DOI: 10.25136/2409-8744.2020.3.32181

Abstract: Currently, more and more people in the world are changing their religious identity. The study is devoted to Germans who converted to Islam, the so-called Convertites. The subject of consideration in the article is the implementation of religious practices - the use of "halal" products and the observance of fasting in the holy month of Ramadan by German converts after religious conversion. The purpose of the article is to analyze the change in food traditions and food culture among "Muslim Germans". The author pays special attention to the transformation of food habits, how the transition to a new food culture (rejection of pork and alcohol) takes place, what experiences and difficulties the convert experiences during the transition The scientific novelty of the study lies in the fact that the question of newly converted Germans, for the first time in Russian historiography, is considered on the field material collected by the author, on the territory of Germany. The author comes to the following conclusions: With religious alternation, a convert may not perform religious practices, consume products prohibited in Islam (alcohol, pork), and not observe fasting. During religious conversion, the convertit will strictly observe all the rules prescribed in the Koran. He will observe fasting and not eat non-halal foods. A change in the food culture can be accompanied by personal experiences, be gradual or instantaneous.

DOI: 10.7256/2454-0609.2019.2.29045

Abstract: The article is focused on the Germans (the so-called converts), who converted to Islam, being born and living on the territory of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, Germany. The aim of this study is to identify the factors behind the religious conversion. The author's main task was to determine what reasons influenced the adoption of Islam among Germans. The author analyzes the connection between the decision to adopt Islam and the place of residence of newly converted Muslims, the influence of political attitudes within German society towards immigrant Muslims, family circumstances and cultural preferences. The article is written based on the author's field material. The author applied the methods of field ethnographic observation, non-formalized interviewing, as well as an analysis of the literature on this topic. The scientific novelty of this research lies in the fact that this is the first study in Russian historiography on the reasons for the conversion of Germans to Islam, conducted on field material. The author comes to the conclusion that the Germans' decision to adopt Islam was not significantly influenced by political and territorial factors. Neither does distance from the Muslim world hinder conversion. Negative attitudes towards Muslims also do not play a significant role in making a conscious choice regarding the transition to the religion. The main reasons for adopting Islam were personal and family.