A Psycho-Sociological Study of Converted Kazakhs in Kazakhstan

Abstract

The fact that the subject of conversion is a very comprehensive and complex psycho-social event leads to different results in each study. According to Western studies, the topic of conversion has become a topical issue with the emergence of new religious movements and as a result of intensive missionary activities. In this study of Kazakh converts, the problem of conversion is addressed with a sociological approach. With the revival of Islam after Kazakhstan's independence, Christian missionary activity has also increased. Today, Kazakhs who have converted to the religion are more present in society as a result of missionary activity. This study, from a sociological point of view, deals with the Kazakhs who changed their religion as a result of missionary studies that emerged after independence. Conversion is not a sudden event. Therefore, when studying the conversion event, the lives of the people concerned should be considered as a whole and the effective psychosocial factors should be reviewed. In our study, 25 subjects were interviewed and personal information about them was recorded. The subjects' childhood and adolescence before conversion and their relationships with religion were studied. The process of changing religion and the reasons why they changed their religion are discussed.

Received: 11 November 2022 / Accepted: 29 December 2022 / Published: 5 January 2023