Religion, Media and Conversion in Iran

The contribution of visual media in the conversion of Iranians (or indeed more generally of Muslims) to Christianity has hitherto been assumed, based on an external grasp of both conversion and faith in life, rather than known. This brilliantly conceived, meticulously researched and tightly argued book more than makes up for this gap, both in its analytic approach to media and to the actuality of conversion and will be of interest to a wider readership than its title suggests. Revd Dr. Elizabeth Koepping, University of Edinburgh In this important book, Sara Afshari does a remarkable job in helping us understand ways that ordinary Iranian Muslim audiences of Christian media negotiate their belief system and become agents of change. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in gaining a critical understanding of media, religion and culture in general, and the role of audiences of Christian media in relation to conversion processes to Christianity in Iran. Prof. Dion A. Forster, Director of the Beyers Naude Centre for Public Theology, Stellenbosch University Religion, Media and Conversion in Iran provides a fascinating glimpse into the complex negotiations of converts as they navigate their faith identities in relation to Christian broadcasting channels. It is an essential read for those interested in mediatized religion, the dynamics of conversion, or the impact of broadcasting. Dr. Jonas Kurlberg, Spurgeon's College