Proselytism: Difference between revisions

{{Refimprove|date=August 2008}}

'''Proselytizing''' ({{IPAc-en|icon|ˈ|p|r|ɒ|s|ɨ|l|ɨ|t|aɪ|z|ɨ|ŋ}}) is the act of attempting to convert people to another opinion and, particularly, [[Religious conversion|another religion]]. The word ''proselytize'' is derived ultimately from the [[Greek language]] prefix ''προσ-'' (toward) and the verb ''ἔρχομαι'' (to come) in the form of προσήλυτος (a new comer).<ref>{{cite web|title=LSJ: προσήλυτος|url=http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/morph?l=%CF%80%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%83%CE%B7%CE%BB%CF%85%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%82&la=greek#lexicon|work=LSJ: προσήλυτος|accessdate=16 November 2011}}</ref> Historically in the [[Koine Greek]] [[Septuagint]] and [[New Testament]], the word [[proselyte]] denoted a [[gentile]] who was considering [[conversion to Judaism]]. Though the word proselytism originally referred to [[Early Christianity]] (and earlier [[Gentiles]]), it also refers to other religions' attempts to [[religious conversion|convert]] people to their beliefs or even any attempt to convert people to another point of view, religious or not.