Religious conversion Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ==Abrahamic religions== ===Baháʼí Faith=== {{Further|Baháʼí Faith}}{{More citations needed section|date=March 2022}} In sharing their faith with others, Baháʼís 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. "[[Baháʼí teaching plans#Pioneering|Baháʼí 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 Baháʼí principles in living and working with their neighbors. Baháʼís recognize the divine origins of all revealed religion, and believe that these religions occurred sequentially as part of a divine plan (see [[Progressive revelation (Baháʼí)|Progressive revelation]]), with each new revelation superseding and fulfilling that of its predecessors. Baháʼís 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 Baháʼí 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 Baháʼí Faith has no clergy, converts 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 Baháʼí institution at the community level.<ref>{{cite book |last = Smith |first = P. |year = 1999 |title = A Concise Encyclopedia of the Bahá'í Faith |publisher = Oneworld Publications |location = Oxford, UK |isbn = 1-85168-184-1 |url-access = registration |url = https://archive.org/details/conciseencyclope0000smit }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last = Momen |first = M. |year = 1997 |title = A Short Introduction to the Baháʼí Faith |publisher = One World Publications |location = Oxford, UK |isbn = 1-85168-209-0 |url = https://archive.org/details/bahaifaith00mooj }}</ref> ===Christianity=== {{Main|Conversion to Christianity|Christianization|List of converts to Christianity}} [[File:The Conversion of Saint Paul-Caravaggio (c. 1600-1).jpg|thumb|right|''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".<ref>{{cite web |work=Catechism of the Catholic Church |title=The sacrament of penance and reconciliation |url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p2s2c2a4.htm |access-date=24 Mar 2016 |publisher=The Holy See |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160328130510/https://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p2s2c2a4.htm |archive-date=Mar 28, 2016 }}</ref> 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 [[Christian denominations|denominations]]. [[Baptism]] is traditionally seen as a sacrament of admission to Christianity.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|encyclopedia=Britannica|title=Baptism, Christianity}}</ref> Christian baptism has some parallels with Jewish immersion by ''[[mikvah]]''. In the [[New Testament]], [[Jesus]] commanded his disciples in the [[Great Commission]] to "go and make disciples of all nations".<ref>{{bibleverse|Matthew|28:19}}, {{bibleverse|Mark|16:15}}</ref> [[Evangelization]] – sharing the Gospel message or "Good News" in deed and word, is an expectation of Christians.<ref>"Evangelization." Evangelization. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, n.d. Web. 05 Oct. 2016.</ref> ====Comparison between Protestants==== {{Prose|section|date=August 2023}} This table summarizes three Protestant beliefs. {| class="wikitable" |- ! '''Topic''' !! '''Calvinism''' !! '''Lutheranism''' !! '''Arminianism''' |- | '''Conversion''' || [[Monergism|Monergistic]],<ref>Paul ChulHong Kang, ''Justification: The Imputation of Christ's Righteousness from Reformation Theology to the American Great Awakening and the Korean Revivals'' ([[Peter Lang (publisher)|Peter Lang]], 2006), 70, note 171. Calvin generally defends Augustine’s “monergistic view”.</ref> through the inner calling of the Holy Spirit, [[Irresistible grace|irresistible]]. || Monergistic,<ref>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 (publisher)|Peter Lang]], 2006), 65.</ref> through the [[means of grace]], [[Irresistible grace#Lutheran|resistible]]. || [[Synergism (theology)|Synergistic]], resistible due to the common grace of free will.<ref>Roger E. Olson, ''Arminian Theology: Myths and Realities'' (InterVarsity Press, 2009), 18. “Arminian synergism” refers to “evangelical synergism, which affirms the prevenience of grace”.