[Archived]The Dangers of False Conversion

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The Dangers of False Conversion

Scribed by Priestess Ivydale, 3rd of The Deep Cold, 1657

 

Spreading the faith of any religion is key to keeping it alive within any village, settlement, or nation. Faith is what keeps the people together in wars, in times of peace, and in times of fear and uncertainty. Any deeply devoted person can tell you that faith keeps their life together, to pray to their God or Goddess of chose. Who wouldn't want to spread the word of their God or Goddess to the farther reaches of the world? 

 

The dangers of this thinking lie in prideful nature of the races, thinking that other races lives will be better once they have converted. This can be taken in three ways, the lesser aggressive conversion route, which includes offering non-converted boons, wealth, and food in exchange for worship, passing laws which ban the worship of other Gods and Goddesses, encouraging those already converted to convert non-converted, among a slew of things. This is the most gentlest way of false conversion. The second way is the more violent route, killing, raiding, or otherwise pillaging others that do not worship the same faith as yours. The third and final way is acceptance of other's beliefs, and gently seeking to understand their viewpoint, from a respectful distance.

 

The first and most gentlest way is a tactful form of manipulation. Used by people to gander favor of those in the faith, this is the way of 'why attract files with vinegar when you can with honey'. At first, conversion for boons, food, or money may seem like an amicable choice, but the problem lies with that statement. How can a person be a true worshipper if they are only there for the boons and rewards?  Can their faith and practice of said God or Goddess be tested if the basics are only given? My personal fear is that if these basics were removed, what happens to the faith then? The people who were only in the faith for the boons and rewards to begin with will leave, dwindling the numbers back down to it's original size. Then the faith is right back at were it started, dying, with only a few true members within it.

 

The second way is the least effective and the most bloodiest way to convert. Through the fear and threat of death may have a temporary situation, those converted under swords and fire find themselves watching their breathen, who which have refused to convert, put to the sword. Thus, deep resentment and hatred of those who killed their brothers and sisters stews in their souls and minds. The taste the vengeance dews on their lips and tongue, and they will remember it for the rest of their lives. Again, they will not be true faithful followers, for the hate that will be in the hearts will prevent them from true conversion. Torture and other psychical or mental methods of changing that idea, changing the hatred also will not work, for it is not the person themselves that see's, it's just the enforcer who see's. 

 

True conversion only comes when the person see's the religion, and starts to want to convert themselves. Becoming active in their religion, giving to the needy, respectfully teaching those who are non-believers the core values. Respecting yourself and being proud of your religion, but respecting others for being proud of theirs. For even though on the opposite sides of religion, both you and the other people of a different faith share the same goals. 

 

In summary,

 

Conversion through offering boons or rewards is not true, for when their faith is tested by removing the boons and rewards, the faith will dwindle.

 

Conversion through sword and fire only results in the person having a burning vengeance for those who destroyed their homes, life, and people. 

 

Conversion through respectful and proper means, being active, respecting others choices, respecting the faiths brothers and sisters, and respecting yourself leads others to follow your example. Do not let pride or anger blind you to do method one or two. 

 

 

 

 

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