Conversion versus Apostasy: A Qualitative Study on Individuals’ Motivations to Convert and to Commit Apostasy in Relation to the Jehovah’s Witnesses

Velthuis, Mirdin Conversion versus Apostasy: A Qualitative Study on Individuals’ Motivations to Convert and to Commit Apostasy in Relation to the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Bachelor thesis, Bachelor Religiewetenschappen.

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Abstract

Worldwide people have opposing sentiments towards the religious organization the Jehovah’s Witnesses, varying from strong positive sentiments to strong negative sentiments. This thesis provides opportunities to understand the emergence of these opposing sentiments through focusing on individuals’ motivations to convert to or commit apostasy within the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Interviews with Jehovah’s Witnesses as well as ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses were conducted and analyzed in relation to theories on conversion and cognitive dissonance to create an understanding of individuals’ personal experiences which lead to the motivation to convert or to commit apostasy. Results of this qualitative case-study demonstrate that on one hand the nature of individuals’ religious environment, the sense of community within the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the presence of normative principles within the Jehovah’s Witnesses are motivations of individuals to convert. On the other hand, the inability to resonate with certain rules within the Jehovah’s Witnesses, receiving unsatisfying answers to questions about the validity of the religion of the Jehovah’s Witnesses and receiving negative treatment rooted in rules and norms within the Jehovah’s Witnesses are motivations to commit apostasy. This thesis demonstrates that there are patterns to be found in the motivations to convert or to commit apostasy.

Type:	Thesis (Bachelor)
Supervisors (RUG):	Supervisor E-mail Tutor organization Tutor email Knibbe, K.E. Faculteit GGW, Vergelijkende Religiewetenschap K.E.Knibbe@rug.nl Mucciarelli, E. Faculteit GGW, Vergelijkende Religiewetenschap e.mucciarelli@rug.nl
Degree programme:	Bachelor Religiewetenschappen
Academic year:	2021-2022
Date of delivery:	01 Dec 2022 13:54
Last modified:	01 Dec 2022 13:54
URI:	https://ggw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/704

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