Becoming Religious: Understanding Devotion to the Unseen

Book by Kwilecki, Susan

Perhaps Kwilecki (religious studies, Radford Univ.) should have titled this work "Becoming Fanatically Religious." Though not a believer herself, she claims a lifelong fascination with religious conversion experiences and faith. She profiles 14 devout Christians living in the rural area of Georgia where she was reared. They remain anonymous, but all profess fundamentalist or charismatic beliefs, and most are poor, with little formal education. She uses the psychological theories of Erickson and Jung to explain their faith experiences, which she generally portrays as neurotic responses to personal crises. Believing strong religious convictions form during adulthood, she criticizes early childhood development theories of religious devotion. For scholarly audiences. (Photographs by the author's father, a professional photographer, not seen.)?Richard S. Watts, San Bernardino Cty. Lib., CA
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