The Price of Freedom Denied

Abstract

The Price of Freedom Denied shows that, contrary to popular opinion, ensuring religious freedom for all reduces violent religious persecution and conflict. Others have suggested that restrictions on religion are necessary to maintain order or preserve a peaceful religious homogeneity. Brian J. Grim and Roger Finke show that restricting religious freedoms is associated with higher levels of violent persecution. Relying on a new source of coded data for nearly 200 countries and case studies of six countries, the book offers a global profile of religious freedom and religious persecution. Grim and Finke report that persecution is evident in all regions and is standard fare for many. They also find that religious freedoms are routinely denied and that government and the society at large serve to restrict these freedoms. They conclude that the price of freedom denied is high indeed.

Does faith limit immorality? The politics of religion and corruption

“…37 While most of these works are concerned with the effect of individual religious beliefs, the effect of religion -state relationship on religious tolerance, religious freedom, and human rights records is also revealed in some aggregated cross-national analyses. For instance, state regulation of religious activity 38 as well as legislation of religion into law and state support for one or more religions 39 are found to increase discrimination against minority religions and worsen a state's level of human rights practice.…”

Religious discrimination in European and Western Christian-majority democracies

“…Regardless of whether or not the government adheres to any of the standards of religious freedom discussed above, it is possible for societal actors to discriminate against religious minorities. Grim and Finke (2011) argue that the two are related in that societal discrimination is often a precursor to government restrictions on religious liberty.…”

“…First, such data is rare. Grim and Finke (2011) until recently have been the only source of variables using actions. Their five component measure of societal regulation of religion contains three attitude-based components and two action-based components-whether exist-ing religions try to shut out other religions and whether there are "social movements against certain religious brands".…”

“…Thus, governmentsponsored religions have an unfair advantage over non-supported religions in gaining congregants. While most proponents of this argument also advocate for free exercise in general, in a strict since this conception of religious freedom allows both support for religion and restrictions placed on it as long as all religions are treated the same (Finke, 1990(Finke, , 2013Grim and Finke 2011;Toft et al 2011).…”

The Impact of the Reformation on the Economic Development of Western Europe

“…Third, religious freedom promotes the protection of civil and human rights, such as freedom of speech, press and assembly (Grim and Finke, 2011). These rights are essential for the exchange of ideas -a very important component of an innovative economy.…”