Amazing conversions : why some turn to faith & [and] others abandon religion

Students at top Canadian universities answered questionnaires to determine if they were amazing--meaning they were raised with one set of beliefs but changed their views radically later in life. The chosen candidates were then interviewed to determine what led them to made their life-changing choices. Many first-person accounts from these interviews are included, as well as a section for readers to test their own beliefs. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

this Groundbreaking Study, Based On A Survey Of Over Four Thousand Students At Two Canadian Universities, Uncovers Fascinating New Data On Sudden Shifts Toward Religious And Nonreligious Belief. Amazing Conversions Explores, For The First Time, The Reasons Why Converts Join And Apostates Go. Social Psychologists Bob Altemeyer And Bruce Hunsberger Winnow Out A Small Number Of Amazing Apostates And Amazing Believers, The Former Being Those Who, Despite A Strong Religious Upbringing, Abandon Their Faith, While The Latter Embrace Religion, Usually Fundamentalist Christianity, After Having Been Raised In Homes That Were Indifferent To Religion Or Overtly Antireligious. This Book Solves The Mystery Of The Amazing Converts By Presenting Their Stories In Their Own Words. As You Read Their Explanations Of What Happened To Them, You Will Notice The Themes That Reappear In One Life After Another. And You May Find The Ultimate Explanations Of These Amazing Cases As Surprising As The Cases Themselves.

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students At Top Canadian Universities Answered Questionnaires To Determine If They Were Amazingmeaning They Were Raised With One Set Of Beliefs But Changed Their Views Radically Later In Life. The Chosen Candidates Were Then Interviewed To Determine What Led Them To Made Their Life-changing Choices. Many First-person Accounts From These Interviews Are Included, As Well As A Section For Readers To Test Their Own Beliefs. Annotation C. By Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

This groundbreaking study uncovers fascinating new data on sudden shifts in religious and nonreligious belief. Amazing Conversions explores, for the first time ever, the reasons why converts join, and apostates go. The focus of this absorbing study is on some amazing people, with unique stories to tell those who join a religious group in spite of being raised in nonreligious (or even antireligious) families, and those who, at great personal cost, choose to leave religion in spite of having a deeply religious background. Why would an atheist's son become a Christian fundamentalist? Why would a "good Catholic girl" decide that she really is an atheist?The authors of Amazing Conversions, both social psychologists, surveyed thousands of young adults to find that small number who were "amazing believers" or "amazing apostates." These rare individuals tell their stories, which are supplemented by their responses to a detailed questionnaire. The resulting picture shows that amazing believers and amazing apostates are dramatically different groups of people, in spite of the fact that their lives now stand in opposition to previous (non)religious training. You, too, can complete the same questionnaire to learn more about yourself and your beliefs. Have you experienced an amazing conversion? "This groundbreaking study, based on a survey of over four thousand students at two Canadian universities, uncovers fascinating new data on sudden shifts toward religious and nonreligious belief. Amazing Conversions explores, for the first time, the reasons why converts join and apostates go. Social psychologists Bob Altemeyer and Bruce Hunsberger winnow out a small number of "Amazing Apostates" and "Amazing Believers," the former being those who, despite a strong religious upbringing, abandon their faith, while the latter embrace religion, usually fundamentalist Christianity, after having been raised in homes that were indifferent to religion or overtly antireligious." "This book solves "the mystery of the amazing converts" by presenting their stories in their own words. As you read their explanations of what happened to them, you will notice the themes that reappear in one life after another. And you may find the ultimate explanations of these amazing cases as surprising as the cases themselves."--BOOK JACKET Uncovers data on sudden shifts in religious and non-religious belief. This title focuses on some amazing people, with unique stories to tell those who join a religious group in spite of being raised in non-religious families, and those who, at great personal cost, choose to leave religion in spite of having a deeply religious background.