Page 57 - A Study of Traditional Chinese Religions in Malaysia: The Decline and the Path Towards Revitalization

9.26 percent are moderately concerned and 14.81 percent are somewhat concerned. These
findings are revealing that most of the respondents of this survey are showing signs that they

are disassociated from TCR. They do not really care about religions that probably were the
religions of their ancestors. As mentioned earlier, this phenomenon is probably caused by
TCR institutions’ failure to continuously engage the Chinese. Many TCR organizations such

as temples are becoming inactive in proselytizing TCR. They continue to play traditional roles
such as organizing festivities and serving as a place for the Chinese to pray. In the long run,

the Chinese will feel dissociated particularly when TCR practices are no longer upheld by
their family.

45.00% 42.59%
40.00%

35.00%
29.63%
30.00%

25.00%
20.00% Total
14.81%
15.00%
9.26%
10.00%
3.70%
5.00%

0.00%
Extremely Moderately Somewhat Slightly Not at all
concerned concerned concerned concerned concerned

Figure 3.16. Respondents’ level of concern over the impact of conversion on TCR.

3.6 Life After Conversion

3.6.1 Challenges faced after conversion

In addition to examining respondents’ perceptions of converting out of TCR as presented
above, their experiences were also looked into to gain a more complete understanding of the
whole religious conversion process. First, the challenges faced after religious conversion

from TCR to other religions were examined, and respondents were allowed to select more
than one challenge (see Table 3.2). The two main challenges faced are family members

(32.8%) and previous religious communities, including friends and relatives (21.5%).
Additional challenges include feeling a sense of betrayal to the previous religious teaching
(8.4%) and manoeuvring laws pertaining to religion conversion (3.7%). Nearly half (48.6%)

of the respondents indicated facing other kinds of challenges but did not specify them clearly.
Nevertheless, religion conversion among Chinese Malaysians, given their collectivistic

45