A Comparison of Two Religious Conversion Experiences
A religious conversion is a process of change where religious beliefs
previously ignored or unappreciated become significant due to a
specific experience or a change in view over time. They are either
long term, dramatic or involving a deepening of faith that may lead to
the adoption of new beliefs or the prioritising of an individual's
faith. Conversions are not exclusive and occur in most religions. The
conversion of St Paul on the road to Damascus is the most influential
conversion experience in the Christian tradition. St Paul was a major
persecutor of Christians and following a conversion became an apostle
and the author of one third of the New Testament. Similarly in the
Buddhist tradition, the conversion of Siddhartha Gotama ('the
enlightened one') formed the core of the Sangha, the heart of Buddhist
life.
Although both conversion experiences were dramatic and utterly
transformed the believers' life, St Paul's conversion was from one
religion to another (from Judaism to Christianity) whereas Gotama's
was from nominal religious affiliation to complete religious
commitment; his faith was valued more and strengthened. Saul was
stated to have been 'breathing threats and murder against the
disciples of the Lord' (Acts 9) before he was converted. After the
experience, Paul was baptised to show his loyalty to Christianity and
proclaims Jesus to be the Son of God. In this light, another contrast
between the conversions is that only Gotama's conversion endorses the
definition of conversion established by William James. He advocates
that a conversion results in a person that is '...
... middle of paper ...
... well-educated and studied philosophy; however, it was not the same
religion that Gotama converted into. Buddhism was created due to
Gotama's conversion experience so any interaction with Buddhism before
the conversion is perhaps impossible, yet it can also be argued that
Gotama was interacting with what were the beginnings of the Buddhist
tradition. Paul had interacted with Christianity through observing
their lifestyle, through his persecution of them, through baptism,
miracles and his communication with Anani'as. Paul and Gotama
therefore learnt how to behave in their converted role.
Perhaps the most important difference between the conversions of Paul
and Gotama is that they based on different traditions. However, both
exemplify the effects of conversion in inspiring people to promote
their newly founded beliefs.
According to Dr. Derek W. H. Thomas, "The conversion of Saul of Tarsus must surely rank among one of the most significant events, not just in church history but also–certainly that–but in world history." Saul persecuted Christians and was an eyewitn...
some thing wrong he will be punished and for a good deed there is a
Most followers of a Pagan religion are not born into or raised following a Pagan path. There are varied reasons as to why one chooses to follow a Pagan religion, just as there are varied
Paul, also known as Saul, was an apostle of God who wrote the book of Ephesians and was sent to set up churches for Him. He changed his name from Saul to Paul because he wanted to start his life over, follow God, and live for Him. He wanted to start over because he was known as a man who persecuted Christians. Saul did not even notice he was doing wrong until he started to reach Damascus and a voice yelled from the Heavens saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” Saul answered back, “Who are you, Lord?” then the Lord answered, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But, rise and enter the city, and you will be told what to do.” For three days Saul was made blind by Jesus and did not eat or drink. Then, Ananias walked into where Saul was staying and restored his sight, something like scales fell off his eyes and he could see. After being in Damascus with the disciples he proclaimed that Jesus is the one true God. Then, he fled to Jerusalem where he joined the disciples with the help of Barnabas, changed his name to Paul and became a missionary to Christ. He set out on three missionary journeys where on his third, he was put under house arrest in Rome for two years where he wrote the book of Ephesians. After his release, he left, went to Spain, and was eventually persecuted and martyred by Nero.
Treatments such as conversion therapy have been thoroughly debated by doctors, everyday civilians and even politicians. The question surrounding the topic asks whether or not the treatment is ethically and morally acceptable. Conversion therapy is an option of treatment catering to the LGBTQ community that claims to be able to change a person’s sexual behaviors such as orientation, preference and identity. The main controversies on the topic argue the physical and psychological side effects, treatment options and whether or not different sexual behaviors are mental illnesses that requires treatment.
Religion is sold to the masses daily. In 1925 it was sold to the masses in the form of printed material by Bruce Barton. In 1960 it was sold to the masses by way of a film entitled Elmer Gantry. Bruce Barton sold a different idea of Jesus than most people were familiar with. In the film, Elmer Gantry sold religion with bravado and arrogance which was not the typical way of selling religion either. In each work, religion is being sold but Elmer is a more exciting and relatable character than Bruce Barton’s Jesus. Elmer Gantry sold religion in a similar way to Barton’s Jesus but did so in a more relatable manner.
Oliver is someone who denied the truth to himself for months. He was gay and he had finally accepted it. He told his parents, hoping that they’d accept him but unfortunately it was the complete opposite. They thought there was something wrong with him and decided he needed to go to conversion therapy. Conversion therapy is something that thousands of people in the LGBT community go through every ear. Statistics show that about one in three LGBT people have been subjected to some form of conversion therapy (#BornPerfect: The Campaign to End Conversion Therapy, 2014). Conversion therapy is a psychological treatment whose purpose is to change a person’s sexual orientation to heterosexual. It needs to be banned because it doesn’t work, therapists
“Homosexuality is found in over 1,500 species. Homophobia is found in only one” ("1,500 Animal” 1). Conversion therapy, or otherwise known as “reparative therapy,” is a homophobic process by which many therapists attempt to “cure” homosexuality. Conversion Therapy demonstrates the ignorance of this world by causing mental and physical harm to its participants in an attempt to “cure” something that is not a problem, and that is why the federal government needs to ban it once and for all.
