As a Christian who is pretty familiar with the history of Christianity (less so with Islam, and embarrassingly ignorant as to Buddhist thought), I would suggest that perhaps the point on adult converts being radical needs some nuance.
From a Christian perspective, the AJ Jacobs experiment is intended to make any religion look idiotic, due to a very woodenly literal interpretation of what it means to follow the commands of the old and new testaments.
Although there may be some adult converts who do such actions, this seems pretty abnormal, and although adult converts may be marked by more sincerity, claiming they are marked by being more radical in a viral sense seems entirely unsubstantiated.
Examples:
Francis Collins, current NIH director & sequencer of the human genome: he converted to Christianity as an adult doctor, and neatly integrated religious metaphysics with an impeccably scientific worldview. I’m not aware of him attempting to wear tassels or stone people.
Augustine of Hippo: Adult convert from Mannicheaism (a classical-era dualistic religion) to Christianity. Went from leading a sexual-pleasure-driven life to being one of the best-known philosophers of human history (regardless of how you view his work). Certainly a drastic change in life direction, but his ideas were anything but extreme, except for perhaps unusually egalitarian for his era.
Feedback aside, your point about cultural blind spots is a good reminder. :) Thank you.
As a Christian who is pretty familiar with the history of Christianity (less so with Islam, and embarrassingly ignorant as to Buddhist thought), I would suggest that perhaps the point on adult converts being radical needs some nuance.
From a Christian perspective, the AJ Jacobs experiment is intended to make any religion look idiotic, due to a very woodenly literal interpretation of what it means to follow the commands of the old and new testaments.
Although there may be some adult converts who do such actions, this seems pretty abnormal, and although adult converts may be marked by more sincerity, claiming they are marked by being more radical in a viral sense seems entirely unsubstantiated.
Examples:
Francis Collins, current NIH director & sequencer of the human genome: he converted to Christianity as an adult doctor, and neatly integrated religious metaphysics with an impeccably scientific worldview. I’m not aware of him attempting to wear tassels or stone people.
Augustine of Hippo: Adult convert from Mannicheaism (a classical-era dualistic religion) to Christianity. Went from leading a sexual-pleasure-driven life to being one of the best-known philosophers of human history (regardless of how you view his work). Certainly a drastic change in life direction, but his ideas were anything but extreme, except for perhaps unusually egalitarian for his era.
Feedback aside, your point about cultural blind spots is a good reminder. :) Thank you.