This Is My Desire: A semiotic perspective on Conversion in an Evangelical Seeker Church and a Pentecostal Church in the Netherlands (Pallas Proefschriften)

In the Dutch late modern society, the presence of thriving new evangelicaland Pentecostal churches is remarkable against the backdrop of the wide-spread decline of "traditional", mainstream churches. Using an ethno-graphic approach, this book examines the experiences of newcomers tocontemporary evangelicalism through the lens of two churches: an evan-gelical seeker church and a neo-Pentecostal, charismatic church. Whileboth churches share an emphasis on conversion, there are substantial differences in their approach to and understanding of the Holy Spirit. By comparing the conversion experiences of newcomers with strategies of conversion employed by each church, this book sheds new light on theprofound differences in orientation found within Dutch evangelicalism.Drawing upon theories of the body and embodiment, this qualitative, in-depth study departs from the notion that religion is limited to the mind,involving cognitively affirmed beliefs; conversely, it offers a semioticapproach to understanding religion that takes into account the impor-tance of affects, emotions and desires in processes of conversion. Thisbook also engages in an analytical comparison of the design and use ofworship space, worship music and distinct language ideologies used bythe two churches to stimulate conversion. It argues that the ways in whichnewcomers learnconversion, through the Alpha course, baptism andchurch participation, are anchored in embodied processes and, as such,imply a religious pedagogy of the senses. This study thus marks the needfor a more sensorial and embodied approach to understand contemporaryforms of Christianity in Dutch society.