Conversion is a much discussed topic these days, whether in the context of the much abused concept of proselytism or in terms of a theology and anthropology of missions.
Paul Hiebert, who was a professor of missions and anthropology at Fuller on Pasadena, Ca. and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deedfield, Ill. wrote in 1978 a seminal article on the theme of ‘Conversion, Culture and Cognitive Categories’.
The author starts with a simple but very loaded question: how much does somebody need to know about the gospel in order to be legitimately considered a converted Christian?
Hiebert borrow from mathematics and epistemology the notion of sets, more precisely that of ‘bound’ and ‘centred’ sets as a way of exploring the way in which we (mis)understand missiona in general and conversion in particular.
I will publish in the following days sections of this important text, in the hope that it will stimulate some discussions around these important concepts. Not a really ‘cool’ topic for a hot summer, but you never know.
Persona 