The Anthropology of Religious ConversionAndrew Buckser, Stephen D. Glazier Rowman & Littlefield, 2003 - 236 pages 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. |
Contents
Conversion and Social Processes | 15 |
The Politics | 43 |
Social Conversion and Group Definition in Jewish Copenhagen | 69 |
Copyright | |
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Africa Aguaruna American Anthropology Apajui argued Asabano Austin-Broos become belly Benedictine Beta Israel Bianchi Buckser Caribbean Catholic chapter charismatic Chicago congregation constraint context conversion experience conversion narratives Conversion to Christianity Copenhagen culture Dani Danish describe discourse edited Ethiopia evangelical event example faith feel Felashmura fieldwork ganja Glazier glossolalia Hefner Hindu Hinduism Hindutva Holy Spirit human Iceland immigrants India individual Indonesia involved Irian Jaya Islam Jayapura Jehovah's Witness Jesus Jewish Jews lives meaning mission missionaries modern moral movement nabelan nationalist Ogun Orisha Orthodox Papuan participants passage Pentecostal Pentecostalist perspective political practice rabbi Rambo Rasta Rastafarians Reidhead relationships religious conversion religious experience Return to Judaism ritual sense shamans shift in beliefs sion social soul Spiritual Baptists Spiritualist Church story study of conversion Sufism supernatural Sylvia symbols tion Toba told tradition transformation Trinidad understanding University Press volition Western world religions York