Abstract

Research on deconversion can largely be seen as a mirror image of research on conversion. While the latter focuses upon gradual or sudden acceptance of a religion, the former focuses upon the abandonment of a religion which also may be sudden or gradual. To define either religion or atheism simply in terms of belief is what has been termed the objectivist fallacy. Atheism like religion is a multidimensional construct. Empirical studies document that belief is only one factor in accepting or rejecting religion. Participation in religion as well as deconverting from religion is seldom simply a cognitive matter. Atheistically motivate deconversion may be sudden or gradual and motivated by emotional or positive factors that may involve various reasons for rejecting specific religious beliefs, including the existence of God.