Nonconsensual conversion

In which religions can a person become a member of the religion without his/her consent, e.g. by birth, by being baptized by the parents in infancy, etc. ?


Would you like to answer or comment?

Sign up for a free account, or sign in (if you're already a member).
Answer this question

Topics:

Share Send to a friend Watch Report
 

Best Answer

 
jewbiquitous
17 answers
42 thumbs up
 Jewbiquitous Yeah, we're everywhere.

Most religions agree that a person becomes a member just by being born into them, ie Judaism, Christianity, Islam, etc.

 That said, most groups have at least one sect that disagrees. For instance the Anabaptists believe that you have to agree as an adult to baptism. In addition, many religions have a "confirmation" stage where the young adult accepts upon themselves the yoke of the religion.

 I cannot think of a single religion where, as an adult, a conversion that is forced is valid. For example, the two Fox reporters who were coerced into conversion while held in captivity, many Muslim clerics pointed out that the conversion could not stand.

Posted 2 years ago ( permalink )
In reply to berliita's question
jewbiquitous was invited by Yedda to answer this question.

Rated as
Best Answer
0
8
  Report Abuse  

Helpful?

line
line
line


 

All Answers

Order by
 
TalSh
41 answers
76 thumbs up

I would say that to the best of my knowledge all Western religions work the way you've descrived. As far as I know, there is no religion which waits for a person to get old enough in order to decide if they want to be a member. A big part of religion is getting the foundations and basic beliefs deeply rooted before the mind has taken shape and is able to activley fight back these ideas.


Posted 2 years ago ( permalink )
In reply to berliita's question
TalSh was invited by Yedda to answer this question.

Rated as
#14 out of 17
4
2
  Report Abuse  

Helpful?

line
line
line



 
berliita
24 answers
22 thumbs up

Thanks, jewbiquitous and TalSh.

Jewbiquitous, your mention of the Anabaptists was pretinent and instructive, hence i've given you one thumb up.

As for TalSh, i appreciate your willingness to answer my question, but i'm afraid your answer is merely an unsubstantiated personal opinion, that has taught me nothing new. Hence i've given you one thumb down.

I'm leaving this thread open for the time being, since i'd still like to learn more about the way Islam deals with this issue. I'd also like to know whether there is, or was, any "Anabaptist" Jewish sect, that denies the Jewishness of a person, unless he/she converted to Judaism consciously and willingly (as an adult).
Posted 2 years ago ( permalink )
In reply to berliita's question
Rated as
#15 out of 17
2
0
  Report Abuse  

Helpful?

line
line
line



 

As to your last question:

By Israeli law, a person born jewish will remain jewish for his entire life, and will be accepted as such.
But for more strict religious sections, named 'Haredim' in hebrew, a jewish person that does NOT go trough circumcision (at age of 8 days) and/or Bar-Mitsva (at age of 12/13 for girls/boys) will not be accepted by his community as a jew.

There are no other passing stages at older an age.
Posted 2 years ago ( permalink )
In reply to berliita's question
gpgemini was invited by Yedda to answer this question.

Rated as
#5 out of 17
1
1
  Report Abuse  

Helpful?

line
line
line



 
berliita
24 answers
22 thumbs up

Thank you, gpgemini,

I've given you one thumb up, because your answer is very illuminating and, if correct, quite complete as far as the Haredim go. However it seems to me highly unlikely that there is an age after which a person cannot convert to Judaism according to the Haredic interpretation.

Now only Islam's stance remains to be given for me to feel sufficiently satisfied to close this thread.
Posted 2 years ago ( permalink )
In reply to berliita's question