Overview

Somali Christians constitute one of the world’s most persecuted religious minorities, yet their experiences have received remarkably little scholarly attention. This book offers the first in-depth examination of conversion from Islam to Christianity among Somalis and presents the first empirically grounded theory explaining how individuals in the Global North navigate this transition and eventually disclose their new faith to Muslim relatives and communities. Focusing on Somali converts living in the United Kingdom and Sweden – the two European countries with the largest Somali immigrant populations – the study sheds light on the complex and often precarious process by which individuals move from initial doubts to open commitment. It not only traces the stages of this journey but also highlights the moral dilemmas, intellectual challenges, social dynamics, and practical decisions that shape a convert’s path. By exploring both internal struggles and external pressures, this book provides a rare and nuanced account of what it means to leave Islam for Christianity. This volume will be of interest to scholars of religion and migration, leaders in Muslim communities, Christian workers ministering among Somali and other Muslim-background populations, as well as policymakers and human rights professionals. How Somali Muslims Become Christians in Europe invites deeper reflection on the lived experience of religious freedom in contemporary societies.

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9781041169215

Table of Contents

Reviews

How Somali Muslims Become Christians in Europe provides invaluable insights into a little-known topic: the lives of Somalis who become Christian. Based on searingly personal interviews with Somali Christian converts, Bódi’s research explores why some Somali men and women convert to Christianity, despite the danger to their lives and reputation. By analysing his interviews with Somali converts, Bódi develops a theory of conversion that can be applied to other situations in which individuals convert to a different faith, especially when they face potentially violent repercussions for doing so. – Professor Sabine Hyland, Professor of World Religions, University of St Andrews The nineteenth century was the classic period of Europeans travelling from the West to the Rest, as the age of empire and Christian missions reached its zenith. Conversely, the twenty-first century has seen increasing numbers of the Rest travelling to the West, often fuelled by war and economic and political instability. Dr Mátyás Bódi’s fine book explores a consequence of this countermovement, outlining the reasons Somali Muslims become Christians in Europe. Based on qualitative research and first-hand accounts from research subjects, this book is a must-read for anyone wanting to better understand issues of interfaith dialogue and cross-cultural engagement from an interpersonal perspective. Dr Mátyás Bódi has gifted us an immensely important and significant study that will command interest and become a source of authority in the years to come. – Professor Anthony G. Reddie, Professor of Black Theology, University of Oxford Dr Mátyás Bódi has authored a seminal work that significantly enhances scholarly understanding of the largely overlooked Somali church. This publication represents one of the most comprehensive academic contributions I have encountered concerning this subject and is poised to serve as a foundational resource for future research on the Somali church. – Rev. Aweis A. Ali, PhD, General Secretary, Somali Bible Society Dr Mátyás Bódi has applied grounded theory methodology with rigour, carrying out research conversations with care and empathy, and analysing the data with sensitivity and compassion. The result is an elegant explanation of how individuals may recalibrate their religious perspectives as they respond to new insights and experience the interplay of incentives to and deterrents from converting. – Dr Helen Scott, Fellow, The Grounded Theory Institute; Founder, Grounded Theory Online Bódi’s book offers an empirically informed study of narratives of Muslims of Somali background living in the UK and Sweden who have adopted Christianity. Importantly, this includes discussion of the processes and issues involved in disclosing this change to their families. For these reasons alone, the book makes an innovative contribution to scholarship. Additionally, while identifying and appropriately discussing how far existing theories of conversion apply to his primary research data, the author is courageous enough to develop a theoretical framework of his own for further critical examination by others. – Dr Paul Weller, Research Fellow in Religion and Society, Regent’s Park College; Associate Member, Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Oxford

""How Somali Muslims Became Christians in Europe provides invaluable insights into a little-known topic: the lives of Somalis who become Christian. Based on searingly personal interviews with Somali Christian converts, Bódi’s research explores why some Somali men and women convert to Christianity, despite the danger to their lives and reputation. By analysing his interviews with Somali converts, Bódi develops a theory of conversion that can be applied to other situations in which individuals convert to a different faith, especially when they face potentially violent repercussions for doing so."" – Professor Sabine Hyland, Professor of World Religions (University of St Andrews) ""The nineteenth century was the classic period of Europeans travelling from the West to the Rest, as the age of empire and Christian missions reached its zenith. Conversely, the twenty-first century has seen increasing numbers of the Rest travelling to the West, often fuelled by war and economic and political instability. Dr Mátyás Bódi’s fine book explores a consequence of this countermovement, outlining the reasons Somali Muslims become Christians in Europe. Based on qualitative research and first-hand accounts from research subjects, this book is a must-read for anyone wanting to better understand issues of interfaith dialogue and cross-cultural engagement from an interpersonal perspective. Dr Mátyás Bódi has gifted us an immensely important and significant study that will command interest and become a source of authority in the years to come."" – Professor Anthony G. Reddie, Professor of Black Theology (University of Oxford) Dr Mátyás Bódi has authored a seminal work that significantly enhances scholarly understanding of the largely overlooked Somali church. This publication represents one of the most comprehensive academic contributions I have encountered concerning this subject and is poised to serve as a foundational resource for future research on the Somali church. – Rev. Aweis A. Ali, PhD, General Secretary (Somali Bible Society) ""Dr Mátyás Bódi has applied grounded theory methodology with rigour, carrying out research conversations with care and empathy, and analysing the data with sensitivity and compassion. The result is an elegant explanation of how individuals may recalibrate their religious perspectives as they respond to new insights and experience the interplay of incentives to and deterrents from converting."" - Dr Helen Scott, Fellow (The Grounded Theory Institute) and Founder (Grounded Theory Online) ""Bódi’s book offers an empirically informed study of narratives of Muslims of Somali background living in the UK and Sweden who have adopted Christianity. Importantly, this includes discussion of the processes and issues involved in disclosing this change to their families. For these reasons alone, the book makes an innovative contribution to scholarship. Additionally, while identifying and appropriately discussing how far existing theories of conversion apply to his primary research data, the author is courageous enough to develop a theoretical framework of his own for further critical examination by others."" – Dr Paul Weller, Research Fellow in Religion and Society (Regent’s Park College) and Associate Member of the Faculty of Theology and Religion (University of Oxford)

