Page 49 - A Study of Traditional Chinese Religions in Malaysia: The Decline and the Path Towards Revitalization

The above findings are indicating that there are differences between those who
have converted out of TCR and TCR adherents. The converts are more passionate about

their religion especially among the Catholics, Protestants and Muslims. Quite a number of
them are strong believers. However, the differences are expected. TCR is declining. In
such a scenario, it is not logical to expect TCR adherents’ conviction (as reported in the

previous chapter) towards their religions to be high.

3.4 Conversion Agents

The main agents that contribute to the decision towards the religious conversion of the
respondents are family (30.56%), friends (16.67%), marriage or spouse (15.74%) and
religious teachings (15.74%) (see Figure 3.8). Meanwhile, among the seventeen

respondents who cited religious teachings as the biggest contributor to their religious
conversion, slightly more than half (52.9%) are Protestants. Respondents who converted to
all the other religions also cited religious teachings, except for the Hindu and Seth

respondents. The Hindu respondent cited family as the agent that contributed to her
conversion while friends were cited by the Seth respondent. A few respondents cited

personal reasons such as personal encounter, personal experience and self-discovery as
the main causes of their conversion. Based on these findings, it can be said that quite a
number of them decided to leave TCR on their own. These respondents made the decision

after being influenced by their friends and media, or after they have given a deep thought on
their religiosity.

0.93% 0.93% Family
2.78% 0.93%
Friends
Marriage / Spouse
Media 媒体
15.74% My own research, reading and talks with other people
30.56%
Myself
Nobody
Own preference
0.93% 8.33%
Personal encounter
0.93%
Personal experience
0.93%
Religious Activities
0.93%
16.67% Religious Teachings
0.93% School
15.74%
0.93% self discovery
1.85% Social media and enviroment
through research comparative religion

Figure 3.8. Conversion agents.

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