Religious Conversion and Suffering

Joshua Iyadurai

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Religious Conversion and Suffering

In: Making Sense of Suffering: A Collective Attempt

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Joshua Iyadurai

Joshua Iyadurai
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Type:: Chapter

Pages:: 51–59

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1163/9781848881235_007

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The conversion experience brings many troubles to converts, especially in India. They do not forsake their newfound faith to save themselves from the suffering that conversion brings. From an inter-disciplinary approach of spirituality and psychology, this chapter explores how converts draw meaning to their suffering. Converts’ experiences of suffering were analysed qualitatively explaining the kinds of suffering the converts went through, the coping mechanisms adopted by them, the perceived relationship with the ‘Other’, the meanings attributed to their suffering based on this relationship and the role of sacred text and prayer in shaping the meanings of suffering. Converts believe that the divine being is present with them during their suffering. They attribute the strength to cope with such situations to the divine presence and the confidence that prayer is answered by the divine. They claim that the perceived ‘intimate relationship with the divine’ and the belief that the divine being speaks to them through sacred text have sustained them. Converts assert that the certainty of a relationship with the ‘Other’ gives them a sense of nobleness in suffering. The significance of the chapter would be the findings of the role of the ‘Other,’ the sacred text and prayer in enabling converts to cope with suffering and draw meaning out of it.

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Making Sense of Suffering: A Collective Attempt

E-Book ISBN:: 9781848881235

Publisher:: Brill

Print Publication Date:: 01 Jan 2013

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Religious Conversion and Suffering

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Making Sense of Suffering: A Collective Attempt

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