Conversion from Islam to Christianity among the Arsi Oromo: Missiological implications for Christian witness

Abstract

The Arsi Oromo people are part of the wider Oromo people group of Ethiopia and Islam is the dominant religion of the people despite the presence of minority Christians among them. This thesis attempts to understand the conversion process of the Arsi Oromo from Islam to Christianity. It employs Rambo‟s seven stage model of conversion process in order to understand the conversion experiences of Arsi Oromo MBBs (Muslim Background Believers). The changes resulting from conversion and how the western Arsi local churches engage in helping Arsi Oromo converts to adapt to the existing church context are examined. Twenty converts (ten MBB women and ten MBB men) have been interviewed in order to get emic data about their conversion process. The literature review part seeks to discuss conversion from the perspectives of different disciplines. The biblical and theological views of conversion are discussed as a basis for conversion from Islam to Christianity. The review also assesses and discusses conversion from the perspective of social sciences and the various works that have been done on conversion from Islam to Christianity. This research employs ethnographic research method, which is a branch of qualitative research method in order to gain understanding of the conversion processes of the Arsi Oromo MBBs. The data was collected through unstructured and semi structured interviews and moderate participant observation. The coded data (appendix 2) presents the emic view of conversion in the way the stories told by the interviewees. Based on this data the analysis has been carried out in order to get etic view of the conversion process. The aim of this study is to gain a deeper and wider understanding of the different processes involved in the conversion of Arsi Oromo. Through the findings of this research, it has been established conversion is a long time process and influenced by various factors: the context of the convert, crisis, quest, and interaction with the agents of the gospel. A strong desire for relationship with the divine and ethical community was the core factor in the conversion process of the Arsi Oromo. The study also registered peace, joy, assurance of salvation, and fulfillment are the immediate positive consequences of conversion despite all converts facing various degrees of persecution from their community. Allegiance, moral and cultural encounters are also the most important changes observed in the life of converts as a mark of genuine conversion. This study also shows that more conversion happened in the rural village which is very hostile environment for Christianity compared to the towns that enjoyed freedom of worship. In the final chapter, missiological implications for Christian witness are drawn from the research findings. Recommendations for further study are also proposed.