ceremonies
How a person who was not born into a faith becomes part of it.
Islam
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A person declares, with sincere belief: "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." Many do this in front of witnesses at a mosque, and some then take a ritual bath (ghusl).
Islam is entered by belief and testimony; there is no initiation rite and no priest is needed.
The first pillar of Islam (Bukhari 8).
Christianity
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Adults who come to faith are baptised, often after a period of learning, and may be confirmed at the same time. Some churches baptise by full immersion.
Baptism marks dying to an old life and rising to a new one in Christ.
Romans 6:3–4; Acts 2:38.
Judaism
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After a period of study, a convert appears before a rabbinical court (beit din), immerses in a mikveh (ritual bath), and men are circumcised. Converts often take a Hebrew name as a "son or daughter of Abraham and Sarah".
Joining the Jewish people and accepting the commandments.
Ruth, "your people shall be my people" (Ruth 1:16), is the model convert. Requirements differ between Orthodox, Conservative and Reform Judaism.
Hinduism
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Most Hindus are born into the tradition, and there is no single conversion rite. Some movements initiate followers through a guru (diksha), and some, such as the Arya Samaj, hold a ceremony called shuddhi.
Hinduism is a family of traditions rather than one organised body.
Practice differs by sampradaya (tradition).
Buddhism
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A person recites the refuges in the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha and undertakes the Five Precepts, often before a monk or nun.
Commitment to the path, not a change of identity.
The words of refuge in the Khuddakapatha, the oldest Buddhist formula of faith.
Sikhism
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Five initiated Sikhs (the Panj Pyare) prepare amrit, sweetened water stirred with a double-edged sword while the banis are recited, and give it to the initiates, who then keep the five Ks and the code of conduct. Anyone may also simply follow the Gurus' teachings without initiation.
Joining the Khalsa, the community of committed Sikhs.
Guru Gobind Singh's founding of the Khalsa at Vaisakhi in 1699.
Many converts take a name from their new faith, though in Islam and most others it is not required.
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