Conversion Experiances

• Conversion experiences are those that offer a altering of beliefs/way of life. Change so religious ideas become the starting point for their perspective. Can be rapid or slower.
• James said conversion experiences follow a similar pattern: person is in some way discontent. Person searches for what is missing. Their is a point of crisis with visions etc. There is profound peace, then a new sence of purpose and religion.
• James on Conversion: with conversion a persons centre of energy changes and shifts. Recognises a psycological explanation of conversion but not the whole experiance.
• James on conversion: argues that you can tell whether an experience is genuine by the 'fruits', how has the person changed for the better.
• Saul on the road to damascas is an example of a conversion experiance.
• Nadim Ednam Laperouse: daughter dies of allergic reaction on plane. Long time of emergency on plane. When paramedics arrived and daughter dies, nadim saw 5 angels appear over his daughter.
• Nadim, he now goes to church regularly and is a christian. Previously he was uninterested in religion.
• Edwin Starbuck: psychologist studying young christians. Found most conversions occur between ages of 15-24. All young people have a stage on incompleteness and anxiety before finding happy relief.
• Edwin Starbuck: 2 types of conversion - self surrender - rapid, crisis response. Volitional - religious ideas slowly take over.
• James argues that conversions are more reliable due to their observable effects.
• Consider social explanations for conversion.