Religious conversion - wikipedia Religious conversion `` Converts '' and `` Converted '' redirect here. For other uses, see Conversion ( disambiguation ). This article is about voluntary acceptance of a religion. For forced conversion, see Forced conversion. For renunciation of a religion, see Apostasy. Conversion of Ghazan. Ghazan was born and raised as a Christian, studied Buddhism, and converted to Islam upon accession to the throne. Illustration from : `` World History '', Rachid Ad - Din, 14th century. Part of a series on Religious conversion Types Active conversion Secondary conversion Marital conversion Forced conversion Deathbed conversion Related concepts Apostasy Assimilation 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 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. 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 they aspire 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. ( See proselyte ). Apostate is a term used by members of a religion or denomination to refer to someone who has left that religion or denomination. Contents 1 Abrahamic religions 1.1 Judaism 1.1. 1 Procedure 1.1. 2 History 1.2 Christianity 1.2. 1 Baptism 1.2. 2 Accepting Christ and renouncing sin 1.2. 3 Responsibilities 1.2. 4 Reaffiliation 1.2. 5 Comparison between Protestants 1.2. 6 Latter Day Saints movement 1.3 Islam 1.4 Bahá'í Faith 2 Indian religions 2.1 Hinduism 2.2 Sikhism 2.3 Jainism 2.4 Buddhism 3 Other religions and sects 4 International law 5 See also 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External links Abrahamic religions Judaism The traditional normative conversion process to Judasim ( gijur ) of one, two or more years is finalized with ritual immersion in a natural collection of water, e.g. a river, a lake, or a mikveh, down to the present day ( Beth - El reform - synagogue, Birmingham, Alabama, 2006 ). This section possibly contains original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations. Statements consisting only of original research should be removed. ( September 2007 ) Main article : Conversion to Judaism Procedure Jewish law has a number of requirements of potential converts. They should desire conversion to Judaism for its own sake, and for no other motives. A male convert needs to undergo a ritual circumcision conducted according to Jewish law ( if already circumcised, a needle is used to draw a symbolic drop of blood while the appropriate blessings are said ), and the convert must commit to observe Jewish law. A convert must join the Jewish community and reject any previous religious affiliation. Ritual immersion in a small pool of water known as a mikvah is required. History Main article : List of converts to Judaism The Greek word `` proselyte '' means a convert to Judaism. It is known that some Chinese, Khazars, Edomites, and Ethiopians, as well as many Arabs, particularly in Yemen, were converts. As late as the 6th century the Eastern Roman empire and Caliph Umar ibn Khattab were issuing decrees against conversion to Judaism, implying that this was still occurring. Christianity This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( December 2015 ) Main articles : Conversion to Christianity, Christianization, and List of converts to Christianity The Conversion of Saint Paul, a 1600 painting by Italian artist Caravaggio ( 1571 -- 1610 ) Within Christianity conversion refers variously to three different phenomena : a person becoming Christian who was previously not Christian ; a Christian moving from one Christian denomination to another ; a particular spiritual development, sometimes called the second conversion, or the conversion of the baptised. Conversion to Christianity is the religious conversion of a previously non-Christian person to some form of Christianity. Some Christian sects require full conversion for new members regardless of any history in other Christian sects, or from certain other sects. The exact requirements vary between different churches and denominations. All Christian sects hold that baptism is a necessary ritual, but the practice differs. Jesus Christ was baptized at the beginning of his ministry, and prior to that event, John the Baptist had been baptizing Jewish believers as a sign of repentance, though not of conversion per se. Baptism is usually understood as an outward symbol of an inward change. Prior to that Awakening at Antioch ( Acts ch. 8 ff ; see also Acts 2 : 38 ), all converts to Christianity were ethnic and religious Jews. Following the Awakening, Pagans and infidels were required to undergo Christian baptism to be ultimately accepted in the Kingdom of God. Christian Baptism has some parallels with Jewish Immersion by Mikvah. Converting to Catholicism involves religious education followed by initial participation in the sacraments, which are baptism, confession, penance, and communion. In general, conversion to Christian Faith primarily involves repentance for sin and a decision to live a life that is holy and acceptable to God through faith in the atoning death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Most other sects require a period of indoctrination prior to acceptance. All of this is essentially done through a voluntary exercise of the will of the individual concerned. True conversion to Christianity is thus a personal, internal matter and can not be forced. Christians consider that conversion requires internalization of the new belief system. It implies a new reference point for the convert '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. Baptism Main article : Baptism Catholics, and Orthodox denominations encourage infant baptism before children are aware of their status. In Roman Catholicism and certain high church forms of Protestantism, baptized children are expected to participate in confirmation classes as pre-teens. In Eastern Orthodoxy, the equivalent of confirmation, chrismation, is administered to all converts, adult and infant alike, immediately after baptism. Methods of baptism include immersion, sprinkling ( aspersion ) and pouring ( affusion ). Baptism received by adults or younger people who have reached the age of accountability where they can make a personal religious decision is referred to as believer 's baptism among conservative or evangelical Protestant groups. It is intended as a public statement of a person 's prior decision