E. Stanley Jones

Originally published in 1933, Conversion is a seminal study of the psychology and circumstances of conversion from about 500 B.C. to about 400 A.D. A. D. Nock not only discusses early Christianity and its converts, but also examines non-Christian religions and philosophy, the means by which they attracted adherents, and the factors influencing and limiting their success. Christianity succeeded, he argues, in part because it acquired and adapted those parts of other philosophies and religions that had a popular appeal.

Selections from the works of a Christian missionary; with a detailed introduction.

The thesis of this book is simple: everything is being tranformed up and down, and this includes men and women especially. It is not a question of whether you would be or would not be transformed; you are being transformed, for better or for worse. The life forces which flow from you and through you are transforming you into a pattern. You stand in the midst of those life forces and you decide the pattern. Even if you apparently do not decide anything, but allow those life forces free reign, yet in not deciding you decide not to decide. This book tries to answer the how of being a transformed person, but it also tries to unfold the Meaning of transformation A content has to be put into the transformed life to make it desirable. The possibilities must be so alluring that the heart is set on fire to get it. We must see before we will seek. But in the seeing we must see that this has total relevance for the total life, individual and collective. We must see a total answer. With this introduction to the book, we hope you will be curious to read the answers as Brother Stanley shows how you can: gain a new life of serenity with roots in ultimate reality; release tensions and grow in peace and confidence; live purposefully and victoriously; grow into greater spiritual maturity and be transformed in body, mind, will and emotions. - Publisher.

Shows how we have failed to live up to our highest ideals and how we can apply the Christian creed to our own social problem.