St Andrews Encyclopaedia of Theology (Aug 2022)
Conversion
Abstract
Conversion – the turning from one religion, belief, or way of life to another informed by the saving activity of Christ – is a central theme of Christianity. From a theological perspective, conversion, the human experience of salvation, is distinguished from regeneration, the hidden, divine work of God. Although conversion is often associated with a particular strand of modern Christianity (evangelical) and a particular kind of experience (a sudden, shattering, complete event), it is, when examined over two millennia, a phenomenon far more complex than any one-dimensional profile would suggest. This entry examines Christian conversion from the perspective of the biblical record, scholarly approaches toward the phenomenon, historical episodes of conversion, and recurring themes and issues in the history of conversion.
