Definitions HQ

Conversion (n.) can ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠be the unconscious standpoint taking power: Paul accepted the hidden Christian and repressed the anti-Christian, which then returned as hysterical attacks.

Conversion (n.) like ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠every great event has its all-too-human side, but explaining Paul's by personal motives misses its point — his unconscious had long been striving toward that goal.

Conversion (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the bill coming due for one-sidedness: the neglected functions leave a deficit that accumulates through life, is felt as vague dissatisfaction, and can be paid only by amputating the old attitude.

Conversion (n.) into ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠one's opposite — divorce, new profession, apostasy — just represses the former life and is as unbalanced as before.

Conversion (n.) that ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠is sudden and fathomless often comes from the attractive power of a collective image — which can inflate a man until his personality disintegrates.

Conversion (n.) like ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠Paul's is a synthesis prepared unconsciously to the bursting point, which then irrupts of its own volition and sets consciousness the formidable task of assimilating it.

Conversion (n.) can ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠come from following one's worst mistake with conviction: Saul was brought to Damascus by his hatred of the Christians.

Conversion (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the missionary's task, not the doctor's — Christian to materialist, or the reverse; one should not destroy values that have not proved injurious.

Conversion (n.) can ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠come from a single shock: Ramón Lull, after a long chase, met his lady secretly; she silently opened her dress to show a cancer-eaten breast, and he became a holy man.