Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
The Government Restrictions Index is based on 20 questions used by the Pew Forum to assess whether governments – including at the local or provincial level – restrict religious practices or beliefs. The questions are intended to gauge the extent to which governments try to control religious groups or individuals, prohibit conversions from one faith […]
Restrictions on religion can result not only from the actions of governments but also from acts of violence and intimidation by private individuals, organizations or social groups. The Pew Forum’s Social Hostilities Index is a measure of concrete, hostile actions that effectively hinder the religious activities of the targeted individuals or groups. An absence of […]
Muslims living in the Asia-Pacific region, which includes 61 countries and territories, constitute 62% of all Muslims worldwide. The six Asian countries with the largest Muslim populations are: Indonesia (203 million), Pakistan (174 million), India (161 million), Bangladesh (145 million), Iran (74 million) and Turkey (74 million). Together these six countries are home to about […]
More than half a century ago, the United Nations affirmed the principle of religious freedom in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, defining it as “the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.” For just as long, journalists and human rights groups have reported on persecution of minority faiths, outbreaks of sectarian violence […]
Background Hometown Springfield, Mass. Age 79 Religion Unitarian Universalist Education Columbia University, B.S., 1956 Candidate Website www.gravel2008.us Candidacy Status Formally announced candidacy on April 17, 2006 On March 26, 2008, Gravel announced his intention to join the Libertarian party and seek the Libertarian presidential nomination Political Experience U. S. Senator from Alaska, 1969-1981 Speaker of […]
Background Hometown Alexandria, Va. Age 73 Religion Baptist Education National War College, attended courses, 1973-1974 United States Naval Academy, B.S., 1958 Candidate Website www.johnmccain.com Candidacy Status Formally declared candidacy April 25, 2007. Political Experience U.S. Senator from Arizona, 1987-present U.S. Representative from Arizona, 1983-1987 Professional Experience Senate Navy Liaison, 1977-1981 United States Navy 1958-1981 Family […]