to become a Christian. Some Christian groups such as Catholics, Churches of Christ, and Christadelphians believe baptism is essential to salvation. Accepting Christ and renouncing sin The Augsburg Confession divides repentance into two parts : `` One is contrition, that is, terrors smiting the conscience through the knowledge of sin ; the other is faith, which is born of the Gospel, or of absolution, and believes that for Christ 's sake, sins are forgiven, comforts the conscience, and delivers it from terrors. '' `` Conversion '' derives from the Latin conversiōn - em, literally meaning `` turning round '' and figuratively meaning a `` change in character ''. `` Change of heart '', `` metanoia '', and `` regeneration '' are among the synonyms for conversion. Conversion is, therefore, more than a mere change in religious identity, but a change in nature ( regeneration ), evidenced by a change in values. Jesus demands `` metánoia ( conversion ) '' to become a good tree that bears good fruit ( Matthew 7 : 17 -- 18, ). According to Christianity, a convert renounces sin as worthless and treasures instead the supreme worth of Christ in Jesus ' sacrificial death and resurrection. Christian conversion is a `` deeply personal '' matter. It entails changes in thinking, priorities and commitments : `` a whole new direction in one 's life ''. Because conversion is a change in values that embraces God and rejects sin, it includes a personal commitment to a life of holiness as described by Paul of Tarsus and exemplified by Jesus. In some Protestant traditions, this is called `` accepting Christ as one 's Savior and following him as Lord. '' In another variation, the 1910 Catholic Dictionary defines `` conversion '' as `` Any turning or changing from a state of sin to repentance, from a lax to a fervent way of life, from unbelief to faith, and from a non-Christian religion to Christianity. '' The Eastern Orthodox understanding of conversion is illustrated in the rite of baptism, in which the convert faces west while publicly renouncing and symbolically spitting upon Satan, and then turns to the east to worship Christ `` as king and God ''. Responsibilities In the New Testament, Jesus commanded his disciples in the Great Commission to `` go and make disciples of all nations '' (, ). Evangelization -- sharing the Gospel message or `` Good News '' in deed and word, is an expectation of Christians. ( ) Reaffiliation Transferring from one Christian denomination to another may consist of a relatively simple transfer of membership, especially if moving from one Trinitarian denomination to another, and if the person has received water baptism in the name of the Trinity. If not, then the person may be required to be baptized or rebaptized before acceptance by the new church. Some denominations, such as those in the Anabaptist tradition, require previously baptized Christians to be re-baptized. The Eastern Orthodox Church treats a transfer from another denomination of Christianity to Orthodoxy ( conceived of as the one true Church ) as a category of conversion and repentance, though re-baptism is not always required. The process of conversion to Christianity varies somewhat among Christian denominations. Most Protestants believe in conversion by faith to attain salvation. According to this understanding, a person professes faith in Jesus Christ as God, their Lord and savior. Repentance for sin and a holy living are expected of those professing faith in Jesus Christ. While an individual may make such a decision privately, usually it entails being baptized and becoming a member of a denomination or church. In these traditions, a person is considered to become a Christian by publicly acknowledging the foundational Christian doctrines that Jesus Christ died, was buried, and was resurrected for the remission of sins. Comparison between Protestants This table summarizes three Protestant beliefs. Topic Calvinism Lutheranism Arminianism Conversion Monergistic, through the inner calling of the Holy Spirit, irresistible. Monergistic, through the means of grace, resistible. Synergistic, resistible due to the common grace of free will. Latter Day Saints movement Main article : Baptism in Mormonism Latter Day Saint baptism ceremony, circa the 1850s Much of the theology of Latter Day Saint baptism was established during the early Latter Day Saint movement founded by Joseph Smith. According to this theology, baptism must be by immersion, for the remission of sins ( meaning that through baptism, past sins are forgiven ), and occurs after one has shown faith and repentance. Mormon baptism does not purport to remit any sins other than personal ones, as adherents do not believe in original sin. Latter Day Saints baptisms also occur only after an `` age of accountability '' which is defined as the age of eight years. The theology thus rejects infant baptism. In addition, Latter Day Saint theology requires that baptism may only be performed with one who has been called and ordained by God with priesthood authority. Because the churches of the Latter Day Saint movement operate under a lay priesthood, children raised in a Mormon family are usually baptized by a father or close male friend or family member who has achieved the office of priest, which is conferred upon worthy male members at least 16 years old in the LDS Church. Baptism is seen as symbolic both of Jesus ' death, burial and resurrection and is also symbolic of the baptized individual putting off of the natural or sinful man and becoming spiritually reborn as a disciple of Jesus. Membership into a Latter Day Saint church is granted only by baptism whether or not a person has been raised in the church. Latter Day Saint churches do not recognize baptisms of other faiths as valid because they believe baptisms must be performed under the church 's unique authority. Thus, all who come into one of the Latter Day Saint faiths as converts are baptized, even if they have previously received baptism in another faith. When performing a Baptism, Latter Day Saints say the following prayer before performing the ordinance : Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen Baptisms inside and outside the temples are usually done in a baptistry, although they can be performed in any body of water in which the person may be completely immersed. The person administering