Why Christians Convert to Islam: A Filipino Perspective

Abstract

Little has been written about the experience of Christian conversion to Islam, though it is not an uncommon occurrence. Islam is slowly increasing as a percentage of the world population, and for this reason alone Muslims and Christians alike need to better understand each other's beliefs and customs. The Philippines has an increasing number of Muslims, both locally converted and those converted after exposure to Islam in other countries, particularly places where Filipino work as Overseas Contract Workers (OCWs). This study examines the views of Filipino male converts to Islam through in-depth interviews and participant observation. Data show that conversion to Islam in the Filipino context is frequently motivated by economic reasons, in addition to other factors such as indoctrination and marriage.

Key Words: missiology, Islam, Christianity, conversion, Philippines, mission