Factors affecting decision to join Marriage Social status Association Convenient location of a church Friendship networks It is clear that most faith affiliations have nothing to do with the classic conception of conversion. Committed to persecuting members of the young Christian cult, Saul of Tarsus was struck down by a bolt of light on the road to Demascus and became the most celebrated convert in all of Christendom Virtually everyone who lives in the Christian world knows the story of a Roman soldier named Saul of Tarsus. Conversion, understood as a radical life transforming experience has played a central role in Christianity from the beginning. As a Problematic Status Conversion as problematic Acceptance of a conversion experience depends on where the assessor stands viz a viz the convert. In the lecture on the concepts of our inquiry we noted that the social sciences are in the business of building theory that the purpose of theory is to provide a road map for predicting human behavior.
Propositions are statements about the relationship between two or more concepts.
The lower the intensity of the conversion experience, the lower the demands , and the less the ideologial distance , the greater the ease of accepting or accommodating to the conversion by significant others. People join many kinds of charismatic groups to achieve group affiliation. Socialization Becoming a member is a gradual process Novice may characterize experience as conversion, but is not likely to have a dramatic experience D. Commitment Model Three Types of Commtment Instrumental Commitment Affective Commitment Moral Commitment Kanter's Commitment Theory Type of Committment Processes that Enhance This Commitment Instrumental commitment 1. Investment Affective commitment 1. Communion Morral commitment 1.