Amazing Conversions: Why Some Turn to Faith & Others Abandon Religion [Hardcover]

Bob Altemeyer (Author), Bruce Hunsberger (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1997

This groundbreaking study uncovers fascinating new data on sudden shifts in religious and non-religious 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 non-religious (or even anti-religious) 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, 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?

Editorial Reviews

Review

Amazing Conversions addresses the how and why of conversion to and away from religious faith. Canadian social psychologists Bob Altemeyer and Bruce Hunsberger surveyed thousands of young adults in order to investigate the backgrounds and lives of amazing believers (individuals who became devout believers in spite of little or no religious upbringing) and amazing apostates (individuals who became agnostic or atheists irrespective of their strong religious training). The authors document in great detail the answers provided by interviewees to questions such as "At what age did the first questions about your religion arise in your mind?" or "In what ways are you glad because you no longer believe?" Readers interested in the intellectual, emotional, and social influences on religious belief and non-belief will find the scenarios of individuals fascinating reading. Although amazing believers and apostates seem to contradict their own socializing process, Altemeyer and Hunsberger contend that their research demonstrates the power of socialization, since other social factors (family strife, employment, relationships) influence the conversion process. One might suspect that many forms of religious belief and conversion are not susceptible to a statistical survey approach and the attempt by the researchers to quantify religious belief seems problematic. The authors will strike many readers as theoretically naive in claiming that the survey method produces only random error but not systematic distortion. Given that the surveyed group consisted entirely of Canadian university students, this study is more valuable in its depiction of actual cases of religious conversion than in its general conclusions. -- From Independent Publisher

Product Details

• Hardcover: 266 pages
• Publisher: Prometheus Books (July 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1573921475
• ISBN-13: 978-1573921473
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,415,955 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #79 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Religious Studies > Psychology & Christianity

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Professional Research, not 'Religion for Dummys', June 12, 2004

By 

Nate McVaugh (Johnson City, TX United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Amazing Conversions: Why Some Turn to Faith & Others Abandon Religion (Hardcover)

The Independent Publisher and Jennifer Smith both appear to have little information about Altemeyer and Hunsberger's backgrounds as research psychologists, or with the research that they are doing. The purpose of this book is not entertain the reader with gripping tales of religious turmoil. It is to examine the process in the subject pool that they have available to them - Canadian college students. Within this pool, they have conducted scientific research for over 30 years, with tens of thousands of college students and adults. Their research findings have been replicated across the globe (including South Africa, Israel, and the former USSR) with faiths including Christians, Hindus, Jews and Muslims.

That the 'Publisher' feels that religion is 'not susceptible to a statistical survey approach' demonstrates their lack of familiarity with the field of religious research in general and with the work of both authors in particular. I suggest that they consult a research library and learn something about the field before making such sweeping pronouncements.

Those who don't have a serious interest in research on religion should steer clear of this book. Those who do will enjoy it and their other books and research.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book!, September 23, 2008

By 

Gary Horlacher (West Jordan, UT USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Amazing Conversions: Why Some Turn to Faith & Others Abandon Religion (Hardcover)

I loved this book. Unlike most studies which only summarize their data, these authors give you a detailed description of each of their interviewees responses. After reading the rich details of the apostate stories and the believer stories, it was hard to argue with the analysis. For example, I was a little critical of the amazing believer stories to begin with but found my views softening and expanding as I read story after story that showed the same pattern of finding happiness and meaning through their turn to religion.

It is clear that the apostates were more fully represented and that the believers were more scant. Of the 24 believers interviewed, only 10 were what I had expected (more fundamentalistic and committed), but the authors recognized this and described the subsample of "real converts".

As others have intimated, this is not a book for people who want to be reaffirmed in their faith or lack of faith, but rather a book for someone who is more neutral and wants to understand the dynamic processes that pushed people in both directions. Thanks Altemeyer & Hunsberger for a stimulating read!

12 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Establishes a basis for studying deconversion experiences, August 24, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Amazing Conversions: Why Some Turn to Faith & Others Abandon Religion (Hardcover)

I believe this book lays the foundation for the study of the deconversion phenomenon. The authors clearly establish their criteria for candidate selection as well as the type of relevant data to collect. Their data collection methodolgy follows the scientific process. However, I believe the conclusions were simplistic and somewhat "rushed". I do not feel that the book adequately established a cause-effect using the data. However, I do think this book is a valuable resource as a starting point for other social scientists who wish to examine the phenomenon further