the baptism must recite the prayer exactly, and immerse every part, limb, hair and clothing of the person being baptized. If there are any mistakes, or if any part of the person being baptized is not fully immersed, the baptism must be redone. In addition to the baptizer, two priesthood holders witness the baptism to ensure that it is performed properly. Following baptism, Latter Day Saints receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands of a Melchizedek Priesthood holder. Latter Day Saints hold that one may be baptized after death through the vicarious act of a living individual, and holders of the Melchezidek Priesthood practice baptism for the dead as a missionary ritual. This doctrine answers the question of the righteous non-believer and the unevangelized by providing a post-mortem means of repentance and salvation. Islam This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( August 2016 ) Further information : Spread of Islam, List of converts to Islam, Al - Baqara 256, Islamic Missionary Activity, and Conversion to Islam in prisons There are five pillars, or foundations, of Islam but the primary, and most important is to believe that there is only one God and creator, referred to as Allah ( the word for God in Arabic ) and that the Islamic prophet, Muhammad, is God 's final messenger. The time of a person 's conversion is counted from the moment they sincerely make this declaration of faith, called the shahadah in front of witnesses. Islam teaches that everyone is Muslim at birth but the parents or society can cause them to deviate from the straight path. When someone accepts Islam, they are considered to revert to the original condition. In Islam, circumcision is a Sunnah custom not mentioned in the Qur'an. The majority clerical opinion holds that circumcision is not a condition for entering Islam. The Shafi ` i and Hanbali schools regard it as obligatory, while the Maliki and Hanafi schools regard it as only recommended. However, it is not a precondition for the acceptance of a person 's Islamic practices, nor is choosing to forgo circumcision considered a sin. It is not one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Bahá'í faith In sharing their faith with others, Bahá'ís are cautioned to `` obtain a hearing '' -- meaning to make sure the person they are proposing to teach is open to hearing what they have to say. `` Bahá'í pioneers '', rather than attempting to supplant the cultural underpinnings of the people in their adopted communities, are encouraged to integrate into the society and apply Bahá'í principles in living and working with their neighbors. Bahá'ís recognize the divine origins of all revealed religion, and believe that these religions occurred sequentially as part of a Divine plan ( see Progressive revelation ), with each new revelation superseding and fulfilling that of its predecessors. Bahá'ís regard their own faith as the most recent ( but not the last ), and believe its teachings -- which are centered around the principle of the oneness of humanity -- are most suited to meeting the needs of a global community. In most countries conversion is a simple matter of filling out a card stating a declaration of belief. This includes acknowledgement of Bahá'u'llah -- the Founder of the Faith -- as the Messenger of God for this age, awareness and acceptance of His teachings, and intention to be obedient to the institutions and laws He established. Conversion to the Bahá'í Faith carries with it an explicit belief in the common foundation of all revealed religion, a commitment to the unity of mankind, and active service to the community at large, especially in areas that will foster unity and concord. Since the Bahá'í Faith has no clergy, converts to this Faith are encouraged to be active in all aspects of community life. Even a recent convert may be elected to serve on a Local Spiritual Assembly -- the guiding Bahá'í institution at the community level. Indian religions Hinduism See also : List of converts to Hinduism A yajna initiation to Hinduism ceremony in progress. Since 1800 CE, religious conversion from and to Hinduism has been a controversial subject within Hinduism. Some have suggested that the concept of missionary conversion, either way, is contrary to the precepts of Hinduism. Religious leaders of some of Hinduism sects such as Brahmo Samaj have seen Hinduism as a non-missionary religion yet welcomed new members, while other leaders of Hinduism 's diverse schools have stated that with the arrival of missionary Islam and Christianity in India, this `` there is no such thing as proselytism in Hinduism '' view must be re-examined. Hinduism is a diverse system of thought with beliefs spanning monotheism, polytheism, panentheism, pantheism, pandeism, monism, and atheism among others. Hinduism has no traditional ecclesiastical order, no centralized religious authorities, no universally accepted governing body, no prophet ( s ), no binding holy book nor any mandatory prayer attendance requirements. Hinduism has been described as a way of life. In its diffuse and open structure, numerous schools and sects of Hinduism have developed and spun off in India with help from its ascetic scholars, since the Vedic age. The six Astika and two Nastika schools of Hindu philosophy, in its history, did not develop a missionary or proselytization methodology, and they co-existed with each other. Most Hindu sub-schools and sects do not actively seek converts. Individuals have had a choice to enter, leave or change their god ( s ), spiritual convictions, accept or discard any rituals and practices, and pursue spiritual knowledge and liberation ( moksha ) in different ways. However, various schools of Hinduism do have some core common beliefs, such as the belief that all living beings have Atman ( soul ), a belief in karma theory, spirituality, ahimsa ( non-violence ) as the greatest dharma or virtue, and others. Religious conversion to Hinduism has a long history outside India. Merchants and traders of India, particularly from Indian peninsula, carried their religious ideas, which led to religious conversions to Hinduism in Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Burma. Some sects of Hindus, particularly of the Bhakti schools began seeking or accepting converts in early to mid 20th century. For example, Arya Samaj, Saiva