Convert People to a New Religion

In an ever changing world of increasing openness and globalism, people are reaching across boundaries and continents to renew or realign their personal beliefs. You may believe that your religion may serve people well and you wish to ensure you are able transmit your message across effectively. This may facilitate people to convert from one religion to another, to find a destiny that will be meaningful to themselves.

Steps

  1. Be familiar with your own religion first. Be familiar with the various strains, denominations and dialectical differences of your own religion. People tend to ask about a tradition of your religion without knowing that may be a practice peculiar to another sub-group of your religion. Spend regular time understanding and meditating on your own beliefs. Keep a journal explaining your daily enlightenment to yourself.
  2. Read from religious texts like the Bible, Quran, Bhagavad Gita, various Dharma Sutras or other relevant religious texts for 30 minutes daily with people at the same level you are at. Post a few invitations in public places.
  3. Decide which target group you wish to focus your proselytizing. You need to understand the basis of their current beliefs. It is easier to focus more on a particular group rather than spreading yourself thin on every possible group on the planet. Most people enjoy having conversations based on their own background and knowledge. The first step to proselytizing is gaining trust and friendship.
    1. For example, if the target person or group is either Christian, Jewish or Muslim, read up on Christianity, Judaism and Islam and learn about their history and influences these religions have had on each other. Chart their differences.
    2. If the target person or group is either Buddhist, Hindu, Confucian, Taoist or Shintoist, learn about the roots of these religions and the historical influences these religions have had on each other.
    3. If the target person or group is Agnostic, Atheist, Communist or Humanist, read up classical philosophies like Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Familiarize yourself with the influences these classical philosophers and Hellenism has had on your religion and on the current legal and political systems. Read up on the motivations, conquests and failures of major empires and political systems. At best, avoid telling members of this super-intellectual group what you know about their beliefs. Rather let them tell you what they believe and question their beliefs.
  4. Focusing on a particular group does not preclude learning about the beliefs and religions of other groups. No matter which religion you belong to, knowing more about other religions and belief systems will help you understand and interact with people better. Therefore reading outside your target group, like selections of the Quran, the Find Out If a Hadeeth Is Authentic or Not, the Bible, the Talmud and various religious texts is both helpful and enlightening. Who knows, you may get converted yourself and find your true self after exposing yourself to a wider choice of religions!
  5. Whatever religion you belong to, there must be peculiarities which you may not agree with. Find out how much these peculiarities affect your sincerity to your religion before deciding on the venture of proselytizing. Charting the differences between religions of each group (e.g. between Christianity, Islam, and Judaism) helps you to understand your own.
  6. Practice the principles and teachings of your religion without preaching about your religion overtly. This is key!
  7. Help others in small or big ways in accordance with your faith when they need help. Eg: Shelter or other provisions.
  8. Volunteer at local social charities and invite others to join.
  9. Invite your target to secular events first. If they seem comfortable after a few months, invite them to faith based events.
  10. Do not underestimate the effect and influence you will have by volunteering in non-faith based social efforts. Tactfully work yourself around your neighbourhood or office encouraging people to recycle and conserve the environment. Practice environmental conservation yourself. Ensure that the religion you intend to preach discourages attitudes that are contrary to the safety of the planet and its inhabitants.
  11. Ensure members of your own congregation are adequately taken care of. Are you certain your religion is suitable for a target person, when your congregation is not even aware that there are members struggling to get to services because they could not even afford or are unable to use public transportation?
  12. Before you introduce yourself to someone, each time tell yourself honestly the reasons why you wish to convert that person. Is it for personal trophy, to make the world a better place, to guide the target person to a better future out of sincere concern or to contribute to efforts ensuring your personal belief system would become a dominant influence? If the reasons do not match that of your beliefs, call it a day and return home to meditate on where you have gone wrong. Discuss and share the problem with somebody you trust. This will help you avoid going astray and embarrassing your religion.
  13. On first contact, avoid using familiar religious terms that may offend the target person you are attempting to proselytize. For examples, crusade (offensive to most Muslims) and New Testament (offensive to practicing Jews).

Tips

  • Do not force anyone. Allow people to move at their pace and style.
  • Be strong in your faith, knowledge about your faith, and commitment to your faith.
  • In most cases, your actions and words are the strongest reflection most people will observe. Use this knowledge appropriately.
  • Be truthful in communicating your intentions up front.
  • Learn about as many religions as possible if you wish to become fully informed.
  • Do not be overt, righteous or sanctimonious about any one religion with people.
  • Do not get involved in arguments about religion. Simply say you do not know enough at the moment but would enjoy listening to others discuss it
  • Academic debates in theology rarely end in concurrence whereas sustained actions of faith are usually more convincing in conversion.
  • Tell them what you think about their religion and why you think they would be better off with your religion. Straight forwardness is the key here.

Warnings

  • Remember religious freedom is a human right.
  • It is VERY important to remember that you should never convert someone by force. As this is not nice and religion is a spiritual thing, you cannot force someone to believe something.
  • If your words contradict your actions or other religious communications, it will decrease the probability of succeeding.
  • Realize that someone may also feel very strongly about their religion. Always be tolerant of beliefs other than yours.
  • Remember to make sure if the religion believes in converting. Some religions such as Hinduism do not believe in converting. (They believe that anyone can become a Hindu if they wish, there is no converting process one must follow.)
  • Your efforts may not be advisable. Realise that your efforts are unlikely to be successful.
  • Also remember that most people will see what you're trying to do and react: you'd probably just be better off letting them believe whatever they want and not trying to convert them in the first place!
  • Some people may become very violent when discussing ANY topic related to religion. Cease religious discussion if participants are getting hostile in any way.

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