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. ?


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 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.

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sikhism ... you can become a sikh when ever you want no matter on colour, sex, itsthe only religion whichbelieves in total equality, and that all roads lead to god, actions speak louder then words, rememebr that


Posted 1 year ago ( permalink )
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This is absolutely untrue.  In Christianity, a person waits until they are old enough to make their own decision to accept Christ as their own personal saviour, ask for baptism and become a member of the church of their choice.. whatever that age may be... 

8... 12...  16.... 25... 50...76.. or on their deathbed.  No one can make that 

decision for them.  Catholics (and a couple of Protestant demonications) are baptized as infants, but take catecism classes and go through Confirmation when they are of any age they can decide for themselves.


Posted 1 year ago ( permalink )
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Well it depends on how you look at it. Even if you are born and raised Christian, at some point in your life, you will decide to stay with your old religion or move to another. So you can be raised a Christian, but grow up a witch. It is still up to you, even if you where raised with the choice made for you.


Posted 8 months ago ( permalink )
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gpgemini is incorrect. In Judaism, if your mother was Jewish, you are Jewish. If a man is not circumcised, he is still a Jew.

Anyone over the age of thirteen (12 for a girl, theoretically) who was not born Jewish (i.e. to a Jewish mother) may become Jewish if they accept all of the commandments and submerge themselves in a mikva (ritual bath). For a male to convert, he must also be circumcised, and if he was already circumcised, a small amount of blood must be drawn (from there) to satisfy the requirement.

Since conversion requires full acceptance of all commandments, it must be the person's choice. (Otherwise the witnesses cannot believe the person's statement that they accept in their heart all the commandments)

In fact, Judaism requires converts to be "pushed away" three times to give them every possible chance to back out of the process.

Please Note: All of this applies to Torah Judaism. The Reform and Reconstructionist movements allow someone to be considered a Jew if only the father is Jewish.  


Posted 7 months ago ( permalink )
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