Apostasy and Freedom of Choosing to Leave Religion
: Mantsinen Teemu T.
Publisher: Brill Academic Publishers
: 2023
: Journal of Religion in Europe
: Journal of Religion in Europe
: 38
: 3
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/18748929-bja10071(external)
: https://brill.com/view/journals/jre/16/1/article-p28_3.xml(external)
This article discusses the possibility and consequences of the idea, concept, and discourses of freedom and free choice in apostasy. The issue is explored from theoretical perspectives of discrepancy, rational choice, and free will and grounded with examples from original research on Finnish ex-Pentecostals and comparison to previous research on apostasy. The article claims that even though our choices are influenced and our freedom is limited by our personal attributes, personal and social environments, and backgrounds, the subjective assertion, belief, and experience of freedom is essential to apostates’ wellbeing and new identity.