Community and identity among Arabs of a Muslim background who choose to follow a Christian Faith

An increasing number of Muslims in the Arab world are being exposed to new ideas and questioning the beliefs of the community into which they were born. Several of these are choosing to embrace a Christian faith, a decision which can affect every aspect of their lives. Religious conversion usually entails a rejection of one’s past: conversion out of Islam to a Christian faith can be construed by fellow Muslims as a betrayal not only of their religion, but also of family and of community. This thesis investigates the lives of converts from a Muslim background to a Christian faith, considering the strong social forces opposed to that decision.

The difficulties of living as a religious convert in an Arab Muslim community can be understood in light of Arab cultural values which place community solidarity and reputation on a high level of importance. Muslim communal values, which usually have strong roots in the doctrines of unity and community, make apostasy from Islam especially problematic. Through field research in the Middle East, including in-depth interviews with Arabs of a Muslim background who have converted to a Christian faith, and participant observation in their circles of friends and places of worship, this study explores the ways in which converts rebuild their lives in the light of the above factors. This thesis provides a discussion of how they relate to their family members and selectively represent their new beliefs to members of the Muslim community. It then explores the concept of identity, and analyses how these individuals reconstruct their own identities, focusing on how many converts find it important to adhere a Christian identity onto their Muslim identity, refusing to reject Islam as a source of cultural identity even while making a decision to reject Muslim beliefs.

Kraft, Kathryn Ann. 2007. “Community and Identity among Arabs of a Muslim Background Who Choose to Follow a Christian Faith.” Ph.D., United Kingdom: The University of Bristol School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies. Accessed April 19, 2022.