ABSTRACT
Apostasy is a challenging concept in contemporary society. Social identity theory is a lens through which to interpret the identity dynamics of apostasy, since social identities are a psychological phenomenon by which individuals negotiate belonging to different groups while distinguishing themselves from other groups. Religious beliefs and practices are a significant element of many social identities. Apostasy, defined broadly as changing religious identification, implies a transgression of religious identity. Apostasy labels such a transgression as deviance from community beliefs, while individuals may also distance themselves from their community. Thus, apostasy involves communal and personal perspectives in a complex relationship of inclusion and exclusion, in which sacred ‘apostasy’ texts play an important role.
