Browsing by Author "SADIA RAUF"

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    A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE DE-CONVERSION PROCESS AMONG THE PAKISTANI ADULTS
    (UMT, Lahore, 2025) SADIA RAUF
    Although Islam has generally been regarded as the core of Pakistani ethos, and over 96% of population in Pakistan is Muslim, in recent years a fast-growing number of Pakistani young adults have deconverted from Islam into atheism. This research aims to investigate, identify and assess the factors which contributed to the development of their way of thinking and their loss of faith in religion. The subject has long been considered a taboo in Pakistani society, and very little research has been carried out in this regard, so this study aims to help fill that gap. The data to carry out this research is collected through in-depth interviews of some young Pakistani deconverts in addition to some published autobiographies and online accounts of Pakistani ex Muslim atheists. To have a comprehensive understanding of the experiences of these deconverts, the thematic analysis of their accounts is carried out. Many sub-themes emerged under the main themes and these main or base themes are: the reasons for deconversion, (mostly the human rights issues and the unanswered questions), the process of deconversion, identity crisis, mental health and well-being and the moral values of these deconverts. While no attempt whatsoever was made to make any judgements on the participants or modify the beliefs of the interviewees this study does recommend, in its concluding portion, some steps that need to be taken at the collective level to stem the tide, keep our youth within the folds of Islam and help them find more spiritual and intellectual fulfilment in their religion.