Publisher Description

Religious Conversion: Religion Scholars Thinking Together explores various issues relating to the nature, methods, and effects of religious conversion in the major world faiths.

• 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

Back Cover

Religious conversion is once again an issue of pressing global importance. This unique book addresses one of the most difficult questions in interreligious relations, exploring the key issues relating to conversion across the major world faiths. Working together an international cast of religious scholars and leaders of Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, and Muslim traditions, discuss the key questions relating to the nature, methods, and effects of religious conversion. In a series of chapters, the history, development and current position on conversion of each major religious tradition is clearly explained and then put into dialogue with other traditions. Questions about religious freedom, legal considerations, and the future for religious conversion are also addressed. Illuminating and thought-provoking, Religious Conversion is based on a ground-breaking project initiated by the World Council of Churches developing our understanding of a controversial topic that shapes societies and cultures around the world for centuries, now and for centuries.

Flap

Religious conversion is once again an issue of pressing global importance. This unique book addresses one of the most difficult questions in interreligious relations, exploring the key issues relating to conversion across the major world faiths. Working together an international cast of religious scholars and leaders of Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, and Muslim traditions, discuss the key questions relating to the nature, methods, and effects of religious conversion. In a series of chapters, the history, development and current position on conversion of each major religious tradition is clearly explained and then put into dialogue with other traditions. Questions about religious freedom, legal considerations, and the future for religious conversion are also addressed. Illuminating and thought-provoking, Religious Conversion is based on a ground-breaking project initiated by the World Council of Churches developing our understanding of a controversial topic that shapes societies and cultures around the world for centuries, now and for centuries.

Author Biography

Shanta Premawardhana is President of the Seminary Consortium for Urban Pastoral Education (SCUPE) in Chicago, a member of the governing board of the National Council of Churches, and a member of the board of trustees of the Parliament of the World's Religions. He was the director of the Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation programme of the World Council of Churches during which time he convened the Thinking Together group of religious scholars. He has published numerous articles on religion, interreligious dialogue, and Christian mission, and is co-editor of Sharing Values: A Hermeneutics for Global Ethics (2011).

Table of Contents

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

Review

Religious conversion touches a raw nerve in interreligious encounters. Shanta Premawardhana takes us on a challenging but rewarding journey with an excellent and courageous collection of articles on conversion. This book explores the significance of conversion in today's inter religious encounter and is essential for anyone interested in relations between religions today.
Ed Kessler, Woolf Institute, Cambridge

Conversion remains an unresolved issue in interreligious dialogue. Premawardhana offers us the results of an exciting effort among religious leaders to discuss together this challenging question. A must read for anyone working for interreligious harmony.
John T. Pawlikowski, Catholic Theological Union

Conversion is one of the most contentious interreligious topics in the world today. And the contributors to Religious Conversion: Religion Scholars Thinking Together make up the most distinguished panel of experts on the subject ever assembled. The result is a superb set of theoretical and practical observations that have the potential to defuse this explosive topic and create a growing store of much-needed interreligious peace.
Terry C. Muck, Executive Director, Louisville Institute



This book is a monumental tribute to what we can do when we think together. I want to congratulate Shanta Premawardhana for being able to make this topic so pleasant and refreshing for religious scholars and practitioners. I urge people of all faiths to take time to read this book and appreciate how we can move into the 21st century towards mutual respect, cooperation and goodwill.
Sayyid M. Syeed, National Director, Office for Interfaith & Community Alliances, Islamic Society of North America



In this path-breaking and immensely valuable work, divergent voices decipher the issue of conversions -- an issue which has long remained a persistent and provocative presence at the tables of inter-religious dialogue. The strength and success of this project lies in the inter-religious nature of its authorship. Distinctive voices, each deeply rooted within their own religious tradition, draw the threads of their experience and expertise to weave together a rich tapestry of thought which can foster dialogue on a potentially divisive theme. Premawardhana should be commended for envisioning this creative work of critical importance and courageously bringing it to fruition!
Peniel Jesudason Rufus Rajkumar, World Council of Churches, Geneva

Long Description

Religious conversion is once again an issue of pressing global importance. This unique book addresses one of the most difficult questions in interreligious relations, exploring the key issues relating to conversion across the major world faiths. Working together an international cast of religious scholars and leaders of Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, and Muslim traditions, discuss the key questions relating to the nature, methods, and effects of religious conversion. In a series of chapters, the history, development and current position on conversion of each major religious tradition is clearly explained and then put into dialogue with other traditions. Questions about religious freedom, legal considerations, and the future for religious conversion are also addressed. Illuminating and thought-provoking, Religious Conversion is based on a ground-breaking project initiated by the World Council of Churches developing our understanding of a controversial topic that shapes societies and cultures around the world for centuries, now and for centuries.

Review Text

Religious conversion touches a raw nerve in interreligious encounters. Shanta Premawardhana takes us on a challenging but rewarding journey with an excellent and courageous collection of articles on conversion. This book explores the significance of conversion in today's inter religious encounter and is essential for anyone interested in relations between religions today.
Ed Kessler, Woolf Institute, Cambridge Conversion remains an unresolved issue in interreligious dialogue.  Premawardhana offers us the results of an exciting effort among religious leaders to discuss together this challenging question. A must read for anyone working for interreligious harmony.
John T. Pawlikowski, Catholic Theological Union Conversion is one of the most contentious interreligious topics in the world today. And the contributors to Religious Conversion: Religion Scholars Thinking Together make up the most distinguished panel of experts on the subject ever assembled. The result is a superb set of theoretical and practical observations that have the potential to defuse this explosive topic and create a growing store of much-needed interreligious peace. 
Terry C. Muck, Executive Director, Louisville Institute

This book is a monumental tribute to what we can do when we think together. I want to congratulate Shanta Premawardhana for being able to make this topic so pleasant and refreshing for religious scholars and practitioners. I urge people of all  faiths to take time to read this book and appreciate how we can move into the 21st century towards mutual respect, cooperation and goodwill.
Sayyid M. Syeed,  National Director, Office for Interfaith & Community Alliances, Islamic Society of North America

In this path-breaking and immensely valuable work, divergent voices decipher the issue of conversions -- an issue which has long remained a persistent and provocative presence at the tables of inter-religious dialogue. The strength and success of this project lies in the inter-religious nature of its authorship. Distinctive voices, each deeply rooted within their own religious tradition, draw the threads of their experience and expertise  to weave together a rich tapestry of thought which can foster dialogue on a potentially divisive theme.  Premawardhana should be commended for envisioning this creative work of critical importance and courageously bringing it to fruition!
Peniel Jesudason Rufus Rajkumar, World Council of Churches, Geneva

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