The Seven-Faceted Model of Thought Conversion in the Propagandistic Process of Deviant Mahdist Movements, with an Emphasis on the Ahmad al-Ismaili Basri Movement

The advertising model of deviant Mahdism movements is a well-organized and geometric system that can be recognized as a "multifaceted process of thought conversion." Perceiving the advertising patterns of such movements provides the opportunities to have a better understanding of the relationships and interactions of their promoters with the contexts and backgrounds of their audience, and reveal the underlying causes that may be difficult for non-specialists to grasp. The results of this research can assist the institutions confronting such movements to benefit from this understanding in their strategic orientations and interactions, gaining a picture of both the apparent and the hidden aspects of these movements. This study employs Lewis Rambo’s seven-faceted method from his book "Understanding Religious Conversion" to investigate the advertising strategies of such deviant Messianic movements, which include: 1. Context, 2. Crisis, 3. Search, 4. Encounter, 5. Interaction, 6. Commitment, 7. Results. This paper, using a descriptive-analytical method, aims to answer how thought conversion occurs through these seven promotional stages, and the key outcome of this research is the comparison of the thought conversion methods in deviant Mahdism movements with the methods of conversion of religion in religions.