A Theology of Religious Change. What the Social Science of Conversion Means for the Gospel

Synopsis: A Theology of Religious Change asks a simple question with a complicated answer: Why do people change religious faiths? The study invites its readers on a trek through sociological and psychological literature that suggests many causes of religious change. Moving beyond a mere catalogue of motives for conversion, the author explores how a theological account of conversion and the doctrine of election can be broadened, strengthened, and reformulated in light of the complexity of faith's human side. This book seeks to guide pastors, church workers, and theologians in their task of communicating the message of good news effectively by drawing attention to the diverse factors influencing religious change. Endorsements: "David Zehnder performs a great service to theologians and social scientists by explaining how doctrines of salvation actually affect the real-life circumstances of people and their struggles with Christian faith. Here the age-old question of why some believe and others do not avoids getting mired in theological perplexities and speculations that take one well beyond the proper limits of theology. Instead, Zehnder brings clarity to discussions about conversion by examining the psychological and sociological factors that contribute to that process. This is an important study of the human side of religious experience that deserves a wide audience." -Matthew Becker Associate Professor of Theology Valparaiso University "Since the social scienc...