On the network to Damascus: Emerging adulthood, social networks, and conversion in American religion

Competing social networks are central to the process of conversion from one religious or spiritual orientation to another. Although numerous sociological, psychological, quasi-economic, and theological forces have been explored as components of an individual's network ties to a religion, the characteristics of the communication that occurs through those ties have been ignored in most research into conversion. This omission hinders a fuller explanation of the conversion process, because the means and manners of communication are the mechanisms through which other social network forces must operate.;This disquisition studies communication at the crucial, initial "preaffiliation" stage of the conversion process (Gooren, 2010) and a stage of life at which a religious practitioner is especially likely to proceed through conversion, the "emerging adulthood" years from ages 18 to 25 (Arnett, 2000). Data from an online survey (N = 473) were used to predict the influence of family communication patterns, continued communication with parents through media, beliefs about the appropriateness of online media in religion or spirituality, and consumption of media from an emerging adult's childhood religion or a new religion on an emerging adult's likelihood of exploring new religious beliefs, practices, and identities. Outcome variables included the importance of religion to an emerging adult, his or her attachment to the childhood religion, a "quest" orientation toward religious or spiritual development, perceived support from a group or community in college associated with either the childhood religion or a new religion, and the emerging adult's likelihood of continuing to identify with his or her childhood religion.;Results demonstrate that numerous variables in family communication, attitudes toward media in religion, and consumption of religious media significantly influence emerging adults' approach to the preaffiliation stage of conversion. Family communication patterns, using communication media to discuss religious or spiritual subjects with one's parents, and watching television programs or visiting websites associated with the childhood religion are especially significant factors seeming to inhibit conversion. Avenues for further exploring these connections are proposed, and conceptual integration of communication into explanations of the conversion process are discussed.