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Religious Freedom in the World Today: Paradox and Promise

Religious Freedom in the World Today: Paradox and Promise. by Allen D. Hertzke The Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences XVII Plenary Session: Universal Rights in a World of Diversity April 29, 2011. Paradox and Promise. Paradox:

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Religious Freedom in the World Today: Paradox and Promise

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  1. Religious Freedom in the World Today:Paradox and Promise by Allen D. Hertzke The Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences XVII Plenary Session: Universal Rights in a World of Diversity April 29, 2011

  2. Paradox and Promise Paradox: • As empirical value of religious freedom becomes increasingly manifest … international consensus behind it is weakening Promise: • Historic convergence of events and evidence corroborates ontological roots of religious aspiration, and this reality creates strategic opportunity to navigate crucible of 21st Century

  3. Weakening of International Norms Would Article 18 pass today? • Challenges to religious pluralism • Secularization of elite culture • Other concerns trump religious conscience • Criminalization of expression • National security assertions

  4. Why a Universal Human Right? • Ancient Roots • Embedded in International Law • Universal Aspiration

  5. Rooted in the Ontology of Human Life • “Religious freedom expresses what is unique about the human person.” --Pope Benedict’s Message to the World, Jan. 1, 2011 • Universal Declaration of Human Rights: • Inherent dignity • Equal worth • Reason • Conscience • Community

  6. Empirical Validation • Unprecedented documentary record and unique capacity to test timeless propositions • Link to civil liberties, women’s status, economic development, societal peace, and regional stability • Crucial underpinning to democratic sustainability – “Twin tolerations” • Justice demands it. Violations disrupt the social order.

  7. Correlation of Religious Freedom with Other Freedoms and Well-being within Countries

  8. Empirical Model:Interaction of Social Forces and Government Laws Religious Violence Cycle Religious Freedom Cycle Social Restriction of Religious Freedom Religious Freedom Violence related to Religion Positive Contributions of Religion to Society Governmental Restriction of Religious Freedom Broader Religious Participation Price of Freedom Denied, Grim & Finke, 2011

  9. Status of Global Religious Freedom • 70% of world’s people live in countries with high restrictions on religion [Pew Forum, 2009] • Believers: discrimination, intimidation, arrest, torture, death • Communities: stigmatized in media, prevented from building houses of worship/schools, property destruction, mob violence • Undermines progress for democracy and freedom [Freedom House, 2011]

  10. Global Restrictions on Religion: Pew Forum Report, 2009 - Methodology • Sources: 16 major human rights reports • 20 indicators of government restrictions • 13 indicators of social hostilities • Double-blind coders • Index measures derived for each country in study (198 nations)

  11. Harassment or Intimidation of Religious Groups

  12. Government Restriction Indicators • Government interference with religious practice? • Government discrimination or preferential treatment? • Harassment of religious groups? • Physical violence or imprisonment toward religious groups? • Government ban on religious group?

  13. Social Hostilities Indicators • Attempts to prevent religious practice? • Malicious acts against religious persons or groups? • Mob violence against religious communities? • Intimidation or violence to enforce religious norms?

  14. Ranking of Countries with Top 5% Scores for Government Restrictions and Social Hostilities

  15. Global Restrictions on Religion

  16. Government Restrictions and Social Hostilities by Region

  17. Diverging Paths

  18. Regional Patterns • African Variation on Social Hostilities • 5.8 Nigeria<1.0 Botswana & Mozambique • Asian comparison • China 7.7 GRI; 1.6 SHI/ S. Korea 1.5 and 0 • Middle East Democracies Turkey 6.4 GRI and 4.9 SHI Israel 4.5 GRI and 7.2 SHI Europe: Russia 6, France 3.4, Poland 1

  19. Illustration of Religious Violence Cycle • India and Pakistan - Very high social hostilities index scores (8.8 India, 8.4 Pakistan) • India’s Anti-Conversion Law and Mob Violence Against Religious Minorities • Pakistan’s Blasphemy Law and Vigilante Action, Effect on Civil Society

  20. Religious Restrictions in the World’s 25 Most Populous Countries

  21. Conditions Calling for Change Extensive government restrictions of freedom of conscience Weakening consensus re. religious liberty as universal right Widespread violence against religious communities Academy hostile to religious freedom Militant theocratic movements Resources for Change Enable development of Strategies Theory of Change for Effecting Advances in Religious Freedom Which generate knowledge, diffuse ideas, & fortify advocacy to produce Outcomes Which, over time, lead to Ultimate Impacts Increased vitality of religious communities Reduced violence & intimidation Increased democratic consolidation Increased freedom of faith Reduced legal restrictions Reduced incarceration of prisoners of conscience Improved status of women Improved global security Allen D. Hertzke, 11-10-09

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