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bunrab's review against another edition
4.0
Part history, part memoir, in that Jacoby was inspired to write this book because of an incident of secret conversion in her family's background. The book covers not only conversions such as Saul's to Paul, but mass conversions, forced conversions (the Conversos in Spain), and religious revivals intended to draw in converts. She also discusses at length the peculiarly American trait of converting more than once - attributing to our freedom of religion the instances of interfaith marriage where one partner converts to the other - or where they both agree to convert to a third religion that neither of them belonged to before. (Harry Reid!) She also touches briefly on conversion where politics becomes a religion - the Stalinist atheists; Whittaker Chambers' "conversion" to Communism. It's a broad-ranging book, although focused more on the US once there is a US.
Suggestion: read it back to back with Stephen Prothero's "Why Liberals Win the Culture Wars," which is mostly about the US's history of religious intolerance and how each wave of intolerance has resolved.
Suggestion: read it back to back with Stephen Prothero's "Why Liberals Win the Culture Wars," which is mostly about the US's history of religious intolerance and how each wave of intolerance has resolved.
mikecross's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent book not just about conversion, but really dives into the history of religions. The author mixes fact and her personal asides very well that I found enlightening. All around enjoyable read if you are willing to take a secular view at religion.
mcsnide's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting history of the idea of conversion in the western world. Jacoby examines the socio-economic as well as historical factors that drove most conversions historically. Intriguing read, if a bit untidy. She doesn't really present a thesis or a strong conclusion, but there is so much historical information here that I learned quite a bit. The learning was the difference between a 3 and 4 star review for me.
earlapvaldez's review
5.0
T'was a really long read, but I appreciate how conversion was framed from a secular perspective with great consideration of religious voices and sources. It's a must read for those who engage in missionary work, as well as those who study the trajectory and the geography of religious traditions being shaped by time and circumstance.
regferk's review against another edition
3.0
I would actually give this one a 3.5 if I could. I love Susan Jacoby but this one was not my favorite. The first half seemed to drag a bit but the second half was much better. So really, it's a 3 for the first half and a 4 for the second half. Of course, it could also be me. I seem to be a bit worn out on religion lately. I probably should have waited to read it. It's hard to wait when it's a favorite author, though.
nerdella_reads's review against another edition
5.0
Very detailed account of why people have chosen to change religions over the centuries, as well as an admonition of different major religions for the sins of their past.
nicholasbobbitt1997's review against another edition
3.0
Jacoby aims above my head with this work. I feel like I should understand it but I don't. It's well-written, from what I can tell, but I couldn't make heads or tails of her argument.
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