Siddhanta Church, BAPS, and the International Society for Krishna Consciousness accept those who have a desire to follow their sects of Hinduism, and each has their own religious conversion procedure. In recent decades, mainstream Hinduism schools have attempted to systematize ways to accept religious converts, with an increase in inter-religious mixed marriages. The steps involved in becoming a Hindu have variously included a period where the interested person gets an informal ardha - Hindu name and studies ancient literature on spiritual path and practices ( English translations of Upanishads, Agamas, Epics, ethics in Sutras, festivals, yoga ). If after a period of study, the individual still wants to convert, a Namakarana Samskaras ceremony is held, where the individual adopts a traditional Hindu name. The initiation ceremony may also include Yajna ( i.e., fire ritual with Sanskrit hymns ) under guidance of a local Hindu priest. Some of these places are mathas and asramas ( hermitage, monastery ), where one or more gurus ( spiritual guide ) conduct the conversion and offer spiritual discussions. Some schools encourage the new convert to learn and participate in community activities such as festivals ( Diwali etc. ), read and discuss ancient literature, learn and engage in rites of passages ( ceremonies of birth, first feeding, first learning day, age of majority, wedding, cremation and others ). Sikhism Sikhism is not known to openly proselytize, but accepts converts. Jainism Jainism accepts anyone who wants to embrace the religion. There is no specific ritual for becoming a Jain. One does not need to ask any authorities for admission. One becomes a Jain on one 's own by observing the five vows ( vratas ) The five main vows as mentioned in the ancient Jain texts like Tattvarthasutra are : Ahimsa - Not to injure any living being by actions and thoughts. Satya - Not to lie or speak words that hurt others. Asteya - Not to take anything if not given. Brahmacharya - Chastity for householders / Celibacy in action, words & thoughts for monks and nuns. Aparigraha ( Non-possession ) - non-attachment to possessions. Following the five vows is the main requirement in Jainism. All other aspects such as visiting temples are secondary. Jain monks and nuns are required to observe these five vows strictly. Buddhism Persons newly adhering to Buddhism traditionally `` take Refuge '' ( express faith in the Three Jewels -- Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha ) before a monk, nun, or similar representative. But cultural or secular Buddhists often hold multiple religious identities, combining the religion with some East Asian religions in different countries and ethnics, such as : Ethnic Buddhism with local traditional religions Chinese Mahayana Buddhism with Confucianism, Taoism, and Chinese folk religion Japanese Mahayana Buddhism with Shinto Korean Mahayana Buddhism with Confucianism, and Korean shamanism Vietnamese Mahayana Buddhism with Confucianism, Taoism, and Dao Mau Mongolian Vajrayana Buddhism with Tengrism, and Mongolian shamanism Nepali Vajrayana Buddhism with Hinduism Jewish Buddhist Buddhism with Judaism Throughout the timeline of Buddhism, conversions of entire countries and regions to Buddhism were frequent, as Buddhism spread throughout Asia. For example, in the 11th century in Burma, king Anoratha converted his entire country to Theravada Buddhism. At the end of the 12th century, Jayavarman VII set the stage for conversion of the Khmer people to Theravada Buddhism. Mass conversions of areas and communities to Buddhism occur up to the present day, for example, in the Dalit Buddhist movement in India there have been organized mass conversions. Exceptions to encouraging conversion may occur in some Buddhist movements. In Tibetan Buddhism, for example, the current Dalai Lama discourages active attempts to win converts. Other religions and sects In the second half of the 20th century, the rapid growth of new religious movements ( NRMs ) led some psychologists and other scholars to propose that these groups were using `` brainwashing '' or `` mind control '' techniques to gain converts. This theory was publicized by the popular news media but disputed by other scholars, including some sociologists of religion. In the 1960s sociologist John Lofland lived with Unification Church missionary Young Oon Kim and a small group of American church members in California and studied their activities in trying to promote their beliefs and win converts to their church. Lofland noted that most of their efforts were ineffective and that most of the people who joined did so because of personal relationships with other members, often family relationships. Lofland published his findings in 1964 as a doctoral thesis entitled `` The World Savers : A Field Study of Cult Processes '', and in 1966 in book form by Prentice - Hall as Doomsday Cult : A Study of Conversion, Proselytization, and Maintenance of Faith. It is considered to be one of the most important and widely cited studies of the process of religious conversion, and one of the first modern sociological studies of a new religious movement. The Church of Scientology attempts to gain converts by offering `` free stress tests ''. It has also used the celebrity status of some of its members ( most famously the American actor Tom Cruise ) to attract converts. The Church of Scientology requires that all converts sign a legal waiver which covers their relationship with the Church of Scientology before engaging in Scientology services. Research in the United States and the Netherlands has shown a positive correlation between areas lacking mainstream churches and the percentage of people who are a member of a new religious movement. This applies also for the presence of New Age centres. On the other end of the scale are religions that do not accept any converts, or do so very rarely. Often these are relatively small, close - knit minority religions that are ethnically based such as the Yazidis, Druze, and Mandaeans. Zoroastrianism classically does not accept converts, but this issue has become controversial in the 20th century due to the rapid decline in membership. Chinese traditional religion lacks clear criteria for membership, and hence for conversion. The Shakers and some Indian eunuch brotherhoods do not allow procreation, so