</ref> |} ==== Latter Day Saint movement ==== {{Main|Baptism in Mormonism}} [[File:Mormon baptism circa 1850s.png|thumb|right|200px|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|Joseph Smith, Jr]]. According to this theology, baptism must be by [[Immersion baptism|immersion]], for the remission of [[sin]]s (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]].<ref>(2010, September 15). The Original Sin – What Do Mormons Believe?. Whatdomormonsbelieve. https://www.whatdomormonsbelieve.com/15/09/2010/the-original-sin/ Archived Link: https://archive.today/20220314005237/https://www.whatdomormonsbelieve.com/15/09/2010/the-original-sin/</ref> Latter Day Saints baptisms also occur only after an "[[age of accountability]]" which is defined as the age of eight years.<ref>See {{lds|Doctrine and Covenants|dc|68|25|27}}</ref> The theology thus rejects [[infant baptism]].<ref>See {{lds|Moroni|moro|8|4|23}}</ref> 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 (Latter Day Saints)|priesthood]] authority.<ref>See, e.g., {{citation |url= https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/gs/baptism-baptize?lang=eng |title= Guide to the Scriptures: Baptism, Baptize: Proper authority |work= churchofjesuschrist.org |publisher= LDS Church }}</ref> 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 (Latter Day Saints)|priest]], which is conferred upon worthy male members at least 16 years old in the LDS Church.<ref>See, e.g., {{citation |url= https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/topics/priest |title= Gospel Topics: Priest |work= churchofjesuschrist.org |publisher= LDS Church }}</ref> Baptism is seen as symbolic both of [[Jesus]]' death, burial and [[Resurrection of Jesus|resurrection]]<ref>See, e.g., {{citation |contribution-url= http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bd/baptism |contribution= Baptism |title= KJV (LDS): LDS Bible Dictionary |publisher= LDS Church }}</ref> 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.{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}} 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: {{Blockquote|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.<ref>See {{lds|3 Nephi|3-ne|11|25}}</ref>}} 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 members of the church witness the baptism to ensure that it is performed properly.<ref name="Performing Priesthood Ordinances">{{citation |contribution-url= http://www.lds.org/manual/duties-and-blessings-of-the-priesthood-basic-manual-for-priesthood-holders-part-b/priesthood-and-church-government/lesson-5-performing-priesthood-ordinances |contribution= Performing Priesthood Ordinances |title= Duties and Blessings of the Priesthood: Basic Manual for Priesthood Holders, Part B |year= 2000 |publisher= LDS Church |pages= 41–48 }}</ref> Following baptism, [[Latter Day Saint]]s receive the [[Confirmation (Latter Day Saints)|Gift of the Holy Ghost]] by the [[laying on of hands]] of a [[Melchizedek priesthood (Latter Day Saints)|Melchizedek Priesthood]] holder.<ref name="Performing Priesthood Ordinances" /> 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=== {{Main|Conversion to Islam|Dawah|Islamic missionary activity}} {{Further|Al-Baqara 256|Conversion to Islam in prisons|List of converts to Islam}} Converting to [[Islam]] requires one to declare the ''[[Shahada|shahādah]]'', the Muslim profession of faith ("there is no god but [[God in Islam|God]]; [[Muhammad]] is the [[Prophets and messengers in Islam|messenger]] of God").<ref name="Bennett 2015">{{cite book |editor-last=Bennett |editor-first=Clinton |editor-link=Clinton Bennett |year=2015 |origyear=2013 |chapter=Glossary |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pHweBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA330 |title=The Bloomsbury Companion to Islamic Studies |location=[[New York City|New York]] and [[London]] |publisher=[[Bloomsbury Academic]] |edition=1st |pages=330 |isbn=9781441138125 |oclc=777652885 |quote=''[[Aqidah]]'' – translates as "creed". Technically, the ''[[Shahadah]]'' ([[Five pillars of Islam|first pillar]]) is the only obligatory statement of [[Iman (Islam)|faith in Islam]]; however, over time a list of six items evolved, the essentials of faith (''Iman Mufassal''), namely: belief in God, in God's angels, scriptures, messengers, day of judgment, and God's power.