Religious Freedom in a World of Religious Restrictions

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Religious Freedom in a World of Religious Restrictions
About half a decade ago John F. Kennedy spoke these famous words: “tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one's own beliefs. Rather it condemns the oppression or persecution of others” (1930). Nowadays the issues of tolerance, oppression and persecution are still relevant, especially with regard to religion. Even though globally and nationally religious restrictions are increasing, without most Western people’s awareness, there is hope for an increase in religious freedom in the future.
RELIGIOUS RESTRICTIONS INCREASING WORLDWIDE
Statistics World Wide
Religious restrictions are on the increase globally the PEW research conducted in 2011 uncovered (Pew Research Center 2012). The number of countries with high or very high restrictions on religious beliefs increased most. A lot of the countries with high or very high restrictions are highly(?) populous countries, so the percentage of people currently living in countries with high restrictions on religious beliefs and practices is 75. The PEW research measured both governmental restrictions and social hostilities occurring in most countries around the world. Governmental restrictions included government laws, policies and actions that restrict religious beliefs or practices. Social hostilities included acts of religious hostility by private individuals and social groups. Overall both variables increased worldwide. The PEW research attributes the rise in restrictions to increases in crimes, malicious acts and violence motivated by religious hatred or bias, and increases in government interference with worship or other religious practices. Particular religions, like Jews, Christians, Buddhists, adherents of folk or traditional...

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...ocio-Legal Analysis." Sociology of Religion 67(3): 271-294. Retrieved November 5, 2013 (http://www.jstor.org/stable/25046739).
Schutten, Andrew. 2013. "ARPA in Ottawa Citizen and Calgary Herald: Who is Calling the Kettle Black?" Association for Reformed Political Action, September 13. Retrieved November 22, 2013 (http://arpacanada.ca/issuesresearch/religious-freedom/1874-arpa-in-ottawa-citizen-and-calgary-herald-who-is-calling-the-kettle-black).
Smithey, Shannon I. 2001. "Religious Freedom and Equality Concerns under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms." Canadian Journal of Political Science 34(1): 85-107. doi: 10.2307/3232544.
The Association of Religion Data Archives. 2010. "Canada, Religion and Social Profile" The Association of Religion Data Archives, 2010. Retrieved November 22, 2013 (http://www.thearda.com/internationalData/countries/Country_41_1.asp)

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