Guy Threepwood
Mighty Pirate
I never understood why people have done that in recent times or in ancient times, where you are to convert to another religion or be punished. Let's just say that if they approached to you and say "You must be a Muslim or a Hindu or suffer the consequences. "Are you really going to convert to their ways? You may say openly that you will join their religion but in secret you'll still practice your religion anyway. That's one of the reasons certain adherents like the Jews survived for so long when Christians would force convert everyone and the Jews would say that they converted to Christianity but still secretly practiced Judaism. Shouldn't the people who force convert be smart enough that the forced converts aren't really converted and are still practicing it secretly? It always seemed pointless to me. I'd still practice Druidism either way.
The biggest example of this in history was Stalin, Mao, Il Sung etc attempting to convert millions to atheism. As you say it is difficult to oppress freedom of thought with those who had already experienced it, but growing up with it, you are not as exposed to free choice, it clearly had an impact in those countries where freedom and faith is returning, but still below normal levels