}}</ref> According to [[Clinton Bennett]], British–American scholar of [[Religious studies]], one's declaration of the Muslim profession of faith does not imply faith in God alone, since the conversion to Islam includes other distinct Islamic beliefs as well as part of the [[Aqidah|Muslim creed]] (''ʿaqīdah''):<ref name="Bennett 2015"/> {{Blockquote|Technically, the ''[[Shahadah]]'' ([[Five pillars of Islam|first pillar]]) is the only obligatory statement of [[Iman (Islam)|faith in Islam]]; however, over time a list of six items evolved, the essentials of faith (''Iman Mufassal''), namely: belief in God, in God's angels, scriptures, messengers, day of judgment, and God's power.<ref name="Bennett 2015"/>}} In the Islamic religion, it is believed that [[Fitra|everyone is Muslim at birth]].<ref name="Reeves 2004">{{cite book |author-last=Kueny |author-first=Kathryn |editor-last=Reeves |editor-first=John C. |date=2004 |chapter=Abraham's Test: Islamic Male Circumcision as Anti/Ante-Covenantal Practice |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WNId86Eu4TEC&pg=PA161 |title=Bible and Qurʼān: Essays in Scriptural Intertextuality |location=[[Leiden]] and [[Boston]] |publisher=[[Brill Publishers]] |pages=161–173 |series=[[Society of Biblical Literature|Symposium Series (Society of Biblical Literature)]] |volume=24 |isbn=90-04-12726-7 |issn=1569-3627}}</ref> Due to this, those who convert are typically referred to as reverts. In Islam, the practice of [[Khitan (circumcision)|religious circumcision]] is considered a ''[[sunnah]]'' custom, not a requirement for conversion, and furthermore it is never mentioned in the [[Quran]].<ref name="Reeves 2004"/><ref name="EncyclopediaofIslam">{{cite encyclopedia |author-last=Wensinck |author-first=A. J. |year=2012 |origyear=1986 |title=K̲h̲itān |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cJQ3AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA20 |editor1-last=Bosworth |editor1-first=C. E. |editor1-link=Clifford Edmund Bosworth |editor2-last=van Donzel |editor2-first=E. J. |editor2-link=Emeri Johannes van Donzel |editor3-last=Lewis |editor3-first=B. |editor4-last=Heinrichs |editor4-first=W. P. |editor4-link=Wolfhart Heinrichs |editor5-last=Pellat |editor5-first=Ch. |editor5-link=Charles Pellat |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopaedia of Islam#2nd edition, EI2|Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition]] |location=[[Leiden]] and [[Boston]] |publisher=[[Brill Publishers]] |volume=5 |pages=20–22 |doi=10.1163/1573-3912_islam_SIM_4296 |isbn=978-90-04-07819-2}}</ref><ref name="Aldeeb 1995">{{cite journal |author-last=Aldeeb Abu-Sahlieh |author-first=Sami A. |author-link=Sami Aldeeb |date=1994 |title=To Mutilate in the Name of Jehovah or Allah: Legitimization of Male and Female Circumcision |journal=Medicine and Law |volume=13 |issue=7–8 |pages=575–622 |publisher=[[World Association for Medical Law]] |pmid=7731348}}; {{cite journal |author-last=Aldeeb Abu-Sahlieh |author-first=Sami A. |date=1995 |url=https://scholar.valpo.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1036&context=twls |title=Islamic Law and the Issue of Male and Female Circumcision |journal=Third World Legal Studies |volume=13 |pages=73–101 |publisher=[[Valparaiso University School of Law]] |access-date=13 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112162823/https://scholar.valpo.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1036&context=twls |archive-date=12 November 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> The majority of [[Ulama|clerical opinions]] holds that circumcision is not required upon entering the Muslim faith.<ref name="Reeves 2004"/><ref name="EncyclopediaofIslam"/><ref name="Aldeeb 1995"/> In the [[Sunni Islam|Sunnī]] [[Islamic schools and branches#Sunnī Islam|branch of Islam]], the [[Shafiʽi school|Shāfiʿī]] and [[Hanbali|Ḥanbalī]] schools regard both male and [[female circumcision]] as legally obligatory for Muslims, while the [[Maliki|Mālikī]] and [[Hanafi|Ḥanafī]] schools regard it as non-binding and only recommended for both sexes.