Religious Freedom report

Some important stuff that you won't see on the news:
http://religious-freedom-report.org

The website is a bit klutzy and confusing, but a quick scan makes for some interesting reading, particularly this editorial:

“This violence against Christians, Muslims and other minorities – many of which belong to low-caste communities – reveals the emergence of a particularly aggressive form of nationalism evident both in India and other countries around the world. The nationalism in question not only identifies a threat to the nation state from law-abiding minority groups but carries out acts of aggression calculated to force them to forsake their distinctive identity or leave the country. Such a threat can be termed ultra-nationalism. Amid heightened concerns about alleged evangelisation among Hindu communities, minorities are accused – as one Indian MP put it – “as a threat to the unity of the country”.[8] Such claims are indicative of a nationalist mind-set which identities the nation-state exclusively with Hinduism.”

Unfortunately this seems a symptom of a much deeper problem, now on the rise in so called western democracies. The rise of nationalism, used as a prop by unscrupulous politicians, threatens more than just religious freedom.

ExceedAndExcel wrote: Can you give us a summary of what you took away from it? How did Australia do? I doubt many will be inclined to wade through it all. Maybe in wrong, who knows. Agree with the summary that religious freedom is a fundamental human right.

Only skimmed it myself but it's interesting reading, and paints a very different picture to the usual stuff you hear on media. Some eye openers re India and a few places you mightn't expect so much, strong links to nationalistic/ repressive regimes around the globe (duh), strong links to islam around the globe (duh), a lot more anti semitism than you'd expect, a lot more christian persecution than we hear about... lots more but that's some things that stand out to begin with.
Australia's main problem seems to be anti-semitism, xenophobia, and the gay marriage ruling posing a threat to freedom of religions with traditional ideas of marriage.

Is the ''curtain of indifference'' towards religious freedom/religious entitlement relative to the rise of agnosticism'atheism in the West?

Passing Through wrote: Is the ''curtain of indifference'' towards religious freedom/religious entitlement relative to the rise of agnosticism'atheism in the West?

Yes.

By the way, I was wrong about the Oz situation being characterized especially by the gay marriage issue - there was much more about that in the USA report and I mixed them up because it was mentioned about Oz too.

I would never have thought that anti-semitism was the main problem in Oz, but that's what the report found.

I would think the concern for religious freedoms abroad would by and large be along religious (ie tribal) lines. For example, I doubt too many American Evangelicals were shedding too many tears for the Rohingya, or Iranians for Jews.

JudgeHolden wrote: I would think the concern for religious freedoms abroad would by and large be along religious (ie tribal) lines. For example, I doubt too many American Evangelicals were shedding too many tears for the Rohingya, or Iranians for Jews.

Yep but I think that people from places where religious conflict is common would still be much more able to sketch out the main ideas/history of the different players, with their own prejudices of course. Americans, aussies etc would be more likely to be complacent and blissfully ignorant. Only people who care a lot about religion (including activist atheists) would know mich beyond what they get from life experience, education and TV. Which doesn't amount to much these days.

Anyway, forget Australia - the main thing about that report is how huge the problem is around the globe, and we hear so little about it. The Main Findings bit should be taught in every high school, and get some (hopefully unbiased) media attention, IMO. But that ain't gonna happen.

stayer wrote: Passing Through wrote: Is the ''curtain of indifference'' towards religious freedom/religious entitlement relative to the rise of agnosticism'atheism in the West? Yes. By the way, I was wrong about the Oz situation being characterized especially by the gay marriage issue - there was much more about that in the USA report and I mixed them up because it was mentioned about Oz too. I would never have thought that anti-semitism was the main problem in Oz, but that's what the report found.

That is interesting and I wouldn’t have thought that either. I’ve certaibly never come across it to any meaningful level anyway. Sure, I’ve seem stupid school boy stuff at highschool and that scumbag’s scumbag LR80 on this forum but never seen it in everyday life at all.

ExceedAndExcel wrote: stayer wrote: Passing Through wrote: Is the ''curtain of indifference'' towards religious freedom/religious entitlement relative to the rise of agnosticism'atheism in the West? Yes. By the way, I was wrong about the Oz situation being characterized especially by the gay marriage issue - there was much more about that in the USA report and I mixed them up because it was mentioned about Oz too. I would never have thought that anti-semitism was the main problem in Oz, but that's what the report found. That is interesting and I wouldn’t have thought that either. I’ve certaibly never come across it to any meaningful level anyway. Sure, I’ve seem stupid school boy stuff at highschool and that scumbag’s scumbag LR80 on this forum but never seen it in everyday life at all.

Well if that's a finding I wouldn't be putting much credence in anything it says. Anti-Semitism - can honestly say in 60 plus years I have never seen it in my dealings anywhere.

oneonesit wrote: ExceedAndExcel wrote: stayer wrote: Passing Through wrote: Is the ''curtain of indifference'' towards religious freedom/religious entitlement relative to the rise of agnosticism'atheism in the West? Yes. By the way, I was wrong about the Oz situation being characterized especially by the gay marriage issue - there was much more about that in the USA report and I mixed them up because it was mentioned about Oz too. I would never have thought that anti-semitism was the main problem in Oz, but that's what the report found. That is interesting and I wouldn’t have thought that either. I’ve certaibly never come across it to any meaningful level anyway. Sure, I’ve seem stupid school boy stuff at highschool and that scumbag’s scumbag LR80 on this forum but never seen it in everyday life at all.      Me either in 85 years oneone .    Change your reading material. Well if that's a finding I wouldn't be putting much credence in anything it says. Anti-Semitism - can honestly say in 60 plus years I have never seen it in my dealings anywhere.

That will do me. The first line in the introduction - as pope Francis states "Reason recognises that religious freedom is a fundamental right of man, reflecting its highest dignity". Really ! 

oneonesit wrote: That will do me. The first line in the introduction - as pope Francis states "Reason recognises that religious freedom is a fundamental right of man, reflecting its highest dignity". Really !

Agree there is a certain level of hyperbolic fluff in that statement but essentially correct IMO. Why shouldn’t people be free to practice whatever religion they want?

oneonesit wrote: That will do me. The first line in the introduction - as pope Francis states "Reason recognises that religious freedom is a fundamental right of man, reflecting its highest dignity". Really !

This bloke must have a short memory ! Obviously not an avid historian