Study seeks to find out why people convert

ACADEMICS HAVE launched a study into how and why people convert to another religious or spiritual tradition, writes Paul Wilkinson.

They hope their findings will enable faith groups and support services to better understand why some people reject one belief to embrace another, how that conversion affects their well-being and needs and how those needs can best be met.

“Our research is aimed at getting a comprehensive understanding of the challenges that converts face and the strategies that they use to cope with these challenges,” said Dr Glenn Williams of the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences at Leeds Beckett University, formerly Leeds Metropolitan, who is conducting the survey with his research assistant, Dr Leonie O’Dwyer.

“We have a challenging goal of understanding the diversity of conversion experiences across all faiths and no faith.”

They are putting out an internet call for anyone anywhere in the world who has converted to another religious or spiritual ­tradition to complete a 20-minute online survey available at http://tinyurl.com/ReligiousConvert.

Then they will seek volunteers for more in-depth interviews.

The survey will close on 6 March and they hope to publish their findings in the summer.