The reluctance to seek converts comes from the draconian penalties imposed by Christian and Muslim rulers on the Jewish communities . If a convert from their religion was found, the entire Jewish community could be wiped out or expelled. Thus they made a virtue out of a necessity and discouraged conversion. Perhaps a timeline in which such a penalty did not exist might have a positive effect on the spread of Judaism. For example Christians disaffected from the Roman catholic church might consider Judaism rather than Lutherism .