How come most religions don't try to convert?

[Alienist]

It actually occured to me that most religions aren't really big into converting. The only religions I can think of that really focus on that is Christianity and Islam. Judaism was never into converting and neither was Buddhism or Taoism. It's not like others haven't converted to those religions but you don't see too many Taoists or Buddhists or Jews or Hindus going around trying to convert. Maybe there are religions that are big into that but I don't see to many of them doing it. Wiccans aren't big into it and neither are any of the Greek, Norse or Egyptian religions do that or Zoroastrians. Most of the religions might talk about their ideas but really most religions tend to keep to themselves. So why is it mostly Christianity and Islam that are big into converting and put forth more effort into converting?

[Aeran]

I'd say it's in large part a doctrinal. When you think you have the 'true path' to heaven, and that only by joining up can people save their souls, it creates a motivation to recruit.

[anunitu]

I "Think" that in the conversion field of Christian and Islam there seems to be if you "Save" someone you rack up points toward going to "Heaven" I will not say that I actually know this to be true,but I seem to remember something like "Build up your treasures in heaven" thing from when I was growing up.

[Unus Mundus]

Like Aeran said, when you believe your path is the "only true path" then you are immediately more inclined to wish to bring others into your fold, especially in a more militant group such as the Westboro Baptists or certain Evangelical groups.

Also, a secondary reason that Christianity (and sometimes Islam) in particular often seems to be a "Converting Powerhouse" is due to its very nature and the concepts that it holds of Sin, Heaven, and Hell. In the Catholic Christian mindset, non-Christians are shown to be lowly sorrowful people ignorant to the "one truth." They are meant to feel some level of pity for those not on the "true" path, and then are told that all those non believers are going to hell (obviously with the reformation and splitting of Christianity, this isn't always true, but I'm talking about Orthodox Catholicism here). Many priests back in the days of exploration actually believed they were on a holy mission to save the souls of the damned "natives" of far off lands. Of course this wasn't always true, and money and power-hungry-ness played roles, but many Christians truly believed they were saving the eternal souls of the "savages."

They literally thought/think they are saving the world (or at least the human souls here on Earth) by trying to convert people, and this tradition has somewhat continued on in certain groups within Christianity.

[jcaternolo]

Also, most of the older religions were limited to certain peoples/castes. And Pagans today know that going around trying to get people to convert isn't a good idea. Well at the very least we don't go around disturbing people when they're just trying to relax.

Edit: Also, most Pagans have spent months/years searching for the correct spiritual path, and have studied numerous pantheons and only settled on a path when they were contacted by a particular god/goddess to let them work through them. What might be the right diety for one might not be the right diety for another.

[Medusa]

Has anyone actually been approached my a Muslim on the street with a pamphlet? Maybe it happens in other countries. But I've never once been approached by any religion except Christianity.

[Unus Mundus]

Has anyone actually been approached my a Muslim on the street with a pamphlet? Maybe it happens in other countries. But I've never once been approached by any religion except Christianity.

In my experience, I've never had it happen to me, or hear of it happening to others.

It really comes down to Christians being one of the major "modern day" people that still try to convert others.

[Rae'ya]

Not all Christian denominations proselytize, at least not here in Australia. The ones who door-to-door knock or stand out in the street with flyers tend to be Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons or Baptists. Many other Christians just try to spread the word so that they can save you, and many of those legitimately feel that they are doing you a good deed by trying to save your soul from the fires of Hell. They are also continuing Jesus' work, and many feel it is an act of honoring him to continue his tradition of going out among the people and teaching them the word of God in order to bring them into the flock (proselytizing).

And I'm with Medusa... I've never heard of Muslims proselytizing here in Aus. Interestingly, there's a line in the Qur'an that says something along the lines of 'let there be no compulsion to religion' and that it is only allowed to convey the message, not to compel people to believe it. To me, this would seem to allow teaching but not active proselytizing.

[Riothamus12]

It actually occured to me that most religions aren't really big into converting. The only religions I can think of that really focus on that is Christianity and Islam. Judaism was never into converting and neither was Buddhism or Taoism. It's not like others haven't converted to those religions but you don't see too many Taoists or Buddhists or Jews or Hindus going around trying to convert. Maybe there are religions that are big into that but I don't see to many of them doing it. Wiccans aren't big into it and neither are any of the Greek, Norse or Egyptian religions do that or Zoroastrians. Most of the religions might talk about their ideas but really most religions tend to keep to themselves. So why is it mostly Christianity and Islam that are big into converting and put forth more effort into converting?

Well some religions feel that these beliefs or practices were specifically meant for their people and thus do not proselytize. Others do accept converts but consider proselytizing against their code of ethics or believe that each and every religion is just as valid. The Sikhs for example avoid it because they see it as actually against the will of God to try and convert people and believe that too much suffering has come of it but accept others who wish to adhere to Sikhist doctrines and ways. Taoism, even in it's more liturgical terms tends to see other religions as just different perspectives on the same truth. Pagan religions have also had a general tendency toward allowing a greater level of syncretic belief since ancient times. Buddhism also tends to act more as an amendment to existing beliefs rather than something to overtake over belief systems. However, while they do preach and accept converts, like Jainism, the general philosophy looks down on more forceful forms of conversion.

[Luce]

I'd say it's in large part a doctrinal. When you think you have the 'true path' to heaven, and that only by joining up can people save their souls, it creates a motivation to recruit.

I think it's more of a power thing. The ones that don't recruit are largely non-political.