Zeal of the convert
{{Short description|Fervent devotion to new religious beliefs}}
The zeal of the convert is a term describing the very fervent devotion to new beliefs, which are completely different from one's old beliefs.{{cite web | url=https://www.pewforum.org/2009/10/28/the-zeal-of-the-convert-is-it-the-real-deal/ | website=Pew Research Center | title=The "Zeal of the Convert": Is It the Real Deal? | date=2009-10-28|access-date=2021-03-10|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310160456/https://www.pewforum.org/2009/10/28/the-zeal-of-the-convert-is-it-the-real-deal/|archive-date=2021-03-10}}{{cite journal | url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jssr.12698 | title=The Zeal of the Convert Revisited|author=Nadia Beider|journal=Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion| year=2021| volume=60| pages=5–26| doi=10.1111/jssr.12698| s2cid=230559235|access-date=2020-03-10|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310161500/https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jssr.12698|archive-date=2021-03-10| doi-access=free}}{{cite web|url=https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1198&context=psych_theses|title=Zeal of the Convert? Comparing the Structure of Islamic Religiousness between Convert and Non-Convert Muslims|website=ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University|author=Daniel Snook|date=2019-05-01|access-date=2021-03-10|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027154742/https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1198&context=psych_theses|archive-date=2020-10-27}} For example, Paul the Apostle, formally known as Saul of Tarsus was a Jewish Pharisees who persecuted Christians until he had a life changing vision on the road to Damascus and became a Christian missionary who spent his life spreading Christianity throughout the Roman empire and was later executed in Rome for his devout Christian beliefs.
Usage
Statistics
In the United Kingdom, less than 4% of Muslims are converts, but 12% of domestic jihadists are converts.{{cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/britain/2017/04/01/converts-to-islam-are-likelier-to-radicalise-than-native-muslims|title=Converts to Islam are likelier to radicalise than native Muslims|date=2017-04-01|access-date=2021-03-10|newspaper=The Economist|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310154550if_/https://www.economist.com/britain/2017/04/01/converts-to-islam-are-likelier-to-radicalise-than-native-muslims|archive-date=2021-03-10}} 69% of converts claim that religion is vital to them, compared to 62% of non-converts. 51% of converts worship at least once a week, compared to 44% of non-converts. 82% of converts claim an absolute belief in God, compared to 77% non-converts.