Factors Influencing the Conversion of Ngiturkana People in Turkana County to Islam

Abstract

This study investigated factors that contributed to Christian conversion to Islam among Ngiturkana people. Islam has been on record as the religion that is spreading at a faster rate in the world and attracting a lot of people from other religious backgrounds and cultures. This study aimed to determine the factors that influence the conversion of Ngiturkana people. The question this research intended to answer was what reason Ngiturkana Christians give for their conversion to Islam? The findings of this research reveal that there exists no single cohesive pattern that describes converts of Islam from Christianity. The study also reveals that there is denominational pluralism where some are from Catholic Church and others were Protestants. This appears to create a huge dissonance among young people due to different practices such as the place of Mary and the additional Books of the Bible. This research gives credence to Wayne Gruden’s conclusion that religious conversion involves adopting a new sort of belief. It is critical to notice that the converts recounted adopted a new set of beliefs and abandoned the religious beliefs they previously clung to. All the converts in this study neglected their fidelity Christianity and its related practices and chose to adopt Islam. The findings of this research also conclude that the experiences of converts are not specific to Christianity. The experiences are not the exclusive sphere of Christian conversion. Christians should have awareness and come up with alternative explanations of conversion. Also, Christians converting to Islam reported felt needs as leading to their conversion. This is also not a preserve of Christianity since it goes both ways. The converts in this study reveal an individualistic mindset even though they came from a collectivist society. Collectivist and individualistic personalities or cultures play a role in religious motives. In view of these findings there is a need for the church to develop the knowledge and skills of pastors. From the interviews, it is evident that pastors could not convince those who attended debates between Christians and Muslims. Pastors and church leaders therefore need training through introducing theological studies to teach them on church doctrines. Churches should conduct workshops and seminars to sensitize members on the significance of spreading the gospel to the Muslims and defend their faith. There is need for return and revival of biblical theology through Bible studies in the church and the Sunday schools for discipleship.