Religious conversion

The Conversion of Saint Paul , a 1600 painting by Italian artist Caravaggio (1571–1610). Religious conversion is the adoption of new religious beliefs that differ from the convert's previous beliefs. It involves a new religious identity, or a change from one religious identity to another. Conversion requires internalization of the new belief system. It implies a new reference point for one's self identity and is a matter of belief and social structure—of both faith and affiliation. This typically entails the sincere avowal of a new belief system, but may also present itself in other ways, such as adoption into an identity group or spiritual lineage. Conversion refers to changes from one religion to another, not to be confused with religious reaffiliation which refers to changes from one denomination to another within the same faith. Examples of religious reaffiliation include switching from being Southern Baptist to Methodist (within Christianity) or from Sunni to Shiite (within Islam). There are different types of religion conversion which include, active conversion which is the free agency, volitional choice to acquire new beliefs and religious identity, marital conversion , Secondary conversion , Deathbed conversion , and Forced conversion . Proselytism is the act of attempting to convert another individual from a specific religion or belief system. Apostate (n.) is a term with pejorative connotations used by members of one church or religion to refer to someone who has left that church or religion.

The Conversion of Saint Paul , a 1600 painting by Italian artist Caravaggio (1571–1610) Religious conversion is the adoption of a set of beliefs identified with one particular religious denomination to the exclusion of others. Thus "religious conversion" would describe the abandoning of adherence to one denomination and affiliating with another. This might be from one to another denomination within the same religion, for example, Christian Baptist to Methodist or Catholic , Muslim Shi'a to Sunni . In some cases, religious conversion "marks a transformation of religious identity and is symbolized by special rituals". People convert to a different religion for various reasons, including: active conversion by free choice due to a change in beliefs, secondary conversion , deathbed conversion , conversion for convenience and marital conversion , and forced conversion such as conversion by violence or charity. Conversion or reaffiliation for convenience is an insincere act, sometimes for relatively trivial reasons such as a parent converting to enable a child to be admitted to a good school associated with a religion, or a person adopting a religion more in keeping with the social class he or she aspires to. When people marry one spouse may convert to the religion of the other. Forced conversion is adoption of a different religion under duress. The convert may secretly retain the previous beliefs and continue, covertly, with the practices of the original religion, while outwardly maintaining the forms of the new religion. Over generations a family forced against their will to convert may wholeheartedly adopt the new religion. Proselytism is the act of attempting to convert by persuasion another individual from a different religion or belief system. Apostate is a term used by members of a religion or denomination to refer to someone who has left that religion or denomination. More conservative Protestants, especially Fundamentalists, would view a "reaffiliation" to Catholicism as a conversion to a new religion. Anthropologica . 49 (1): 149– 162. : |access-date= requires |url= ( help ) Falkenberg, Steve. The Independent newspaper : "... finding religion – is there anything middle-class parents won't try to get their children into the 'right' schools?"

"Converts" and "Converted" redirect here. Religious conversion is the adoption of a set of beliefs identified with one particular religious denomination to the exclusion of others. Thus "religious conversion" would describe the abandoning of adherence to one denomination and affiliating with another. This might be from one to another denomination within the same religion, for example, from Baptist to Catholic Christianity or from Sunni Islam to Shi’a Islam. In some cases, religious conversion "marks a transformation of religious identity and is symbolized by special rituals". People convert to a different religion for various reasons, including active conversion by free choice due to a change in beliefs, secondary conversion , deathbed conversion , conversion for convenience, marital conversion , and forced conversion . Proselytism is the act of attempting to convert by persuasion another individual from a different religion or belief system. Apostate is a term used by members of a religion or denomination to refer to someone who has left that religion or denomination.

Adoption of religious beliefs "Converts" redirects here. Religious conversion is the adoption of a set of beliefs identified with one particular religious denomination to the exclusion of others. Thus "religious conversion" would describe the abandoning of adherence to one denomination and affiliating with another. This might be from one to another denomination within the same religion, for example, from Protestant Christianity to Roman Catholicism or from Sunnī Islam to Shīʿa Islam . In some cases, religious conversion "marks a transformation of religious identity and is symbolized by special rituals". In Islam , due to the belief that all people are born Muslim, those who convert are known as 'reverts'. People convert to a different religion for various reasons, including active conversion by free choice due to a change in beliefs, secondary conversion , deathbed conversion , conversion for convenience, marital conversion , and forced conversion . Proselytism is the act of attempting to convert by persuasion another individual from a different religion or belief system. Apostate is a term used by members of a religion or denomination to refer to someone who has left that religion or denomination.

Adoption of religious beliefs For other uses of "conversion", see Conversion (disambiguation) . Religious conversion is the adoption of a set of beliefs identified with one particular religious denomination to the exclusion of others. Thus "religious conversion" would describe the abandoning of adherence to one denomination and affiliating with another. This might be from one to another denomination within the same religion, for example, from Protestant Christianity to Roman Catholicism or from Shi'a Islam to Sunni Islam . In some cases, religious conversion "marks a transformation of religious identity and is symbolized by special rituals". People convert to a different religion for various reasons, including active conversion by free choice due to a change in beliefs, secondary conversion , deathbed conversion , conversion for convenience, marital conversion , and forced conversion . Religious conversion can also be driven by practical considerations. Historically, people have converted to evade taxes, to escape military service or to gain political representation. Proselytism is the act of attempting to convert by persuasion another individual from a different religion or belief system. Apostate is a term used by members of a religion or denomination to refer to someone who has left that religion or denomination.