Religious Freedom in the World Today:

Paradox and Promise by

Allen D. Hertzke

The Pontifical Academy of Social SciencesXVII Plenary Session: Universal Rights in a World of

Diversity April 29, 2011

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

Paradox and Promise

Would Article 18 pass today?

Challenges to religious pluralism Secularization of elite culture Other concerns trump religious

conscience Criminalization of expression National security assertions

Weakening of International Norms

Ancient Roots Embedded in International Law Universal Aspiration

Why a Universal Human Right?

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

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.

Empirical Validation

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

Countries

Religious Freedom

Broader ReligiousParticipation

Positive Contributions of Religion to Society

Social Restrictionof Religious Freedom

Violencerelated to Religion

Governmental Restrictionof Religious Freedom

Religious Freedom CycleReligious Violence Cycle

Empirical Model:Interaction of Social Forces and Government

Laws

Price of Freedom Denied, Grim & Finke, 2011

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]

Status of Global Religious Freedom

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)

Global Restrictions on Religion: Pew Forum Report, 2009 -

Methodology

Harassment or Intimidation of Religious Groups

Governments: Was there harassment or intimidation of religious groups by any

level of government?

Private actors: Was there harassment or intimidation of religious groups by

individuals or groups in society?

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?

Government Restriction 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?

Social Hostilities Indicators

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

Hostilities

Global Restrictions on Religion

Government Restrictions and Social Hostilities by Region

Diverging Paths

Government Restriction

Index

Social Hostilities

IndexSaudi Arabia 8.4 6.8

Qatar 3.9 <1

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 DemocraciesTurkey 6.4 GRI and 4.9 SHI

Israel 4.5 GRI and 7.2 SHI Europe: Russia 6, France 3.4, Poland

1

Regional Patterns

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

Illustration of Religious Violence Cycle

Religious Restrictions in the World’s 25 Most Populous

Countries

Strategies

Militant theocratic movements

Academy hostile to religious freedom

Widespread violence against religious communities

Weakening consensus re. religious liberty as universal right

Conditions Calling for Change

Extensive government restrictions of freedom of conscience

Increased freedom of faith

Increased vitality of religious communities

Reduced violence & intimidation

Reduced legal restrictions

Increased democratic consolidation

Improved status of women

Improved global security

Reduced incarceration of prisoners of conscience

Ultimate Impacts

Enable development of

Outcomes

Which, over time, lead to

Which generate knowledge,

diffuse ideas, & fortify advocacy

to produce

Resources for Change

Theory of Change for Effecting Advances in Religious Freedom

Allen D. Hertzke, 11-10-09