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Government restrictions on religion and social hostilities involving religion increased in 2015 for the first time in three years, according to Pew Research Center's latest annual study on global restrictions on religion.
The share of countries with "high" or "very high" levels of government restrictions – i.e., laws, policies and actions that restrict religious beliefs and practices – ticked up from 24% in 2014 to 25% in 2015. Meanwhile, the percentage of countries with high or very high levels of social hostilities – i.e., acts of religious hostility by private individuals, organizations or groups in society – increased in 2015, from 23% to 27%. Both of these increases follow two years of declines in the percentage of countries with high levels of restrictions on religion by these measures.
Among the world's 25 most populous countries, Russia, Egypt, India, Pakistan and Nigeria had the highest overall levels of government restrictions and social hostilities involving religion. Egypt had the highest levels of government restrictions in 2015, while Nigeria had the highest levels of social hostilities.
Global Restrictions on Religion Rise Modestly
Does this reflect your personal experience ?
(Score: 4, Informative) by DannyB on Thursday April 20 2017, @03:36PM (2 children)
First, obligatory sarcasm:
Religion is the best way to heal a world that is deeply and violently divided by religion.
Next, an observation.
I find it amusing that the new testament is specific that physical circumcision is not what is important.
If you are talking to a Christian who insists that circumcision is necessary, point these out.
1 Corinthians 7:19 [biblegateway.com]
Galatians 5:6 [biblegateway.com]
That second one has a larger interesting context. In short, a group was insisting on circumcision. Paul argues it is unnecessary, but I love his conclusion in verse 12:
Perhaps those today who would argue for circumcision should heed that advice, from Paul, right in the bible, the NT even. If you're a big supporter of circumcision for religious reasons, especially Christian, then go the whole way!
To transfer files: right-click on file, pick Copy. Unplug mouse, plug mouse into other computer. Right-click, paste.
(Score: 2) by AthanasiusKircher on Thursday April 20 2017, @04:48PM (1 child)
Who are these Christians who advocate circumcision on the basis of Christianity? As you rightly point out, for most of Christian history, circumcision was associated with Jews. It was frequently used by Christians who wanted to find Jews and persecute them. Paul says you don't have to do it. All Christian denominations I know of are basically neutral on the subject.
The reason non-Jewish Americans do it has nothing to do with religion and a lot to do with suspect "hygiene" guidelines doctors came up with about a century ago. It's mostly propagated in the U.S. not because of Christianity but because there is ignorance about how unnecessary it is and because of a desire to have kids "look like daddy."
Lots of bad stuff to blame on Christianity in history, but I'm really not sure this is one of them.
(Score: 2) by FatPhil on Friday April 21 2017, @12:12PM
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves