Religious Conversions Unit
Conversion to Global Pentecostalisms
Pentecostalism remains one of the fastest growing religious movements in the world. Locally, its explosive growth (or fears about its explosive growth) often has divisive effects, which generate considerable discourse about conversion. To capitalize on the online format, we invite colleagues from around the world to participate in a panel examining conversion and its side effects, the communities targeted/mobilized by evangelists, political tensions that arise or are exacerbated in the context of Pentecostal evangelization and local theorizing about conversion that Pentecostal growth stimulates. Contact: Eliza Kent - ekent@skidmore.edu
This Unit studies the full spectrum of issues related to religious conversions, in any historical or geographic context, encompassing different forms of religious belief and practice. The scope of the issues we cover is broad and wide-ranging. We consider investigations into the reasons for various types of religious conversions including, but not limited to intellectual, theological, philosophical, historical, experiential, psychological, social, cultural, political, and economic causes. We also study the consequences of religious conversions, both individually and socially, and their implications. We encourage the methodologies of multiple disciplines, as well as interdisciplinary approaches. More narrowly focused areas of inquiry suggested by interested scholars include, but are not limited to the following:
• Multiple conversions
• Group and individual conversions
• Forced conversions
• The narrative and/or literary aspects of conversions
• Deconversions
• Ecclesiological consequences of conversion
• The place and role of conversion in a specific religious tradition
• Theories of conversions
• Formulas of religious conversion (as step-by-step processes)
Anonymity: Proposals are anonymous to chairs and steering committee members during review, but visible to chairs prior to final acceptance or rejection
Method of submission: PAPERS
Leadership:
Unit Co-Chair – Kent, Eliza F., Skidmore College, ekent@skidmore.edu
Unit Co-Chair – Self, Kathleen, St. Lawrence University, kself@stlawu.edu