Contemporary models of conversion and identity transformation

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Serval ID
serval:BIB_5B3926532F35
Type
A part of a book
Publication sub-type
Chapter: chapter ou part
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Contemporary models of conversion and identity transformation
Title of the book
Religious and philosophical conversion in the Ancient Mediterranean traditions
Author(s)
Brandt Pierre-Yves
Publisher
Brill
Address of publication
Leiden
ISBN
978-90-04-50176-8
Publication state
Published
Issued date
10/03/2022
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Editor
Despotis Athanasios, Löhr Helmut
Series
Ancient philosophy and religion
Pages
17-42
Language
english
Abstract
Religious or philosophical conversion can be considered as a form of identity transformation. Within a given cultural environment, the convert tells its story based on standard narratives circulating in this environment. These narratives generally emphasize the unexpected and sudden character of conversion: it does not result so much from the effort of the convert, but rather from a divine initiative or, at least, from the attraction power of the meaning-system to which the convert has accessed. Contemporary psychological models of conversion moderate this description by showing that it consists of a posteriori reading that blurs the long temporality of the process. It is also important to take into account the inevitable negotiation that the convert had to carry out with the social environment until he or she reaches the recognition of the identity transformation that he or she claims. For to speak of conversion presupposes an exclusive conception of religious affiliation, a conception that is not universal but more or less strongly valued only by certain religious traditions. Faced with this exclusive conception, are the motivations of the individual: what drives him or her to convert, what are his/her interests to do it ? Depending on the case, the conversion will result rather from a preference of the individual to build his/her identity in an environment that does not impose it, or rather from constraints imposed on him/her who has no other choice if he/she wants to be admitted to the group he/she wants to join. To shed light on the role of narrative in these interactions, the contribution of sociological and narrative approaches will also be mentioned.
Create date
28/09/2020 17:32
Last modification date
20/08/2022 7:10
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