Proselytism is the action or effort to try to convert one or more people in favor of a certain cause, doctrine, ideology or religion.
The purpose of proselytizing is to create proselytes (from the greek proselytes), that is, people who have been converted to a new religion, doctrine, ideology, philosophy or cause, even though there is no initial interest in this conversion.
People who proselytize are known to use unethical and often aggressive persuasion techniques. Despite this, not all people who practice proselytism use these techniques or have acts of discrimination.
religious proselytism
Religious proselytism is one of the most common forms of proselytizing action. As Brazil is a secular state, and religious education is completely optional, any act of religious proselytism in schools is vetoed by justice.
Religious proselytism in itself is not a crime, because there is religious freedom and freedom of expression to make religious proselytism, convincing other people to follow their practices religious. However, proselytism cannot be done using discriminatory practices or other practices punishable by law.
For many people, proselytism is seen with a negative connotation, due to "aggressiveness" and lack of ethics that many representatives of some religions use in an attempt to attract new ones faithful.
See also: meaning of secular state.
Political and Party Proselytism
Election campaigns are full of political and partisan proselytism, people who use practices that escape ethics and morals, in an attempt to get new votes or more people to fight for the goals of the same political party.
The proselytizing process uses aggressive, appealing and sensationalist arguments with the intention of achieving its goals.
This type of proselytism, like practically all of them, borders on fanaticism and dictatorialism in some cases.
