The Anthropology of Religious Conversion

by Andrew Buckser (Editor), Stephen D. Glazier (Editor)

The Anthropology of Religious Conversion paints a picture of conversion far more complex than its customary image in anthropology and religious studies. Conversion is very seldom simply a sudden moment of insight or inspiration; it is a change both of individual consciousness and of social belonging, of mental attitude and of physical experience, whose unfolding depends both on its cultural setting and on the distinct individuals who undergo it. The book explores religious conversion in a variety of cultural settings and considers how anthropological approaches can help us understand the phenomenon. Fourteen case studies span historical and geographical contexts, including the contemporary United States, modern and medieval Europe, and non-western societies in South Asia, Melanesia, and South America. They discuss conversion to Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Islam, and Spiritualism. Combining ethnographic description with theoretical analysis, authors consider the nature and meaning of conversion, its social and political dimensions, and its relationship to individual religious experience.

256 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2003

Reviews

[Jo Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful and thought provoking. Really enjoyed the piece on Icelandic spiritualism, and its relationship with "mandatory Christianity" over the centuries.

"Religious conversion raises fundamental questions about the human predicament, the meaning and purpose of life, the nature of reality, and the reality of a transcendent realm. It is extremely difficult- if not impossible- to engage with the topic of conversion from a disinterested point of view." - Lewis R. Rambo

[Duane Alexander Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the whole a very satisfying volume and useful for any doing work on the topic of conversion. It is timely to have a volume like this, as anthropologists have previously not focused on conversion in its own right. However, in our world today religion and religious conversion is clearly becoming more common due to globalization and population movements and media, so it is important to try to understand this phenomenon better. I especially enjoyed the essay by Sacha Norris, and the final piece by Rambo--a leader in the field of conversion studies--is excellent, laying out recommendations for future studies and calling for an inter-disciplinary approach to the complex topic of conversion.