Christianity grew after becoming the state religion in Armenia, in the Roman Empire, and in Ethiopia. However, it takes exception to what it considers illegitimate proselytizing by the Roman Catholic Church, the Salvation Army, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and other religious movements in what it refers to as its canonical territory. Frankish armies spread Roman Catholicism eastwards in the Middle Ages. Again, Paul says in 2 Timothy 1:9: “God called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.” So, before the ages of time began, the plan was for the revelation of the glory of the grace of God specifically through Christ Jesus. Some have question though have question the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reported membership numbers though, as Brazil’s 2010 census showed them having only a tad above two hundred thousands people who self-identified with the religion.

Its widespread use in the most populous nation in the world (1.4 billion people as of 2022) gives this book a unique place on our list. Because these studies are observational (researchers watch what happens in the real world without actively controlling any of the conditions or randomizing the participants), it cannot be said with certainty that religious attendance increases life expectancy or that it doesn’t. Nonetheless, while recognizing the distinct roles that each Person has, we should never think of their roles as so separate that the other Persons are not involved. Non-monotheistic Indian traditions like Buddhism and Advaita Vedanta find the highest Good in nirvana or moksha which leads to release from suffering and the rounds of rebirth and morality is a means to achieve this, while for monotheistic traditions, God is the source or ground of all morality and heaven in the highest human good. Some religious traditions, rather than stressing emotion in the conversion process, emphasise the importance of philosophical thought as a pathway to adopting a new religion. Religious wars and suppression shaped the histories of the Baltic tribes, the Hussites and the Huguenots. WAGF member denominations have varied histories.

The first film, simply titled The Fast and the Furious, was released in 2001, and to date, there have been eight more films in total. Are you more connected with the ocean or the sun? In this way we can all help more people around the world to learn the truth of Jesus, God and King Bible Truth Plan . On the other hand, persecution can drive religious faith and practice underground and strengthen the resolve of oppressed adherents – as in the cases of the Waldenses or the Baháʼí Faith. The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights defines religious conversion as a human right: “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief” (Article 18). Despite this UN-declared human right, some groups forbid or restrict religious conversion (see below). Based on the declaration the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) drafted the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, a legally binding treaty. In another case, Larissis v. Greece, a member of the Pentecostal church also won a case in the European Court of Human Rights. The Church of Scientology requires that all converts sign a legal waiver which covers their relationship with the Church of Scientology before engaging in Scientology services.

The Church of Scientology attempts to gain converts by offering “free stress tests”. Early Christianity attracted followers by offering community material support and enhanced status for disadvantaged groups such as women and slaves. Colonial missions since the 19th century have attracted people to an implied nexus of material well-being, civilisation, and European-style religion. Research in the United States and in the Netherlands has shown a positive correlation between areas lacking mainstream churches and the percentage of people who are members of a new religious movement. The movement is strongly associated to Armenian nationalism. Greece has a long history of conflict, mostly with Jehovah’s Witnesses, but also with some Pentecostals, over its laws on proselytism. Religious enthusiasm for proselytism can play a role. A religious creed which can capture the ear and support of secular power can become a prestige movement, encouraging the mass of a people to follow its tenets. Some people convert under the influence of other social conditions. Islam allegedly spread in North Africa through just administration, and in the Balkans by integrating new believers with improved tax conditions and social prestige. Missions of the 19th century spread against a background of North Atlantic revivalism with its emotionalism and mass-meeting crowd psychological behaviours.