Page 20 - A Study of Traditional Chinese Religions in Malaysia: The Decline and the Path Towards Revitalization

person to convert is the urge to satisfy his need for a positive and concrete identity through
which one can understand life and build a consistent worldview. This urge may appear if he

finds that his previous religion does not satisfy such a need. Naved et al. (2017) discovered
this relationship in their research that was centred around a woman who converted from
Judaism to Buddhism. As a Jewish, she went through prosecution during the Second World

War. Her religious identity had also caused her to be discriminated against. These bad
experiences caused her to rethink her religion and spiritual pursuit. Eventually, she decided

to embrace Buddhism, a religion that would be able to give her the feeling of wholeness and
completeness. In the case of TCR in Malaysia, are Chinese converting to other religions
because of the same reason? Are they uncomfortable with TCR and make individual choices

to find a religion that will help them to achieve their spiritual pursuit? Though it is possible
that these psychological factors could have led individuals to make personal decisions to

convert, the psychological factors are most likely complemented by social factors. Together,
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these factors form a social ecology that sanctions conversion.

Family is an important component of one’s micro social ecology. All individuals belong
to a family and would live within this micro social system. The way the family interacts with a
person shapes his perceptions towards the world. Hence, if a Chinese is brought up in a

family environment that does not practice TCR, it is highly likely that he may grow into a
person who can be easily converted to other religions. This will create an opening that allows

non-TCR religions to move into the Chinese religious sphere. According to Hall (2006), the
Chinese are transforming due to exposure to modernity. Many Chinese families are no longer
practicing traditional Chinese values and beliefs, and they do not view conversion to other

religions as an issue. Their ‘open-mindedness’ is an indication that the traditional cultural
barrier has been removed although in the past, religions such as Christianity and Islam were

seen as ‘foreign religions’. Peer influence is another component of a person's micro system.
If a person is surrounded by friends who are Christians, it is highly likely that he or she will
be converted to Christianity. This is especially true when Christian congregations organized

programs that are designed to proselytize Christianity through the peer-to-peer method
(Yang and Tamney 2006).

At the macro level, if a religion does not attempt to proselytise, it is highly likely that
its believers will be attracted to join other religions. Similarly, if a religion does not adapt to

changes, the religion will be seen as outdated and no longer relevant. This is one of TCR

4 The role of ecology in human development has been highlighted by many scholars. One of them is Urie
Brofenbrenner. According to him, a person’s development is influenced by everything is his surrounding and
the social interactions within it (Alam n.d.).

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