How Somali Muslims Became Christians in Europe provides invaluable insights into a little-known topic: the lives of Somalis who become Christian. Based on searingly personal interviews with Somali Christian converts, Bódi’s research explores why some Somali men and women convert to Christianity, despite the danger to their lives and reputation. By analysing his interviews with Somali converts, Bódi develops a theory of conversion that can be applied to other situations in which individuals convert to a different faith, especially when they face potentially violent repercussions for doing so. – Professor Sabine Hyland, Professor of World Religions, University of St Andrews The nineteenth century was the classic period of Europeans travelling from the West to the Rest, as the age of empire and Christian missions reached its zenith. Conversely, the twenty-first century has seen increasing numbers of the Rest travelling to the West, often fuelled by war and economic and political instability. Dr Mátyás Bódi’s fine book explores a consequence of this countermovement, outlining the reasons Somali Muslims become Christians in Europe. Based on qualitative research and first-hand accounts from research subjects, this book is a must-read for anyone wanting to better understand issues of interfaith dialogue and cross-cultural engagement from an interpersonal perspective. Dr Mátyás Bódi has gifted us an immensely important and significant study that will command interest and become a source of authority in the years to come. – Professor Anthony G. Reddie, Professor of Black Theology, University of Oxford Dr Mátyás Bódi has authored a seminal work that significantly enhances scholarly understanding of the largely overlooked Somali church. This publication represents one of the most comprehensive academic contributions I have encountered concerning this subject and is poised to serve as a foundational resource for future research on the Somali church. – Rev. Aweis A. Ali, PhD, General Secretary, Somali Bible Society Dr Mátyás Bódi has applied grounded theory methodology with rigour, carrying out research conversations with care and empathy, and analysing the data with sensitivity and compassion. The result is an elegant explanation of how individuals may recalibrate their religious perspectives as they respond to new insights and experience the interplay of incentives to and deterrents from converting. – Dr Helen Scott, Fellow, The Grounded Theory Institute; Founder, Grounded Theory Online Bódi’s book offers an empirically informed study of narratives of Muslims of Somali background living in the UK and Sweden who have adopted Christianity. Importantly, this includes discussion of the processes and issues involved in disclosing this change to their families. For these reasons alone, the book makes an innovative contribution to scholarship. Additionally, while identifying and appropriately discussing how far existing theories of conversion apply to his primary research data, the author is courageous enough to develop a theoretical framework of his own for further critical examination by others. – Dr Paul Weller, Research Fellow in Religion and Society, Regent’s Park College; Associate Member, Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Oxford

How Somali Muslims Became Christians in Europe provides invaluable insights into a little-known topic: the lives of Somalis who become Christian. Based on searingly personal interviews with Somali Christian converts, Bódi’s research explores why some Somali men and women convert to Christianity, despite the danger to their lives and reputation. By analysing his interviews with Somali converts, Bódi develops a theory of conversion that can be applied to other situations in which individuals convert to a different faith, especially when they face potentially violent repercussions for doing so. – Professor Sabine Hyland, Professor of World Religions, University of St Andrews The nineteenth century was the classic period of Europeans travelling from the West to the Rest, as the age of empire and Christian missions reached its zenith. Conversely, the twenty-first century has seen increasing numbers of the Rest travelling to the West, often fuelled by war and economic and political instability. Dr Mátyás Bódi’s fine book explores a consequence of this countermovement, outlining the reasons Somali Muslims become Christians in Europe. Based on qualitative research and first-hand accounts from research subjects, this book is a must-read for anyone wanting to better understand issues of interfaith dialogue and cross-cultural engagement from an interpersonal perspective. Dr Mátyás Bódi has gifted us an immensely important and significant study that will command interest and become a source of authority in the years to come. – Professor Anthony G. Reddie, Professor of Black Theology, University of Oxford Dr Mátyás Bódi has authored a seminal work that significantly enhances scholarly understanding of the largely overlooked Somali church. This publication represents one of the most comprehensive academic contributions I have encountered concerning this subject and is poised to serve as a foundational resource for future research on the Somali church. – Rev. Aweis A. Ali, PhD, General Secretary, Somali Bible Society Dr Mátyás Bódi has applied grounded theory methodology with rigour, carrying out research conversations with care and empathy, and analysing the data with sensitivity and compassion. The result is an elegant explanation of how individuals may recalibrate their religious perspectives as they respond to new insights and experience the interplay of incentives to and deterrents from converting. - Dr Helen Scott, Fellow, The Grounded Theory Institute; Founder, Grounded Theory Online Bódi’s book offers an empirically informed study of narratives of Muslims of Somali background living in the UK and Sweden who have adopted Christianity. Importantly, this includes discussion of the processes and issues involved in disclosing this change to their families. For these reasons alone, the book makes an innovative contribution to scholarship. Additionally, while identifying and appropriately discussing how far existing theories of conversion apply to his primary research data, the author is courageous enough to develop a theoretical framework of his own for further critical examination by others. – Dr Paul Weller, Research Fellow in Religion and Society, Regent’s Park College; and Associate Member, Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Oxford

Author Information

Mátyás Bódi (PhD, University of St Andrews) is Research Fellow in Freedom of Religion or Belief at Regent’s Park College, University of Oxford.

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