religious conversions
Changing one's beliefs
Religious conversions are changes in a person's faith, belief system, or religious affiliation—shifting from one religion to another, from no religion to belief, or from belief to nonbelief.
The process may be sudden and dramatic, as in a revelation or born-again experience, or gradual through study and reflection.
Conversions can be voluntary or coerced, sincere or pragmatic.
Her conversion to Buddhism followed years of meditation practice.
Some religions actively seek converts while others discourage or prohibit conversion.
- voluntaryDone by choice
- change of heartReversal of opinion
- coercedPressured into compliance
- baptismRitual water purification ceremony
- social acceptanceBeing welcomed by peers
spiritual awakening · finding faith · born again · missionary activity · gradual · confession of faith · colonial expansion · existential crisis · cultural adaptation · reversion · scriptural study · divine revelation · sinner's prayer · economic opportunity · nominal · initiation rites · sudden · road to Damascus
religious conversionsapostasy
Renunciation of former beliefs
deconversion · falling away · disaffiliation · lapsing · backsliding
religious conversionssecularization
Religion losing social significance
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