Week 9 - Conversion, Deconversion, & New Movements

Religious Conversion

Transition from one belief system to another.

Spiritual Transformation

Deep personal change in beliefs or values.

Sudden Conversion

Immediate change in belief, often emotional.

Gradual Conversion

Slow, ongoing process of changing beliefs.

James-Starbuck Thesis

Emphasizes emotional experiences in sudden conversion.

Personality Changes Post-Conversion

Minimal basic personality change, but attitude shifts.

Big 5 Personality Traits

Five key dimensions of human personality.

Openness to Experience

Willingness to engage with new ideas.

Extraversion

Tendency to seek social interaction and stimulation.

Agreeableness

Disposition towards compassion and cooperation.

Conscientiousness

Degree of organization and dependability.

Neuroticism

Tendency towards emotional instability and anxiety.

Honesty-Humility

Valuing fairness and modesty over entitlement.

Deconversion

Leaving a religion for another or none.

Pursuit of Autonomy

Leaving childhood religion for individualism.

Debarred from Paradise

Leaving a cherished religion due to trauma.

Finding a New Frame of Reference

Joining stricter religion for structure and intensity.

Life-long Quests

Searching for better fit in beliefs.

Insecure Attachment

Anxious or avoidant emotional relationships.

Secure Attachment Style

Healthy exploration of new identities.

Religious Residue Effect

Retention of religious aspects post-deconversion.

God IAT

Test linking God with positive or negative words.

Self-concept Clarity

Consistency in self-identity and roles.

Amish Rumspringa

Amish youth's exploration before returning to community.

New Religious Movements (NRMs)

Original groups rejecting mainstream culture.

Church-Sect Theory

Balance between permissiveness and strictness in religion.