Conversion is possible?

Conversion or change of religion is not the aim of an authentic interreligious dialogue.

In the Primer on Interreligious Dialogue consisting of proposals from the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Section A, Question 5, page 3, which I prepared for our archdiocese, we read this Question and the Answer:

*Question: Is conversion to be promoted in Interreligious Dialogue?
*Answer: Interreligious Dialogue, in itself, does not aim at conversion. Nevertheless it does not exclude it might be an occasion of conversion. All believers are “pilgrims of truth and peace”. They meet to listen to each other, to come to know and respect one another and thus to work together in society “in projects of common concern” (DITC, page 5).

A common question arising from this reply that is confusing and therefore needs clarifying: Are not all religions therefore the same? Why convert?

The Church in its official declaration Dominus Jesus “affirms that all parties in dialogue are equal, but this equality refers to their equal personal dignity – not to their doctrinal content (or their religions) – nor even in the position of Jesus Christ who is God himself made man – in relation to the founders of other religions (DITC, Pf, 11-13).

In the internet there are videos of conversions among believers or change of religions between Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. But these are among individuals and groups as a result of proselytization, coercion, or personal study and prayer, or spiritual personal experience of God, Christ, Virgin Mary, etc., but they are not basically the result of interreligious dialogue.

Nota bene:

DITC refers to the official document, Dialogue In Truth and Charity issued by the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.