Käännyttämistä

Käännyttämistä is the act of converting someone to a different religion or belief, or of attempting to persuade someone to adopt a new faith or ideology. The word comes from the verb käännyttää (to turn, convert) and the noun form käännyttäminen, with the partitive plural käännyttämistä used when speaking generally about the act.

In Finnish discourse, käännyttämistä is most commonly used in religious contexts, referring to missionary activity aimed at bringing people to a particular faith. It can involve personal dialogue, public preaching, literature distribution, or organized missions. The concept also appears in secular debates about ideological change or political conversion, though in everyday usage religion is the typical reference.

Historically, Finland's Christianization began in the Middle Ages as bishops and missionaries worked to convert the population; during the Reformation the Lutheran church played a central role. In contemporary Finland, freedom of religion allows various forms of religious outreach, while public authorities regulate acts that amount to coercion, deception, or exploitation, especially involving minors.

Ethical considerations about käännyttämistä center on autonomy, consent, and the balance between religious freedom and protection from coercion. Critics argue that aggressive or manipulative methods infringe on personal autonomy, while supporters emphasize the right to share beliefs. In research and policy, the term is used to analyze the strategies and effects of outreach, dialogue, and interfaith engagement.

See also: conversion, proselytism, religious freedom.