cosmology
During the early history of America, the Puritan faith manifests two
movements with respect to conversion: downward and upward. The first
movement involves an internationalization of the Calvinist conception
of God as judge and humans as sinful and depraved beings. Humans
need salvation, but they are unable to achieve it by their own means.
This downward movement is accompanied by fears of damnation and
feelings of despair and terror at the prospect of condemnation to hell.
When followers give up attempting to save themselves, rely on God, and
wait for His grace they end the first movement. The upward movement
depends on the acceptance of God as gracious and loving, which is often
accompanied by feelings of joy, hope of salvation, and communion with
God. There are also effects on a person’s body, such as swooning, falling
to the ground, lying speechless and inert, trembling convulsions, rap-
tures, ecstasies, visions, and trances. Many people having a conversion
experience also respond with external signs, such as laughter, joyfully
clapping hands, and jumping up and down. These types of traits suggest
that conversion is a complex notion.
Besides these experiential features, conversions to Christianity by non-
Christians usually involve confession, repentance of sins, acceptance of
Christ, a commitment to live a life from this moment forward that is
acceptable to God, and baptism into the faith. Most Christian groups
believe that baptism is essential to salvation. In other religions, some
form of purification is considered necessary for admittance.
Further readings: Buckser and Glazier (2003); Gelpi 1998); Rambo (1993);
Taves (1999)
COSMOLOGY
This concept originates with the Greek terms kosmos (world, universe)
and logos (word, doctrine) and represents a reflection on the world as a
structured and meaningful whole. There are two related notions: cos-
mogony and cosmography. The former relates how the world originated
and the latter term refers to the extent of the world. Accounts of cos-
mologies are preserved in myths that may recount the activity of divine
beings or describe the world as being an independent entity. Two very
different examples of cosmology are offered by the ancient Buddhists
and Dogon of Africa.
Within an infinite sea of time and space, ancient Buddhists teach
that there are innumerable world systems just like the place that they