that every member is a convert. International law The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights defines religious conversion as a human right : `` Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion ; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief '' ( Article 18 ). Despite this UN-declared human right, some groups forbid or restrict religious conversion ( see below ). Based on the declaration the United Nations Commission on Human Rights ( UNCHR ) drafted the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, a legally binding treaty. It states that `` Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice '' ( Article 18.1 ). `` No one shall be subject to coercion which would impair his freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice '' ( Article 18.2 ). The UNCHR issued a General Comment on this Article in 1993 : `` The Committee observes that the freedom to ' have or to adopt ' a religion or belief necessarily entails the freedom to choose a religion or belief, including the right to replace one 's current religion or belief with another or to adopt atheistic views (... ) Article 18.2 bars coercion that would impair the right to have or adopt a religion or belief, including the use of threat of physical force or penal sanctions to compel believers or non-believers to adhere to their religious beliefs and congregations, to recant their religion or belief or to convert. '' ( CCPR / C / 21 / Rev. 1 / Add. 4, General Comment No. 22. ; emphasis added ) Some countries distinguish voluntary, motivated conversion from organized proselytism, attempting to restrict the latter. The boundary between them is not easily defined : what one person considers legitimate evangelizing, or witness - bearing, another may consider intrusive and improper. Illustrating the problems that can arise from such subjective viewpoints is this extract from an article by Dr. C. Davis, published in Cleveland State University 's Journal of Law and Health : `` According to the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, Jews for Jesus and Hebrew Christians constitute two of the most dangerous cults, and its members are appropriate candidates for deprogramming. Anti-cult evangelicals... protest that ' aggressiveness and proselytizing... are basic to authentic Christianity, ' and that Jews for Jesus and Campus Crusade for Christ are not to be labeled as cults. Furthermore, certain Hassidic groups who physically attacked a meeting of the Hebrew Christian ' cult ' have themselves been labeled a ' cult ' and equated with the followers of Reverend Moon, by none other than the President of the Central Conference of American Rabbis. '' Since the collapse of the former Soviet Union the Russian Orthodox Church has enjoyed a revival. However, it takes exception to what it considers illegitimate proselytizing by the Roman Catholic Church, the Salvation Army, Jehovah 's Witnesses, and other religious movements in what it refers to as its canonical territory. Greece has a long history of conflict, mostly with Jehovah 's Witnesses, but also with some Pentecostals, over its laws on proselytism. This situation stems from a law passed in the 1930s by the dictator Ioannis Metaxas. A Jehovah 's Witness, Minos Kokkinakis, won the equivalent of $14,400 in damages from the Greek state after being arrested for trying to preach his faith from door to door. In another case, Larissis v. Greece, a member of the Pentecostal church also won a case in the European Court of Human Rights. Some Islamic countries with Islamic law outlaw and carry strict sentences for proselytizing. Several Islamic countries under Islamic law -- Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Egypt, Iran, and the Maldives -- outlaw apostasy and carry imprisonment or the death penalty for those leaving Islam and those enticing Muslims to leave Islam. Also, induced religious conversions in the Indian states Orissa has resulted in communal riots. See also Apostasy, or renunciation of religion Deathbed conversion, adoption of faith before dying Forced conversion against the will of the subject Secondary conversion that results from a relationship Moral conversion based on the internalist view of morality List of converts to Christianity List of converts to Hinduism List of converts to Islam List of converts to Judaism List of converts to Buddhism Love Jihad, conversion to Islam by feigning love Missionary sent abroad Inquisition Islamic Missionary Activity Missionary ( LDS Church ) Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults Safavid conversion of Iran from Sunnism to Shiism The Rage Against God, 2010 book by Peter Hitchens Conversion to Islam in U.S. prisons References Jump up ^ Stark, Rodney and Roger Finke. `` Acts of Faith : Explaining the Human Side of Religion. '' University of California Press, 2000. p. 114. ISBN 978 - 0 - 520 - 22202 - 1 Jump up ^ Meintel, Deirdre. `` When There Is No Conversion : Spiritualists and Personal Religious Change ''. Anthropologica. 49 ( 1 ) : 149 -- 162. access - date = requires url = ( help ) Jump up ^ Falkenberg, Steve. `` Psychological Explanations of Religious Socialization. '' Religious Conversion. Eastern Kentucky University. August 31, 2009. Jump up ^ The Independent newspaper : ``... finding religion -- is there anything middle - class parents wo n't try to get their children into the ' right ' schools ? '' Jump up ^ `` Internet History Sourcebooks Project ''. Jump up ^ Catechism of the Catholic Church http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p2s2c2a4.htm retrieved 24 Mar 2016 Jump up ^ Hefner, Robert W. Conversion to Christianity. University of California Press, 1993. ISBN 0 - 520 - 07836 - 5 Jump up ^ Bromiley, Geoffrey W. `` Baptism. '' The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia : A-D ( p. 419 ). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1995. ISBN 0 - 8028 - 3781 - 6 Jump up ^ `` The Purpose of Baptism. '' http://gospelway.com/salvation/baptism_purpose.php Jump up ^ `` Augsburg Confession - Book of Concord ''. Jump up ^ `` conversion, n. ''. OED Online. September 2013. Oxford University Press. Jump up ^ `` I found great synonyms for `` conversion '' on the new Thesaurus.com ! ``. Jump up ^ Gerhard Kittel and Gerhard Friedrich, eds, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament : Abridged in One Volume by Geoffrey W. Bromily ( Eerdmans, 1985 ) 101, 403. Jump up ^ `` Conversion to Christ : the Making of a Christian Hedonist ''. 