Changing Faith

Opinion

Some people have changed their faith in all period of human history. The reasons are many. Some converted to a different religion because they expected financial, social and cultural benefits; many did so because of a change in their outlook towards life; some because they were looking for a meaning in their lives which they found in the new religion and others changed faith because they were forced to. There are frequent examples of conversions when a person marries another belonging to a different faith.

Christianity and Islam spread throughout the world mainly due to conversion of large populations. This happened because of the religious zeal of those preaching their religion; wars and subsequent victories and campaigns designed to win over the hearts and souls of others. The missionary activities of Christians and the dawah (invitation) processes of Muslims both have been successful in mass conversions in various countries and even within the same country. Christians set up missionary schools and hospitals across the world with the prime purpose of spreading their faith through charitable activities. Muslims have been active in preaching through their tablighi groups. Mass conversions are rare now, but almost every faith and even sects within a religion carries out proselytizing activities. It is quite common to meet a Jesuit or Evangelist seeking to convert passersby in many Christian countries. Delegations of Muslims travel to cities and countries to invite others to their faith. Their activities are not restricted by law, provided they remain within the confines of soft communication and do not resort to violence or force.

Most people are born into their religion and many adopt it because they were raised according to its beliefs and practices. They believe in it without question and carry it forward into future generations. Many who have doubts or queries tend to bury their concerns and often lead their lives without actually practising their religion. Atheism and agnosticism have, in fact, become quite common and worship places have fallen empty as a result.

On the other hand, there are those who find their souls in constant turmoil. Depending on what and how they have been taught, they seek alternate answers. Sometimes they seek guidance from religious scholars, read extensively and discuss the issues with those who would not condemn them and some muddle through their lives, half believing and half doubting.

Adopting a religion other than the one a person is born into is a personal choice. In fact, ideally, people should have the choice to adopt or not their parental religion. This choice is the one given by God. The Quran says: there is no compulsion in religion (2:256). However, coercion still happens. This does not mean coercion by physical threat only: it also means enticing people by the lure of tangible and non tangible benefits. A conversion is legitimate only if people are fully convinced that they really believe in the other religion and that it would offer them the spiritual connection and comfort that they seek. This requires a careful consideration of what the other religion offers, what would be their obligations and what changes would they be required to bring about in their lifestyle. All of this can only be thought through by a person who is mentally and intellectually mature enough to consider the pros and cons of such a huge change.

Changing one’s faith is a quantum leap for a person, who could face major repercussions such as extradition from the community, including from the family and restrictions on social interactions. There are some religions, such as Judaism, that do not allow conversion from or even to it; some denominations in Islam, such as the Asna Asharis are also rather closed to any external religious influence. Conversion from Islam to another faith becomes difficult as this is considered a crime, especially in those countries where the Sharia’h plays a role in legal affairs of the state. Traditional Islamic jurists consider apostasy to be punishable by death, while many scholars say that this is a misinterpretation of Islamic law as practised by Prophet Mohammed (sws). It is, however, rare for a person to be given a death sentence because he converted from Islam to another religion.

People should change their faiths only if they are fully convinced and have gained substantive knowledge about their options. They should give themselves time to consider and think carefully about the kind of life they would lead after conversion and the challenges they are likely to face. Since religious conversion is something that changes a person’s approach to life almost completely, it must be carried out with due deliberation. This can only be possible if the person contemplating such a change is an adult in full possession of their mental faculties and can think and analyse. Converting only because one is marrying another person of a different faith would be insincere and unnatural.

There is no intention to suggest that preaching one’s religion to others is wrong, but it is important to understand that all religions are pathways to God, provided the real intent, the ethos of religion is followed. In the case of Islam, for instance, Muslims might do better if their attitude, morality, ethics and approach to life, as ingrained in Islam, encourages and motivates others to emulate them. Their energies may be better diverted to reform in their own community and in the systems that have become so tainted and distorted over time. A Muslim’s attention to bringing about improvement in another Muslim’s life through moral guidance might have a better pay-off than preaching Islam to non-Muslims. Of course, if a non-Muslim seeks information and guidance, this should be provided truthfully and sincerely.

In some countries such as Pakistan, some men assume that converting girls belonging to another religion is their religious responsibility. The Peoples Commission for Minorities’ Rights and the Centre for Social Justice reported that out of 156 incidents of conversions between 2013 and 2019 in Pakistan, many girls were as young as 12 years old. According to this data, 54.3 percent of the girls belonged to the Hindu community, 44.44 percent were Christians while 0.62 percent belonged to the Sikh and Kalash communities. Over 46.3 percent were minors (32.7 percent aged between 11-15 years), while only 16.67pc were above 18 years or above. It is interesting to note that there is no reported case of a non-Muslim man converting to marry a Muslim girl.

These girls are often abducted or run away from their families that are mostly poor and belong to deprived communities. The girl is then married off to a Muslim, usually the one who has been proactive in her abduction. Not only are these conversions considered forced by Islamic standards, but are also incidents of rape. Contrary to claims of the perpetrators, and unfortunately of many religious clerics, these girls have not converted of their own volition (as they often state in court) or because of love. Instead, they have been lured and enticed by promises of better conditions of life. This is the reason that they do not admit to any coercion in the court. Can one imagine the life they would have once they returned to a home and neighbourhood where they may be ostracized for having eloped with a man of a different faith and having had a physical relationship with him? Would there be a life of opportunities for such a child?

Those who believe that they are serving their religion by offering any form of enticement or force to others to change their own faith are misguided. The only way to be true followers of a religion is to be live by the ethical principles their religion stands for.

Opinion

Changing Faith

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