Religious Freedom in the World Today: Paradox and Promise by by Allen D. Hertzke The Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences XVII 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 As empirical value of religious freedom becomes increasingly manifest … international consensus behind it is weakeningPromise: Historic convergence of events and evidence corroborates ontological roots of religious aspiration, and this reality creates strategic opportunity to navigate crucible of 21 st Century Historic convergence of events and evidence corroborates ontological roots of religious aspiration, and this reality creates strategic opportunity to navigate crucible of 21 st Century Paradox and Promise

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

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

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

Unprecedented documentary record and unique capacity to test timeless propositions Unprecedented documentary record and unique capacity to test timeless propositions Link to civil liberties, women’s status, economic development, societal peace, and regional stability Link to civil liberties, women’s status, economic development, societal peace, and regional stability Crucial underpinning to democratic sustainability – “Twin tolerations” Crucial underpinning to democratic sustainability – “Twin tolerations” Justice demands it. Violations disrupt the social order. 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 Religious Participation Positive Contributions of Religion to Society Social Restriction of Religious Freedom Violence related to Religion Governmental Restriction of 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] 70% of world’s people live in countries with high restrictions on religion [Pew Forum, 2009] Believers: discrimination, intimidation, arrest, torture, death Believers: discrimination, intimidation, arrest, torture, death Communities: stigmatized in media, prevented from building houses of worship/schools, property destruction, mob violence Communities: stigmatized in media, prevented from building houses of worship/schools, property destruction, mob violence Undermines progress for democracy and freedom [Freedom House, 2011] Undermines progress for democracy and freedom [Freedom House, 2011] Status of Global Religious Freedom

Sources: 16 major human rights reports Sources: 16 major human rights reports 20 indicators of government restrictions 20 indicators of government restrictions 13 indicators of social hostilities 13 indicators of social hostilities Double-blind coders Double-blind coders Index measures derived for each country in study (198 nations) Index measures derived for each country in study (198 nations) Global Restrictions on Religion: Pew Forum Report, 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 interference with religious practice? Government discrimination or preferential treatment? Government discrimination or preferential treatment? Harassment of religious groups? Harassment of religious groups? Physical violence or imprisonment toward religious groups? Physical violence or imprisonment toward religious groups? Government ban on religious group? Government ban on religious group? Government Restriction Indicators

Attempts to prevent religious practice? Attempts to prevent religious practice? Malicious acts against religious persons or groups? Malicious acts against religious persons or groups? Mob violence against religious communities? Mob violence against religious communities? Intimidation or violence to enforce religious norms? 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 Index Saudi Arabia Qatar3.9<1

African Variation on Social Hostilities African Variation on Social Hostilities 5.8 Nigeria<1.0 Botswana & Mozambique 5.8 Nigeria<1.0 Botswana & Mozambique Asian comparison Asian comparison China 7.7 GRI; 1.6 SHI/ S. Korea 1.5 and 0 China 7.7 GRI; 1.6 SHI/ S. Korea 1.5 and 0 Middle East Democracies Middle East Democracies Turkey 6.4 GRI and 4.9 SHI Israel 4.5 GRI and 7.2 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 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 India’s Anti-Conversion Law and Mob Violence Against Religious Minorities Pakistan’s Blasphemy Law and Vigilante Action, Effect on Civil Society 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,