<ref name="Reeves 2004"/><ref name="EncyclopediaofIslam"/><ref name="Aldeeb 1995"/> ===Judaism=== [[File:Temple Beth-El (Birmingham) mikveh.jpg|thumb|The traditional normative conversion process to Judaism (''gijur'') of one, two or more years is finalized with [[Ritual washing in Judaism#Full-body immersion|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). ]] {{Main|Conversion to Judaism|List of converts to Judaism}} Conversion to Judaism is the religious conversion of [[gentile|non-Jews]] to become members of the [[Judaism|Jewish religion]] and Jewish [[ethnoreligion|ethnoreligious community]].<ref name="autogenerated1"/> The procedure and requirements for conversion depend on the sponsoring [[Jewish denominations|denomination]]. A conversion in accordance with the process of a denomination is not a guarantee of recognition by another denomination.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|title=Converting to Judaism|date=July 12, 2011|newspaper=BBC|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/beliefs/conversion.shtml|access-date=November 18, 2016}}</ref> A formal conversion is also sometimes undertaken by individuals whose Jewish ancestry is questioned, even if they were raised Jewish, but may not actually be [[Who is a Jew?|considered Jews]] according to [[halakha|traditional Jewish law]].<ref>{{cite news|title=So You Want to Convert to Judaism? It's Not That Easy|first=Uriel|last=Heilman|date=October 6, 2014|url=http://www.haaretz.com/jewish/features/1.619493|access-date=November 18, 2016|newspaper=Haaretz}}</ref> As late as the 6th century, the Eastern [[Byzantine Empire|Roman empire]] and [[Umar|Caliph Umar ibn Khattab]] were issuing decrees against conversion to [[Judaism]], implying that this was still occurring.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://legacy.fordham.edu/halsall/source/pact-umar.asp|title=Internet History Sourcebooks: Medieval Sourcebook|website=legacy.fordham.edu}}</ref> In some cases, a person may forgo a formal conversion to Judaism and adopt some or all beliefs and practices of Judaism. However, without a formal conversion, many highly observant Jews will reject a convert's Jewish status.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.convert.org/Movements_in_Judaism.html |title=www.convert.org |publisher=www.convert.org |access-date=2012-07-21}}</ref> === Spiritism === There are no rituals or dogmas, nor any sort of procedures in conversion to [[Kardecist spiritism|Spiritism]]. The doctrine is first considered as science, then philosophy and lastly as a religion. [[Allan Kardec]]'s [[Spiritist Codification|codification]] of Spiritism occurred between the years 1857 and 1868. Currently there are 25 to 60 million people{{specify|date=October 2018|reason=That's a VERY large range.}}{{citation needed|date=October 2018}} studying Spiritism in various countries, mainly in Brazil, through its [[Spiritist Codification|essential books]], which include ''[[The Spirits Book]]'', ''[[The Book on Mediums]]'', ''[[The Gospel According to Spiritism]]'', ''[[Heaven and Hell (Allan Kardec)|Heaven and Hell]]'' and ''[[The Genesis According to Spiritism]]''. [[Chico Xavier]] wrote over 490 additional books, which expand on the [[Kardecist spiritism|spiritualist doctrine]]. As explained in the first of the 1,019 questions and answers in ''The Spirits Book'': <blockquote>1. What is God? Answer: "God is the Supreme Intelligence-First Cause of all things."<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://www.allankardec.com/Allan_Kardec/Le_livre_des_esprits/lesp_us.pdf|title=The Spirits Book|access-date=2018-10-23|archive-date=2018-04-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417105431/http://www.allankardec.com/Allan_Kardec/Le_livre_des_esprits/lesp_us.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref></blockquote> The consensus in Spiritism is that God, the Great Creator, is above everything, including all human things such as rituals, dogmas, denominations or any other thing. Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! 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