Why is Buddhism a religion where conversion is purely voluntary?

Sage: Why is Buddhism a religion where conversion is purely voluntary?
I don’t see Buddhist knocking door to door preaching or attempting to convert. I don’t see it in history that Buddhism had forced people to convert through wars and torture. Is it still a religion where people just convert themselves into?

Answers and Views:

Answer by Lilith
Refreshing isn’t it, no witnessing, no street corner conversions, so knocking at your door.

Answer by you
That is why Buddhism is the religion that makes most sense.

Answer by Tilly
Because they believe people should convert if they want to, not because they’ve been told or forced to 🙂

Answer by BrianJ
Buddhism, Palo, Vodou, Lucumi, IFA, etc. are religions where conversion is not forced. Think of it… Why should I force you in to a belief…. belief should be something pushed by your own spirit and moved towards after extensive research. They are religions that look at loving yourself, making yourself better by your own deeds and helping others who seek help… but no conversion or convincing.

Answer by ~Dare to Question Dare to Care~
Ah, it is. It’s one of the religions I trust the most. Because Buddhists believe in karma and peace for all, it goes against their nature to force people to submit. Buddhists also believe that no one path is correct, but that all paths are connected and go to the same place. With other religions, the belief is there is only one path: that religion. Anyone not in that religion will burn in Hell. The people of these religions think they’re doing good by forcing people to turn over to their God. They truly believe they were sent to make every person out there one of them. They think they’re helping the person, too, by saving them from eternal burning. You know what I say about that? You can’t save a person who isn’t drowning.

Answer by Smiles18
because if that person is fated to be a buddhist in his or her lifetime.. he or she will find out about buddhism and voluntarily feel like converting.

Answer by Sati
Buddhism is all about going forth and seeing for oneself. The teachings are said to be a raft used to reach the other shore (nirvana), once there one would be a fool to carry the raft with them. To fully practice buddhism one must let go of everything, including the concepts of self and religion.

Answer by Bodhidharma
I think it works out this way because Buddhism teaches that only we can truely help ourselves, and this non-dogmatic philosophy appeals to people as relevant in our modern age moreso than other religions, which require faith in unprovable myths, such as gods. Buddha taught that tolerance, patience, peace and humility are great virtues, this is why you rarely hear of Buddhists trying to convert – and you will never hear them threatening you with Hell if you don’t believe as they do.

Namaste.