How Religious Content Matters in Conversion Narratives to Various Religious Groups
How Religious Content Matters in Conversion Narratives to Various Religious Groups
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Even though considerable literature on conversion exists, there is a lack of literature comparing conversion processes in different religious groups. This paper is based on an analysis of 50 conversion narratives to various religious groups using the narrative interview process of German sociologist Fritz Schütze. Narrative interview are used to map the entire biography of a person, and its relation to the conversion experience. The interviews are analyzed using "constant comparison" according to "grounded theory." Based on this analysis, I propose that we consider personal biography, push and pull factors, religious content, life course agency, network influence, and the relationship between all these factors when interpreting conversion processes. (Author abstract).
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Even though considerable literature on conversion exists, there is a lack of literature comparing conversion processes in different religious groups. This paper is based on an analysis of 50 conversion narratives to various religious groups using the narrative interview process of German sociologist Fritz Schütze. Narrative interview are used to map the entire biography of a person, and its relation to the conversion experience. The interviews are analyzed using "constant comparison" according to "grounded theory." Based on this analysis, I propose that we consider personal biography, push and pull factors, religious content, life course agency, network influence, and the relationship between all these factors when interpreting conversion processes. (Author abstract).