The Transformative Power of Faith: A Narrative Approach to Conversion - Hardcover

Dufault-Hunter, Erin

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0739167839 ISBN 13: 9780739167830

Publisher: Lexington Books, 2012

Synopsis

The Transformative Power of Faith examines how and why some people, particularly those coming out of highly self-destructive, violent, and antisocial backgrounds who appear beyond repair, experience profound personal transformation through conversion to strong faith. Illustrated by stories of converts who came out of serious drug addiction, gangs, and poverty through adherence to a demanding faith, Erin Dufault-Hunter argues for a narrative approach to conversion. This holistic theoretical perspective offers an alternative epistemological stance to reductionistic models sometimes perpetuated among social scientists and religious ethicists alike. In this study, the narrative lens gives vision of the religious “Other” a depth and complexity too often lacking. Such an approach allows a deeper understanding of the dynamics of personal transformation in ways that make sense of psychological and social factors without ignoring so-called “spiritual” ones.

About this title

About the Author:

Erin Dufault-Hunter is assistant professor of Christian Ethics at Fuller Theological Seminary.

Review:

Drawing on narrative ethics, Dufault-Hunter challenges reductionistic theories of conversion. In this richly illustrated book, the author develops a theoretically sophisticated interpretation of the role that religion potentially plays in transforming people with drug additions and other life challenges. (Donald E. Miller, University of Southern California)

I find this to be an engaging work that offers a compelling argument for thinking about the experience of religious conversions in a way that avoids various forms of naturalistic reductionism promulgated by many in the social sciences. (Gordon S. Mikoski, Princeton Theological Seminary)

About this edition

• Publisher: Lexington Books
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 0739167839
• ISBN 13: 9780739167830
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 228