18 September 1983. Jump up ^ `` St. Paul on Conversion '' at http://jesuschristsavior.net/Conversion.html. Accessed November 5, 2013 Jump up ^ `` Matthew 16 Commentary - The Cost of the Kingdom - BibleGateway.com ''. Jump up ^ John A. Hardon ( 2013 ). `` Conversion ''. Catholic Dictionary : An Abridged and Updated Edition of Modern Catholic Dictionary. Doubleday Religious Publishing Group. p. 112. Jump up ^ `` † Saints Constantine & Elena : Reception into the Catechumenate ''. Jump up ^ `` Evangelization. '' Evangelization. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, n.d. Web. 05 Oct. 2016. Jump up ^ Paul ChulHong Kang, Justification : The Imputation of Christ 's Righteousness from Reformation Theology to the American Great Awakening and the Korean Revivals ( Peter Lang, 2006 ), 70, note 171. Calvin generally defends Augustine 's `` monergistic view. '' Jump up ^ http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Monergism and Paul ChulHong Kang, Justification : The Imputation of Christ 's Righteousness from Reformation Theology to the American Great Awakening and the Korean Revivals ( Peter Lang, 2006 ), 65. Jump up ^ Roger E. Olson, Arminian Theology : Myths and Realities ( InterVarsity Press, 2009 ), 18. `` Arminian synergism '' refers to `` evangelical synergism, which affirms the prevenience of grace. '' Jump up ^ See Doctrine and Covenants 68 : 25 - 27 Jump up ^ See Moroni 8 : 4 - 23 Jump up ^ See, e.g., `` Guide to the Scriptures : Baptism, Baptize : Proper authority '', LDS.org, LDS Church Jump up ^ See, e.g., `` Gospel Topics : Priest '', LDS.org, LDS Church Jump up ^ See, e.g., `` Baptism '', KJV ( LDS ) : LDS Bible Dictionary, LDS Church Jump up ^ See 3 Nephi 11 : 25 ^ Jump up to : `` Performing Priesthood Ordinances '', Duties and Blessings of the Priesthood : Basic Manual for Priesthood Holders, Part B, LDS Church, 2000, pp. 41 -- 48 Jump up ^ Vincent J. Cornell. Voices of Islam. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 8. ISBN 0275987337. Jump up ^ `` Every Child is Born Muslim ''. Jump up ^ ALAM, NANCY. `` Conversion to Islam ''. Jump up ^ `` Islamic Invitation Centre - most comprehensive FAQ on Islam ''. Jump up ^ `` Considering Converting : Is it necessary to be circumcised ? ''. Jump up ^ `` Circumcision for Converts ''. Jump up ^ Smith, P. ( 1999 ). A Concise Encyclopedia of the Bahá'í Faith. Oxford, UK : Oneworld Publications. ISBN 1 - 85168 - 184 - 1. Jump up ^ Momen, M. ( 1997 ). A Short Introduction to the Bahá'í Faith. Oxford, UK : One World Publications. ISBN 1 - 85168 - 209 - 0. ^ Jump up to : Sharma, Arvind ( 22 April 2011 ). Hinduism as a Missionary Religion. Albany, New York : State University of New York Press. pp. 31 -- 53. ISBN 978 - 1 - 4384 - 3211 - 3. Jump up ^ Gauri Viswanathan ( 1998 ), Outside the Fold : Conversion, Modernity, and Belief, Princeton University Press, ISBN 978 - 0691058993, pages 153 - 176 ^ Jump up to : Chakravarti, Sitansu ( 1991 ), Hinduism, a way of life, Motilal Banarsidass Publ., p. 71, ISBN 978 - 81 - 208 - 0899 - 7 Jump up ^ Julius J. Lipner, Hindus : Their Religious Beliefs and Practices, 2nd Edition, Routledge, ISBN 978 - 0 - 415 - 45677 - 7, page 8 ; Quote : `` (... ) one need not be religious in the minimal sense described to be accepted as a Hindu by Hindus, or describe oneself perfectly validly as Hindu. One may be polytheistic or monotheistic, monistic or pantheistic, even an agnostic, humanist or atheist, and still be considered a Hindu. '' Jump up ^ MK Gandhi, The Essence of Hinduism, Editor : VB Kher, Navajivan Publishing, see page 3 ; According to Gandhi, `` a man may not believe in God and still call himself a Hindu. '' Jump up ^ Catharine Cookson ( 2003 ), Encyclopedia of religious freedom, Taylor & Francis, p. 180, ISBN 978 - 0 - 415 - 94181 - 5 Jump up ^ Bhavasar and Kiem, Spirituality and Health, in Hindu Spirituality, Editor : Ewert Cousins ( 1989 ), ISBN 0 - 8245 - 0755 - X, Crossroads Publishing New York, pp 319 - 337 ; John Arapura, Spirit and Spiritual Knowledge in the Upanishads, in Hindu Spirituality, Editor : Ewert Cousins ( 1989 ), ISBN 0 - 8245 - 0755 - X, Crossroads Publishing New York, pp 64 - 85 Jump up ^ Gavin Flood, Brill 's Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Editor : Knut Jacobsen ( 2010 ), Volume II, Brill, ISBN 978 - 90 - 04 - 17893 - 9, see Article on Wisdom and Knowledge, pp 881 - 884 Jump up ^ SS Subramuniyaswami ( 2000 ), How to become a Hindu, 2nd Edition, Himalayan Academy, ISBN 0945497822, page 153 Jump up ^ Jan Gonda, The Indian Religions in Pre-Islamic Indonesia and their survival in Bali, in Handbook of Oriental Studies. Section 3 Southeast Asia, Religions at Google Books, pages 1 - 47 Jump up ^ Richadiana Kartakusama ( 2006 ), Archaeology : Indonesian Perspective ( Editors : Truman Simanjuntak et al. ), Yayasan Obor Indonesia, ISBN 979 - 2624996, pp. 406 - 419 Jump up ^ Reuter, Thomas ( September 2004 ). Java 's Hinduism Revivial. Hinduism Today. Jump up ^ See, for example : ISKCON Law Book, International Society for Krishna Consciousness, GBC Press ^ Jump up to : SS Subramuniyaswami ( 2000 ), How to become a Hindu, 2nd Edition, Himalayan Academy, ISBN 0945497822, pages 115 - 118 Cite error : Invalid < ref > tag ; name `` subramuni '' defined multiple times with different content ( see the help page ). Jump up ^ SS Subramuniyaswami ( 2000 ), How to become a Hindu, 2nd Edition, Himalayan Academy, ISBN 0945497822, pages xx, 133 - 147 Jump up ^ SS Subramuniyaswami ( 2000 ), How to become a Hindu, 2nd Edition, Himalayan Academy, ISBN 0945497822, pages 157 - 158 Jump up ^ ThinkQuest - Sikhism Jump up ^ `` Sikhism ( Sikhi ) the Sikh Faith and Religion in America ''. ^ Jump up to : Pravin Shah, Five Great Vows ( Maha - vratas ) of Jainism Jainism Literature Center, Harvard University Archives ( 2009 ) Jump up ^ Jain 2011, p. 93. Jump up ^ Sangave 2001, p. 67. Jump up ^ Jain 2011, p. 99. Jump up ^ Jain 2011, p. 100. ^ Jump up to : `` Think Quest - Map of religions ''. Think Quest. Retrieved 31 July 2013. Jump up ^ `` Chinese Han Nationality : Language, Religion, Customs ''. Jump up ^ `` Countries & Regions ''. Jump up ^ `` Countries & Regions ''. Jump up ^ `` World Factbook : Japan ''. CIA. Retrieved 15 January 2011. Jump up ^ Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor ( 15 September 2006 ). `` International Religious Freedom Report 2006 ''. US Department of State. Retrieved 4 December 2007. CS1 maint : Multiple names : authors list ( link ) Jump up ^ `` Countries & Regions ''. Jump up ^ thichnhattu. `` Buddhism in Korea ''. Jump up ^ `` Countries & Regions ''. Jump up ^ `` Culture of North Korea -- Alternative name, History and ethnic relations ''. Countries and Their Cultures. Advameg Inc. Retrieved 4 July 2009. Jump up ^ `` CIA The World Factbook -- North Korea ''. Cia.gov. Retrieved 3 November 2011. Jump up ^ `` Vietnam ''. Encyclopedia of the Nations. 