From Aug. 1 through Dec. 5, 1998, The Washington Post's Religion Page published a selection of "Faith Stories" that the newspaper solicited from readers. The 23 personal stories reflect what religious scholars say is an increasing trend toward spiritual "transformation," the movement from one belief to another.

The Post received more than 130 stories by the July deadline--some testifying to a lifelong search, others recounting emotional traumas that tested the writers' faith or drove them to abandon one religion and embrace another.

We found Christians who became Jews, Jews who became Christians, Protestants who became Catholics and Catholics who became Muslims. Also, through the experience of our readers, we explored Neo-Paganism, the Baha'i faith, Buddhism, Quakerism, Mormonism, even atheism. Several people returned to the faiths of their childhoods; a few found a faith in God outside of any organized religion.

Aug. 1: Jim Myska (Jewish)
            Sunne Ann Paquette (Wiccan)
            Abdullah Reda (Muslim)
            Ashley Wilson (Unitarian Universalist)

Aug. 8: Kim Marie Lamberty (Catholic)

Aug. 15: Patricia B. Holt (Unity)

Aug. 22: Carolyn C. Miller (Theist)

Aug. 29: Daniel Fried (Christian)

Sept. 5: Sylvia Cabus (Mormon)

Sept. 12: Howard W. Roberts (Christian)

Sept. 19: Wendy E. Anderson (Christian)

Sept. 26: Harry Khosrofian (Presbyterian)

Oct. 3: Reynaldo Pareja (Baha'i)

Oct. 10: Patricia Elam (Buddhist)

Oct. 17: Danielle Souder (Shaman)

Oct. 24: Steve Carpenter (Pacifist)

Oct. 31: Shirley R. Banks (Baptist)

Nov. 7: Alan E. Johnsrud (Atheist)

Nov. 14: Carol Monchick (Quaker)

Nov. 28: Raymond Saba (Christian)

Dec. 5: David Striar (Jewish)
            Mark Kwasny (Catholic)
            Carl Douglas (Baptist)