Conversion therapy is a treatment directed to change a persons sexual orientation from homosexual to heterosexual. The American Psychiatric Association(APA) disapproves of the treatment given that people believe and see it as a mental disorder. They feel that trying to change a persons homosexual orientation is considered to be unethical. Debates are held on how it is highly likely for a homosexual to cause self harm giving that they are made to see themselves as being wrong. The APA feels as if the solution for this should be instead of a change in someones orientation, there should be a change in the way society views it.
One day in grade five, I decided to find myself. Most people are not "lost" when they are eleven years old, but in my own naïve, inexperienced world, I needed a change. My teacher was the indirect cause of this awakening. She was Jewish and opened our closed WASP-y minds to a whole new world of Judaism. We explored the Jewish holidays, learned about the Holocaust, and watched Fiddler on the Roof. This brief yet fascinating view into the world of another religion captured my attention and compelled me to investigate further. I hungrily searched for books on Judaism and bombarded my teacher and my two classmates who were half-Jewish with questions. I decided, after careful (or so I thought) deliberations, that I wanted to convert to Judaism. I did not (and still do not) know why Judaism intrigued me so. Perhaps their high degree of suffering as a people seemed romantic to me. On the other hand, maybe it had to do with the fact that my religion (as my more Roman friends are quick to point out) does not seem to have any clear and decisive beliefs. It could have been the fact that Jews do not believe that Jesus is the Son of God and are still waiting for the Messiah to appear, which seemed to be a good reason as to why there was so much wrong with the world. Whatever it was, it drew me in and launched me into a world of discovery and discouragement.
You failed. You failed as a human being. You are doomed to rot in hell, for all eternity. This is how you are “motivated” to change your sexual orientation if you are homosexual (Sanchez 5). You are told you have failed your friends, family, lovers, “God”. Unless... Unless you can change. Conversion therapy is a highly debated topic that is still a battleground today, and a rising one at that. There is a deep history to consider about conversion therapy, and there are, of course, supporters, and critics.
Spiritual formation is a process that morphs as we grow and change. There is no one singular correct path this type of journey takes because each journey is as individual as the person who is experiencing it. Most obvious, the journey will be different from those who identify as religious and those who do not and will diversify with in each category. For example, the spiritual journey a Buddhist takes will be different from that of a believer in Judaism or Christianity. In fact, the journey will continue to diversify between Christians, male and female, age groups, even by demographic location. Consequently, the spiritual formation process is as diverse as it is intricate and we may never be able to discover all the journey options. Although individuals may not actively recognize they are experiencing spiritual formation it is a process that affects all. Because it is in human nature to question, learn, grow, and act, everyone to a certain extent is exposed to a unique spiritual formation journey.
Ashoka converted to Buddhism after he experienced a bloody war in Kalinga, and wanted to purify himself. He then became Buddhist and wanted his empire to follow his lead of living a life of purity, moral values, and nonviolence. Ashoka proceeded to send missionaries, people sent on a religion mission, around to spread Buddhism around India and to Sri Lanka. Missionaries that Ashoka sent to Sri Lanka included his son, Mahinda, and some of his close friends (Sen, “Ashoka and His Empire”). This spreading of Buddhism by missionaries serves as a way to un...
A cult is a group of sadistic people that harm and take advantage of young, innocent people that are ripped away from their families and into a cold, dangerous world. There are many questions as to are cults really harmful. Cult leaders have many persuasive ways to trick you into believing their beliefs and their twisted ways of life. One common way that cult groups usually do is they pick out the most innocent and lonely victim. Then they make you feel comfortable and welcome and raise you on a pedestal, but then they start judging on how you choose to live and usually use religious ways to persuade you into their cult, tricking you into their society. Cult leaders frequently use brainwash and many other techniques that are psychologically damaging. In cults their victims are often tormented, brain washed, and eventually lose their sense of ownership to oneself. “Cults confine their members to follow strict rules that ultimately can cause loss of free choice or will, diminished intellectual ability, sense of humor, reduced capacity to form flexible and intimate relationships, poor judgment, physical deterioration, malnutrition, hallucinations, dissociation, guilt, identity diffusion, paranoia, and neurotic, psychotic, and suicidal tendencies.“(According to the Cult Information Centre) There are many cults and there are many different types of cults such as political, racial, and religion. Some of the most notorious clans that have had a major impact in our general public are the Manson Family, the Ku Klux Klan and the one most famous cult in our part of the Texas region was the Branch Davidians. All of these cults have one thing in common which is a belief that their cultures are more superior than other peers.
There are a lot of religions in this world. Among the religions are; Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, and Hinduism. At all time, religions have plays a vital role in the progress of human civilization (Huston, 2003, as cited in Yaxin, 2012). Generally, religions can be considered to be meaningful phenomena in human affairs. Although it can be as an indicator of human civilization, how it may lead to a conversion of one religion to another religion in some cases?