Religious conversion

The adoption by a person or group of persons of a religious belief (religion) different from their previous position. Either by abandoning their previous faith (or atheism), or by changing from a secular position to become actively religious. The person doing so is called a convert.

Conversion requires internalization of the new belief system.

This sense of the word "conversion" is also used in sales? and marketing?, to describe the conversion of a prospect? into a customer? (to close a deal) or an occasional customer into a [repeat customer]?.

Christianity and Islam are two religions that encourage preaching their faith in order to convert non-believers. In both cases, this missionary property has been used as an excuse? for religious wars (crusades) on other countries.

In the year 1000, the viking age parliament of Iceland decided that the entire country should convert to Christianity, and that sacrifice to the old gods, while still allowed, should no longer be made in the open. Similar mass conversions in other Scandinavian countries were not as democratic.