Emma Yataco Social Science
Faith and Apostasy: A Comparative Study of Conversion and De-Conversion to The Church of Latter-Day Saints and Jehovah's Witnesses
Though the term religion is frequently used, it remains difficult to define. As a result, defining religious conversion or developing a unified theory of conversion has not yet been achieved. Emma’s research will explore religion and conversion from the perspective of the religious organizations themselves. She will examine the doctrine and organizational structure of both The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Identifying similarities and differences will help establish a foundation for understanding how religious participation/disaffiliation is affected by the religious environment and teachings as well as how the religious environment affects individuals in three major areas: familial, social, and psychological. Data will be gathered through archival research, as well as virtual ethnographic observations via online religious forums, surveys, and in-depth interviews.
