Proselyte

A proselyte describes an individual who has entered a religious community through a recognized process of adoption, initiation, or conversion. In many historical contexts, the term is used for those who fully accept the practices, obligations, and social identity of their new community, not merely its ideas, but can also reflect those who only partially convert. Ancient and later texts often distinguish proselytes from outsiders by shared customs, legal status, and participation in communal life. The term focuses on belonging and status rather than personal motivation or spiritual experience.