Page 58 - A Study of Traditional Chinese Religions in Malaysia: The Decline and the Path Towards Revitalization

culture, is seemingly beyond merely a personal choice of the converts but involves obstacles
from needing the converts to self-differentiate themselves from their own parents and family

values, previously belonged communities, and ethnicity norms (Loo, Nadiyah, and Mariny
2019a).

Based on these findings, pressures from family and community are considered by
some respondents as their challenge after converting to other religions. In other words, family
and community are playing their role as TCR gatekeepers. However, not all respondents met

similar challenges after they converted.

Table 3.2 Challenges faced after converting out of TCR

Challenge Frequency Percentage (%)

I faced obstacle(s) from family members 34 31.8

I faced obstacle(s) from previous religious communities
23 21.5
(including friends and relatives)

I felt a sense of betrayal to the previous religious teaching 9 8.4

I faced obstacle(s) from laws pertaining to religion conversion 4 3.7

Others 52 48.6

3.6.1.1 Level of satisfaction after conversion. Second, the level of satisfaction on the current
religious belief was also examined (see Table 3.3), whereby respondents were asked to rate
their level of satisfaction from 1 (very unsatisfied) to 5 (very satisfied). A supermajority of the

respondents (73.2%) indicated feeling at least satisfied (34.3%) or strongly satisfied (38.9%)
with their current religious beliefs. One-fifth (22.2%) of the respondents are neutral while only

four respondents (3.7%) are either dissatisfied or strongly dissatisfied. These results could
be summarised as respondents are generally satisfied with their current religions.

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