A new model of religious conversion : beyond network theory and social constructivism / by Ines W. Jindra.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Jindra, Ines W., author.

Series:

Religion in the Americas series ; v. 14.

Religion in the Americas series, 1542-1279 ; volume 14

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Conversion.

Conversion--Case studies.

Conversion--Psychology.

Genre:

Case studies.

Physical Description:

ix, 228 pages ; 25 cm.

Place of Publication:

Leiden, The Netherlands : Brill, [2014]

Summary:

Based on the analysis of 52 conversion narratives to various religious groups, A New Model of Religious Conversion utilizes case studies for comparison of converts' backgrounds, network influence, and conversion narratives. The author convincingly illustrates a "fit" between the converts' background and the religion they convert to, such as between disorganized family backgrounds and highly structured religions. Conversely, those from highly structured backgrounds often convert to more "open" groups. The book also makes it clear that not all conversions are influenced by networks, or align themselves with a social constructivist view of a conversion as an "account." Taking converts' trajectories seriously the author makes a strong case for the application of biographical sociology to the study of conversion and (American) sociology overall. Book jacket.

Contents:

1 Conversions in Context: On the Interaction between the Personal and the Social 1

Goals and Argument of the Book 1

Religious Experience and Religious Conversion 7

Religious Experience 7

Religious Conversion 8

Outline of the Book 11

Methodology 22

2 Case Studies, the Key Concept and Converts' Background Experiences 27

Selected Case Studies 27

Introducing the Inductive, Comparative Model: The Key Concept and Background Experiences 57

Shared Background Experiences 59

Problems with Fathers and/or Mothers 60

Short-Term Crises Prior to Conversion 60

Key Concept - Contrasting Background Experiences 61

The Experience of "Openness" or Disorganization (Category 1) 61

Religious Meaninglessness 62

Cultural, Social and/or Familial Disorganization 63

Problems in the Area of Relationships and Self 64

The Experience of Closed, Too Structured Backgrounds (Category 2) 65

Too Much Religious Structure 66

Too Much Cultural Structure 66

Feeling at Home in One's Milieu of Origin (Category 3) 67

Attractions of Religious Groups in Light of Background Experiences 68

Conversions in Reaction to "Disorganization" (Category 1) 69

Converts to the Jehovah's Witnesses: Religious Meaninglessness and Familial Disorganization 69

Converts to Islam and the Jehovah's Witnesses: Cultural, Social and/or Familial Disorganization 72

Converts to Christianity: Problems in the Area of Relationships and Self 74

Conversions in Reaction to Closed, Too Structured Backgrounds (Category 2) 75

Unitarian Universalists, One Buddhist: Too Much Religious Structure 75

Converts to the Baha'i: Too Much Cultural Structure 77

Feeling at Home in One's Milieu of Origin (Category 3) 79

Converts to Various Christian Denominations, to the Baha'i and to Islam: Feeling at Home in One's Milieu of Origin 79

Conclusion 80

Comparison with Henri Gooren's "Conversion Career Approach" 82

Making Sense of Background Patterns in Light of Theories of Social Change 83

3 Network Influence, Strong Social Constructivism and the Backgrounds of Conversion 87

Network Theory and Strong Social Constructivism: Explaining Why People Convert 96

The Failure of Network Theory and Strong Social Constructivism in Explaining Why People Convert 101

Why the Difference in Network Influence and Account Giving/Biographical Reconstruction? 104

The Overall Pattern 107

Cases for Which the Dominant Paradigms Fit 107

Cases for Which the Dominant Paradigms Do Not Fit 111

Summary of Associations 115

Mechanisms 119

4 Altering a (Problematic) Trajectory, Religious Content, and Conversion 123

Altering One's (Problematic) Trajectory 129

Case Stories That Fit the Dominant Paradigms 129

The Role of Network Influence in Altering One's (Problematic) Trajectory: Converts to the Jehovah's Witnesses and to Islam 131

The Role of Network Influence, Positive Background Experiences, and Religious Emotions, Cognitions, and Beliefs: Adopting the Religion One Grew Up with 136

Case Stories That Do Not Fit the Dominant Paradigms 139

The Rote of Religious Emotions, Cognitions, and Beliefs 139

The Role of Religious Emotions, Cognitions, and Beliefs: Converts to Islam and to Christianity 140

The Role of Increased Self-Reflexivity and Life Course Agency Due to Religious Emotions, Cognitions and Beliefs: Converts to Christianity 145

The Role of Contradictory Aims and the Inability of Religious Emotions, Cognitions, and Beliefs to Address Them: Converts to Christianity and the Baha'i 150

The Role of Existing Self-Reflexivity and Life Course Agency: Converts to the Baha'i and Unitarian Universaiists 154

Conclusion 156

5 Gender and Conversion 161

Gender-Related Experiences and Conversion 162

Two Case Studies 165

Comparing the Case Stories 174

The Overall Picture 177

The Dominant Paradigms and Gendered Dimensions of Conversion 180

6 Conclusion 183

Implications for Research on Conversion 183

The 'Multilevel Interdisciplinary Paradigm" and the "Conversion Career Approach" 183

On the Role of Religious Emotions, Cognitions, and Beliefs 184

On Gender 186

On Network Theory 187

On Strong and Weak Social Constructivism 189

Implications for Interfaith Dialogue 192

Why Biographical Sociology Matters 193.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [215]-225) and indexes.

ISBN:

9789004264984

9004264981

OCLC:

865494670