14 August 2007. Retrieved 28 April 2010. Jump up ^ `` Vietnam 's religions ''. Vietnam-holidays.co.uk. Retrieved 28 April 2010. Jump up ^ `` Countries & Regions ''. Jump up ^ `` Mongolia Facts and History ''. Jump up ^ Nepal Embassy in Japan, Globerove - Religion in Nepal, Mongolia Asian History - Nepal, Windows on Asia - Nepal Jump up ^ Dalai Lama opposed to practice of conversion Archived February 9, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ Dawei, Bei ( 2012 ). Conversion to Tibetan Buddhism : Some Reflections, in : Ura, Dasho, Karma : Chophel, Dendup, Buddhism Without Borders, Proceedings of the International Conference of Global Buddhism, Bhumtang, Bhutan, May 211 - 23, 2012, The Center for Buthane Studies, pp, 53 - 75 Jump up ^ Melton, J. Gordon ( 1999 - 12 - 10 ). `` Brainwashing and the Cults : The Rise and Fall of a Theory ''. CESNUR : Center for Studies on New Religions. Retrieved 2009 - 06 - 15. In the United States at the end of the 1970s, brainwashing emerged as a popular theoretical construct around which to understand what appeared to be a sudden rise of new and unfamiliar religious movements during the previous decade, especially those associated with the hippie street - people phenomenon. ^ Jump up to : Bromley, David G. ( 1998 ). `` Brainwashing ''. In William H. Swatos Jr. ( Ed. ). Encyclopedia of Religion and Society. Walnut Creek, CA : AltaMira. pp. 61 -- 62. ISBN 978 - 0 - 7619 - 8956 - 1. CS1 maint : Uses editors parameter ( link ) Jump up ^ Barker, Eileen : New Religious Movements : A Practical Introduction. London : Her Majesty 's Stationery office, 1989. Jump up ^ Wright, Stewart A. ( 1997 ). `` Media Coverage of Unconventional Religion : Any ' Good News ' for Minority Faiths ? ''. Review of Religious Research. Review of Religious Research, Vol. 39, No. 2. 39 ( 2 ) : 101 -- 115. JSTOR 3512176. doi : 10.2307 / 3512176. Jump up ^ Barker, Eileen ( 1986 ). `` Religious Movements : Cult and Anti-Cult Since Jonestown ''. Annual Review of Sociology. 12 : 329 -- 346. doi : 10.1146 / annurev. so. 12.080186. 001553. Jump up ^ Conversion, Unification Church, Encyclopedia of Religion and Society, Hartford Institute for Religion Research, Hartford Seminary Jump up ^ Introduction to New and Alternative Religions in America : African diaspora traditions and other American innovations, Volume 5 of Introduction to New and Alternative Religions in America, W. Michael Ashcraft, Greenwood Publishing Group, 2006 ISBN 0 - 275 - 98717 - 5, ISBN 978 - 0 - 275 - 98717 - 6, page 180 Jump up ^ Exploring New Religions, Issues in contemporary religion, George D. Chryssides, Continuum International Publishing Group, 2001 ISBN 0 - 8264 - 5959 - 5, ISBN 978 - 0 - 8264 - 5959 - 6 page 1 Jump up ^ The Foster Report. Chapter 5, `` The Practices of Scientology ; '' section ( a ), `` Recruitment ; '' pages 75 - 76. Jump up ^ `` Artists Find Inspiration, Education at Church of Scientology & Celebrity Centre Nashville. '' The Tennessee Tribune, Jan 20 - Jan 26, 2011. Vol. 22, Iss. 3, pg. 14A Jump up ^ Goodyear, Dana ( 2008 - 01 - 14 ). `` Château Scientology ''. Letter from California. The New Yorker. Retrieved 2008 - 01 - 10. Jump up ^ Friedman, Roger ( 3 September 2003 ). `` Will Scientology Celebs Sign ' Spiritual ' Contract ? ''. FOX News. Retrieved 2008 - 12 - 07. Jump up ^ Schepens, T. ( Dutch ) Religieuze bewegingen in Nederland volume 29, Sekten Ontkerkelijking en religieuze vitaliteit : nieuwe religieuze bewegingen en New Age - centra in Nederland ( 1994 ) VU uitgeverij ISBN 90 - 5383 - 341 - 2 Jump up ^ Stark, R & W.S. Bainbridge The future of religion : secularization, revival and cult formation ( 1985 ) Berkeley / Los Angeles / London : University of California press Jump up ^ `` Joining a Cult : Religious Choice or Psychological Aberration ? ''. Further reading Barker, Eileen The Making of a Moonie : Choice or Brainwashing ? ( 1984 ) Barrett, D.V. The New Believers : A survey of sects, cults and alternative religions ( 2001 ) UK, Cassell & Co ISBN 0 - 304 - 35592 - 5 Buckser, A.S. and S.D. Glazier. eds. The Anthropology of Religious Conversion Roman and Littlefield, 2003 Cooper, Richard S. `` The Assessment and Collection of Kharaj Tax in Medieval Egypt '' Journal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. 96, No. 3. ( Jul -- Sep., 1976 ), pp. 365 -- 382. Curtin, Phillip D. Cross-Cultural Trade in World History. Cambridge University Press, 1984. Hoiberg, Dale, and Indu Ramachandran. Students ' Britannica India. Popular Prakashan, 2000. Idris, Gaefar, Sheikh. The Process of Islamization. Plainfield, Ind. : Muslim Students ' Association of the U.S. and Canada, 1977. vi, 20 p. Without ISBN James, William, The varieties of religious experience : a study in human nature. Being the Gifford lectures on natural religion delivered at Edinburgh in 1901 - 1902 ; Longmans, Green & Co, New York ( 1902 ) Morris, Harold C., and Lin M. Morris. `` Power and purpose : Correlates to conversion. '' Psychology : A Journal of Human Behavior, Vol 15 ( 4 ), Nov - Dec 1978, 15 -- 22. Rambo, Lewis R. Understanding Religious Conversion. Yale University Press, 1993. Rambo, Lewis R., & Farhadian, Charles. Oxford Handbook of Religious Conversion. Oxford University Press, 2014. Ramstedt, Martin. Hinduism in Modern Indonesia : A Minority Religion Between Local, National, and Global Interests. Routledge, 2004. Rawat, Ajay S. StudentMan and Forests : The Khatta and Gujjar Settlements of Sub-Himalayan Tarai. Indus Publishing, 1993. Vasu, Srisa Chandra ( 1919 ), The Catechism Of Hindu Dharma, New York : Kessinger Publishing, LLC Jain, Vijay K. ( 2011 ), Tattvârthsûtra ( 1st ed. ), ( Uttarakhand ) India : Vikalp