Religious Conversion Religion Scholars Thinking Together

• Presents the results of an innovative ten-year project initiated the World Council of Churches
• Features contributions from religious scholars and leaders of Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, and Muslim traditions
• Considers myriad issues relating to the nature, methods, and effects of religious conversion in the major world faiths
• Addresses questions on religious freedom, legal considerations, and the future for religious conversion

Notes on Contributors vii

Introduction 1
Shanta Premawardhana

Part I: Preliminary Considerations 7

1 Thinking Together: A Story and a Method 9
M. Thomas Thangaraj

2 Defining Religious Conversion 21
M. Thomas Thangaraj

3 Models of Religious Belonging 32
Rita M. Gross

4 Conversion Sought and Feared 45
Hans Ucko

Part II: Views from Five Religious Traditions 61

5 Buddhists on Religious Conversion: A Critical Issue 63
Mahinda Deegalle

6 A Christian Perspective on Conversion 83
Jay T. Rock

7 Conversion from a Hindu Perspective: Controversies, Challenges, and Opportunities 98
Anantanand Rambachan

8 Islamic Perspectives on Conversion: Aid Evangelism and Apostasy Law 119
A. Rashied Omar and Rabia Terri Harris

9 Jewish Perspectives on Conversion 142
Amy Eilberg

Part III: Conversion and Human Rights 159

10 Conversion and Religious Freedom 161
S. Wesley Ariarajah

11 The Right to Religious Freedom and Proselytism: A Legal Perspective 177
Ravin Ramdass

Part IV: Looking to the Future 197

Epilogue: To Learn and to Encourage: Insights from the Thinking Together Group 199
Shanta Premawardhana

A Study Guide 205
Deborah Weissman

Index 212

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.