Religious conversion

Religious conversion is the adoption of new religious beliefs that differ from the convert's previous beliefs; in some cultures (e.g. Judaism) conversion also signifies joining an ethnic group as well as adopting that group's religious beliefs. Conversion requires internalization of the new belief system. Proselytizing is the act of trying to convert another individual from the convertee's religion to the converter's religion.

Conversion to new religious movements and cults

Conversion to new religious movements (NRM's) is riddled with controversies. The anti-cult movement sometimes uses the term thought reform or even brainwashing, though the latter term has now become discredited, for this process. Often they will call certain NRM's cults. However, the definition of a cult has become so broad that in many instances it is almost meaningless and is used to define anything outside of Orthodoxy. NRMs are very diverse and it is not clear whether conversion to NRMs differs from conversion to mainstream religions. See also Brainwashing controversy in new religious movements

Related Topics:
New religious movement - Anti-cult movement - Thought reform - Brainwashing - Cult - Brainwashing controversy in new religious movements

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Research, both in the USA and in the Netherlands has shown that there is a positive correlation between the lack of involvement in main stream churches in certain areas and provinces and the percentage of people who are a member of a new religious movement. This applies also for the presence of New Age centers. , The Dutch

Related Topics:
USA - Netherlands - Positive correlation - New Age

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research included Jehovah's Witnesses and the Latter Day Saint movement/Mormonism to the NRM's.

Related Topics:
Jehovah's Witnesses - Latter Day Saint movement

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Research in the USA has shown that disproportionally many people of Jewish descent join NRM's which worries some in the Jewish community.

Related Topics:
USA - Jewish

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Professor Eileen Barker believes that the psychological changes as described in converts of the Divine Light Mission can be generalized for other NRMs, however she has supplied no proof of such claims.

Related Topics:
Eileen Barker - Divine Light Mission

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