Can't Change Religion from No State Religion

[Jornie]

I am having a problem changing religion from No State Religion to any other. Each time I try, the interface tells me that I can't convert.

My current game is now in the Renaissance period but all the way through I have had this problem. I have discovered all the required technolgies but was not the first to found any of the religions.

What needs to happen in order to switch to religions?

[Kloreep]

You need at least one of your cities to already have the religion you wish to switch to. If you don't, try signing open borders with the civs that founded the religion you want and/or have a lot of it (and would thus want to bring missionaries into your civ to convert your cities). Also, non-State Religions cannot be spread if you are in the Theocracy civic, so get out if it if you are.

Also, in order to set a State Religion you must not be using the Free Religion Civic. You cannot have a state religion while using that Civic.