Towards an index on policies on and attitudes towards propagation of religion or belief

Testing the Religion and State Dataset (Round 3) on BRICS+ countries

Abstract

Propagating faith is a fundamental element of freedom of religion or belief. The datasets of the RAS Project at Bar-Ilan University include variables across states related to propagation of faith and conversion. They cover religious discrimination against minority religions; regulation of and restrictions on the religious practice of majority religion or all religions; explicit legislative limitations; explicit constitutional protection or limitation; and societal discrimination, harassment, acts of prejudice and violence against proselytising by minority religions. This study explores the feasibility of an index on government policies regarding propagation of religion or belief and societal attitudes and behaviours in that regard.