Apostasy.....

[andyandy]

an interesting article....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/crossing_continents/6150340.stm

Abandoning Islam for Christianity is such a sensitive issue in Malaysia that many converts find themselves leading a secret, double life.

"If people know that I've converted to Christianity, they might take the law into their own hands. If they are not broadminded, they might take a stone and throw it at me."

Maria - not her real name - is a young Malaysian woman who has lived a secret and sometimes fearful life since she converted from Islam to Christianity.

Apostasy, as it is known, has become one of the most controversial issues in Malaysia today.

Maria became a Christian over a decade ago when she was 18. She says no-one forced her to convert, that she made the decision after studying different religious texts.

Conversion is deemed so sensitive in Malaysia that even the priest who baptised her refused to give her a baptismal certificate.

And, even now, the church she attends asked her to sign a declaration stating the church is not responsible for her conversion.

"My church says if the authorities come, they are not going to stand up for me. I have to stand up for myself," she said.

Not even Maria's family know she has converted.

"If my family find out I am no longer a Muslim they will completely cut me off. That means my name in the family will be erased.

"I could migrate, but the problem is I want to stay in Malaysia, because this is my country. And I love my family. I just want to live peacefully."

are there any figures/studies as to global levels of apostasy? How likely statistically is someone born a christian to at some point in their life convert? (Either to a different denomination, or to a different religion)

Are there regional/geographical/societal comparatives?

 

[fuelair]

Ahh yes, the brave xtian church once again shows its' true colors!!

 

[tdn]

Ahh yes, the brave xtian church once again shows its' true colors!!

In this case I wouldn't blame the Christian church. I'd blame the intolerant society in which a person can be stoned to death for merely believing differently.

 

[zizzybaluba]

In this case I wouldn't blame the Christian church. I'd blame the intolerant society in which a person can be stoned to death for merely believing differently.

I think there's more than enough blame to go around in this case...

 

[Solus]

A friend of mine who was a former muslim (agnostic now), always called herself an apostate from the faith. Said it was the worst crime she could commit by islamic standards. Her joke was that the worst place in hell is reserved for apostates (it really is) but the idea was funny to her, she would be in trouble if she was wrong she said .