Religious Freedom in the World Today: Paradox and Promise by by Allen D. Hertzke The Pontifical...
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Transcript of Religious Freedom in the World Today: Paradox and Promise by by Allen D. Hertzke The Pontifical...
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