I came across this report this morning that has me really thinking and praying:
Religion is Restricted for Two-Thirds of World Population, Study Shows
In a new report measuring infringements on religious beliefs and practices around the world, the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life finds that two-in-three people in the world today live in countries with high levels of restrictions on religion. The report gauges the level of restrictions due both to government actions and to acts of violence and intimidation by private individuals, organizations and social groups. The study found that 64 nations, about one-third of the countries in the world, have high or very high restrictions on religion, but because some of the most restrictive countries are very populous, they represent nearly 70% of the world’s 6.8 billion people. Among all world geographic regions, the Middle East and North Africa have the highest government and social restrictions on religion, while the Americas are the least restrictive region on both measures. In the U.S., government restrictions are relatively few, but the level of religious hostilities in society exceeds those reported in a number of other large democracies, including Brazil and Japan. Most countries provide for religious freedom in their constitutions or basic laws, yet only a quarter fully respect this legal right in practice. In 178 countries (90%), religious groups must register with the governments for various purposes, and in 75 countries, national or local governments limit efforts by religious groups or individuals to persuade others to join their faith. The study was based on information gathered from 16 governmental and nongovernmental organizations representing more than 99.5% of the world’s population. (Religion News Services, 12/16/09)What are your thoughts?
