion? What human motives contributed to the conversion?
- ENCOUNTER. The interaction between the convertor and the convent.
- INTERACTION. This is the development of behaviour patterns which are compatible with those that are expected of the convert by the religious group the convert has joined.
- COMMITMENT: This aspect can be gradual or sudden move. Converts say they feel a number of feelings, which include surrender, forgiveness and liberation.
- CONSEQUENCES: The short + long term effects on the converts + on those around them can be taken as a measure of the validity or otherwise of the conversion.
James McGuire:
- It is the fruits of the life that result from the conversion experience that give it positive value and he suggests that conversion could be a good thing.
- James saw religious exp as a key feature of conversion. “To be converted, to be regenerated, to receive grace, to experience religion, to gain assurance, are so many phrases which denote the process, gradual or sudden, by which a self hithero divided, and consciously wrong, inferior and unhappy, becomes unified and consequences of its firmer hold upon religious realities.’
Conversions e.g. S.t Pauls Experience
- Characteristically, conversions can occur suddenly and dramatically, as McGuire says.
E.g. St. Pauls experience on the road to Damascus (Acts 9: 3-19):
Blinded by the light from heaven, Saul’s sight is later restored physically and spiritually and as if scales fall from his eyes he is baptized and is in a sense reborn at that moment.
Pauls dramatic change in lifestyle and actions would have served as clear evidence for all to see of his conversion, as he went from violently persecuting Christians to preaching their message and leading them.
Religious conversions are varied. In 1981, John Loftland & Norman Skonovd described 6 patterns (motifs) of religious conversion:
- Intellectual – Empahsis is on intensive stud with little impersonal contact.
- Mystical – occurs suddenly or dramatically, accompanied sometimes by dreams or visions.
- Experimental – emphasis is on active exploration, assessing the religion over a period of time through participation.
- Affectional – involves contact and bonding with acual members of the religion an experiencing being loved and nurtured.
- Revivalist – occurs in a revivalist meeting. Usually involves emotional arousal.
Types:
- no faith to faith (St. Augustine)
- one faith to another (Sundar Singh)
- deeper level of faith (John Wesley)
Passive conversion
- Passive conversion is where the subject has a religious experience without seeking it. The experience comes upon them unexpectedly. E.g. Pauls conversion.
Active conversion
- Active conversions is when someone might specifically seek a spiritual experience, perhaps by going to an evangelistic meeting with the intention of responding to the preaching.
Gradual conversion
Take factors into consideration… may wish to reflect, study and talk about conversion before making a decision. (Similar to intellectual conversion. And active conversion (seek spiritual advice)
Sudden conversion
Immediate, dramatic affects on person. - St Paul on the Road to Damascus (Acts 9: 3-19)
(similar to ‘passive’ conv - without seeking it.
Conversion essay plan:
- Define conversion ‘change direction etc’
- profound effect on individual. William James speaks of the self…. Key characteristics: no faith to faith etc.
- James Mcguire (definition) - follow a pattern of despair + emptiness in ones life, leading to a new found realisation of they importance of faith in life. e.g. Nicky Cruz.
- James = gradual or sudden conversions.
(gradual similar to intellectual or active conversion)
(sudden similar to passive conversion) e.g. St Paul - Process: L. Rambo + C. Farhadian 7 stages in conversion (apply to st paul
Applying L. Rambo and R. Fardinan to the conversion of Saul:
- (Context) Saul is travelling to Damascus to arrest Christians, he is a religious Jew - pharisees
- (Crisis) Crisis of faith and identity ‘Who are you, Lord?”
- (Quest) He became a preacher
- (Encounter) Bright light, spoken by Jesus, goes blind
- (Interaction) He is baptised and starts preaching in Damascus and becomes a disciple.
- (Commitment) He starts preaching with disciples
- (Consequences) Positively affects those around him, stops persecution.
