German Pietism and the Problem of Conversion

German Pietism and the Problem of Conversion, written by Jonathan Strom, offers a scholarly examination of religious transformation in seventeenth and eighteenth century Germany. While the narrative of August Hermann Francke often serves as the standard model for Pietist conversion, this history book challenges that singular paradigm. Strom utilizes extensive archival research to explore the varied and complex nature of spiritual experiences within the Protestant movement. The text investigates how conversion accounts were developed and disseminated through popular Pietist periodicals and religious awakening movements.

This volume of religious history analyzes the controversies surrounding the Busskampf model and the Dargun revival movement. Strom examines diverse sources, including the intense stories of the last hours and the gruesome genre of execution conversion narratives. By interrogating the language used to define these experiences, the author explains why many Pietists maintained an uneasy relationship with the practice of narrating their spiritual journeys. This work provides significant insight into the development of modern evangelical narratives and Christian ministry.