Printers, ISBN 81 - 903639 - 2 - 1, Non-Copyright Sangave, Vilas Adinath ( 2001 ), Aspects of Jaina religion ( 3rd ed. ), Bharatiya Jnanpith, ISBN 81 - 263 - 0626 - 2 External links Look up convert in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. Wikiquote has quotations related to : Religious conversion `` Conversion : A Family Affair '', Craig Harline, Berfrois, 4 October 2011 Religion Major religious groups and religious denominations Abrahamic Judaism Orthodox Haredi Hasidic Modern Conservative Reform Karaite Reconstructionist Renewal Humanistic Haymanot Christianity Catholicism Eastern Catholic Churches Eastern Christianity Church of the East Assyrian Church of the East Eastern Orthodoxy Oriental Orthodoxy Ethiopian Orthodoxy Independent Catholicism Old Catholicism Protestantism Adventism Anabaptism Anglicanism Baptists Calvinism Presbyterianism Congregationalism Continental Reformed Lutheranism Methodism Pentecostalism Evangelicalism Nontrinitarianism Jehovah 's Witnesses Mormonism Jesuism Nondenominational Islam Sunni Hanafi Maliki Hanbali Shafi'i Shia Twelver Isma'ilism Zaidiyyah Ahmadi Ibadi Non-denominational Quranism Zahirism Salafism Wahhabism Ahl al - Hadith Mahdavia European Islam Nation of Islam Others Bábism Azáli Bábism Bahá'í Faith Druze Mandaeism Rastafari Samaritanism Dharmic Hinduism Vaishnavism Shaktism Shaivism Ayyavazhi Smartism Balinese Buddhism Mahayana Chan Zen Thiền Seon Pure Land Nichiren Madhyamaka Tiantai Theravada Vajrayana Tibetan Shingon Newar Bon Navayana Others Jainism Digambara Śvētāmbara Sikhism Gurung shamanism Bon Lamaism Kirant Mundhum Iranian Manichaeism Yazdânism Yazidism Ishikism Ali - Illahism Yarsanism Zoroastrianism European Armenian Baltic Dievturība Druwi Romuva Caucasian Celtic Druidry Germanic Hellenism Italo - Roman Romanian Slavic Uralic Finnish Hungarian Uralic Mari Mordvin Udmurt Central and Northern Asian Burkhanism Chuvash Manchu Mongolian Siberian Tengrism East Asian Benzhuism Bimoism Bon Cheondoism Confucianism Dongbaism Faism Hmongism Jeungsanism Luoism Meishanism Mileism Muism Neo-Confucianism Ryukyuan religion Shenism Shigongism Shinto Taoism Tenrikyo Wuism Yiguandao Southeast Asian Burmese Caodaism Satsana Phi Malaysian Marapu ( Sumba ) Indonesian Kaharingan Hoahaoism Javanism Philippine Vietnamese Đạo Mẫu African Traditional Akan Akamba Baluba Bantu Berber Bushongo Cushitic Dinka Efik Fon and Ewe Guanche Igbo Isoko Lotuko Lozi Lugbara Maasai Mbuti San Serer Tumbuka Waaq Yoruba Zulu Diasporic Candomblé Kumina Obeah Quimbanda Palo Santería Umbanda Vodou Voodoo Winti Other groups Bathouism Bongthingism Donyi - Polo Dravidian Kiratism Sanamahism Sarnaism Aboriginal Australian Native American Mesoamerican Hawaiian Polynesian Recent Discordianism Eckankar Jediism New Age New Thought Pastafarianism Raëlism Satanism Scientology Thelema Unitarian Universalism Wicca Historical religions Prehistoric Paleolithic Near East Arabian Egyptian Mesopotamian Semitic Indo - European Asia Proto - Indo - Iranian Armenian Ossetian Vedic Zoroastrianism Mithraism Zurvanism Gnosticism Manichaeism Europe Celtic Germanic Anglo - Saxon Continental Norse Greek Gnosticism Neoplatonism Manichaeism Balkan Roman Slavic Topics Aspects Apostasy / Disaffiliation Behaviour Beliefs Clergy Conversion Deities Entheogens Ethnic religion Denomination Faith Fire Folk religion God Meditation Monasticism monk nun Mysticism Mythology Nature Ordination Orthodoxy Orthopraxy Prayer Religious experience Ritual liturgy sacrifice Spirituality Supernatural Symbols Truth Water Worship Theism Animism Deism Dualism Henotheism Monotheism Nontheism Panentheism Pantheism Polytheism Transtheism Religious studies Anthropology Cognitive science Comparative Development Evolutionary origin Evolutionary psychology History Philosophy Neurotheology Psychology Sociology Theology Theories Women Religion and society Agriculture Business Clergy monasticism ordination Conversion evangelism missionary proselytism Education Fanaticism Freedom pluralism syncretism toleration universalism Fundamentalism Growth Happiness Homosexuality Minorities National church National religiosity levels Religiocentrism Political science Populations Schism Science State Theocracy Vegetarianism Video games Violence persecution terrorism war Wealth Secularism and irreligion Antireligion Deism Agnosticism Atheism Criticism LaVeyan Satanism Deconstruction Humanistic Judaism Irreligion by country Objectivism Secular humanism Secular theology Secularization Separation of church and state Unaffiliated Overviews and lists Index Outline Timeline Abrahamic prophets Deification Deities Founders Mass gatherings New religious movements Organizations Religions and spiritual traditions Scholars Portal GND : 4127377 - 1 NDL : 00564645 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Religious_conversion&oldid=801854284 '' Categories : Religious conversion Hidden categories : Pages with reference errors Pages using citations with accessdate and no URL Pages with duplicate reference names CS1 maint : Multiple names : authors list Webarchive template wayback links CS1 maint : Uses editors parameter Articles that may contain original research from September 2007 All articles that may contain original research Articles needing additional references from December 2015 All articles needing additional references All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from February 2013 Articles needing additional references from August 2016 Wikipedia articles needing clarification from August 2016 Articles with unsourced statements from March 2014 Articles with unsourced statements from March 2011 All articles with links needing disambiguation Articles with links needing disambiguation from December 2016 Articles with unsourced statements from June 2010 Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Wikiquote Alemannisch Bosanski Català Čeština Dansk Deutsch Español Esperanto Euskara فارسی Français 한국어 हिन्दी Interlingua Italiano עברית Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Português Русский Simple English Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska తెలుగు Українська 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 22 September 2017, at 09 : 22. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: one who is converted from one religion to another
Answer: Religious conversion