The phenomenon of religious conversion constitutes a significant topic of inquiry within the realms of social and psychological research in contemporary society. This article investigates the experiences of Muslims in Kazakhstan who have transitioned to Christianity, specifically within the Baptist denomination. The study employed a qualitative approach and was executed through semi-structured interviews with participants. The primary objective of the interview was to ascertain how familial upbringing, emotional experiences, as well as social and psychological factors, influence the conversion process. The findings indicated that the act of changing one's religion is frequently correlated with an individual's personal spiritual quest, existential crises, psychological challenges, and traumatic occurrences. A majority of respondents expressed that they discovered purpose in life and psychological equilibrium through the adoption of a new religious framework. Furthermore, it was revealed that a deficient level of religious upbringing, along with the unique characteristics of the social environment, considerably impacts the conversion process. The article offers a comprehensive analysis of the phenomenon of religious conversion in Kazakhstan, viewed through the lenses of socio-psychological and cultural contexts, and suggests avenues for future research aimed at broadening regional models and evaluating long-term dynamics.
Yerzhan et al. (Thu,) studied this question.