Page 78 - A Study of Traditional Chinese Religions in Malaysia: The Decline and the Path Towards Revitalization

ensuring TCR is passed on from one generation to another. In this chapter, the family was
found to have played an important role in causing the interviewees to think twice on their

decision to embrace TCR. All these findings highlight the role of the family in matters related
to religion. It can cause a Chinese to accept a non-TCR, but it can stop him or her from
converting out too. Interestingly, the religion a Chinese accepts or rejects varies. A TCR

family will discourage their family members from embracing the non-TCR. But if the family is
a non-TCR family, the family will try to stop their members from converting back to TCR.

This chapter has also highlighted the roles played by religious organizations in
conversion. As mentioned by the interviewees, Christian based organizations are very active
in recruiting new members. They are aggressive and are very tactful when recruiting new

members. They are wary of any attempt by their members to convert to other religions too.
All these features are not found in many TCR organizations. Some Buddhist organizations
are trying to employ the same strategy in recruiting new believers but based on the

interviewees reported above, the Buddhist organizations are not aggressive.

As a conclusion, though some Chinese may convert back to TCR as they look for

ones that suit them and that are able to provide spiritual support, more effort should be put
in by TCR organizations to maintain their religions. They are supposed to be more proactive
in creating programs to proselytize and maintain TCR.

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