Refugee's Spiritual Transformation to Christianity

Conversion

The act of changing one's beliefs, typically involving a confession of faith or trust in a higher power, as seen in Christianity and Islam.

Shahada

In Islam, the declaration of faith and trust in Allah, often followed by a ritual bath symbolizing purification.

Apostle Paul

A central figure in the New Testament who underwent a profound conversion, serving as a prototype for Christian conversion.

Spiritual Transformation

Any experience leading to a significant shift in life's spiritual orientation or intensity, often associated with a change in religious beliefs or values.

Meaning Model

A model of spiritual transformation proposed by Park, focusing on the development of a complex internal system of beliefs, values, and goals that organizes one's abilities to meet the demands of life.

Fit Model

A model of spiritual transformation that emphasizes the fit between an individual's needs and the beliefs and values offered by a religious group, suggesting that a person-religion fit leads to a successful conversion.

Deconversion

The process of moving away from religious faith, which can range from minimal disengagement to a complete rejection of previous beliefs and practices.

Secularizing exiters

Individuals who leave religious organizations and cease religious practices as part of the deconversion process.

Heretical exiters

Individuals who not only leave their previous religious beliefs but also adopt a new belief system as part of the deconversion process.

Pursuit of autonomy

A deconvert narrative involving a long process of stepping away from a previously held religious tradition, often without re-affiliating with other religious organizations.

Apostles

In Christianity, individuals who were sent out to convert others, emphasizing the central role of conversion in the faith.

Da'wa

In Islam, the obligation to invite others into the faith, as taught in the Qur'an.

Buddhism

A religion where conversion is seen as an inward awakening, gradually awakening a dormant seed of enlightenment.

Hinduism

A religion that accepts converts but does not actively solicit them, with an emphasis on behavior over belief.

Judaism

A religion that historically did not proselytize other nations and has a more educational process of conversion.

Personality

Different religious groups may attract individuals with specific personality traits, but there may not be a single conversion-prone personality.

Advocate

A person who guides an individual into a conversion, often through a personal relationship and imitation of the conversion process.

Meaning-Based Model

A model of conversion triggered by a crisis, involving six elements that promote spiritual transformation, including the appropriation of resources and setting aside barriers to change.

Global Religious Meaning

A broad system that provides a framework for organizing life and giving meaning to specific situations, which may be disrupted, leading to meaning-making coping.

Situational Religion Meaning

Finding value and purpose in life's routine experiences, making the global religious meaning salient in the specific, and prompting meaning-making coping to resolve conflicts.

Religious switchers

Individuals who migrate to a similar religion as part of the deconversion process.

Oppositional exiters

Individuals who adopt different belief systems with a more tense or oppositional group as part of the deconversion process.

Finding a new frame of reference

A deconvert narrative involving the search for more intensity, guidance, and structure in one's religious life, often moving from mainline to higher tension groups.