Religion Map of the World...

[Deleted07]

So I found this on one of the leghumpers Instagrams, and I figured it was too much fo a subject for it not to have its own post. So I Hope you don't mind:

Heres a bigger version: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7FOeqL5aVgg/T ... er+map.jpg

Now in googling I came across quite a few of these 'religion maps of the world', with many varying degree's of inconsistency! But what gets me is the claims it makes...

RESTRICTED NATION

This includes countries where government policy or practice prevents Christians from obtaining Bibles or other Christian literature. Also included are countries where government-sanctioned circumstances or anti-Christian laws lead to Christians being harassed, imprisoned, killed or deprived of possessions or liberties because of their witness.

HOSTILE AREA

This includes large areas in nations where governments consistently attempt to provide protection for the Christian population, but Christians are victims of violence because of their witness.

I don't know a lot about statistics of religion in the world, but as far as I know Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia and the Philippines, Thailand etc (any of those southeast Asian countries) are not hostile territories. So I can't help but feel this is a big propaganda thing! Am I right?

Could someone enlighten me with some good information? Feel free to discuss any aspect of the issue, ask questions so we can learn etc. Its all very interesting to me and I would love some answers and information! Thanks!

[CynicMom]

Based on those definitions the US would be considered a Hostile Area for people practicing minority religions.

[Swamptribe]

Don't you know, the only religion that counts is Christianity. They even outlined in the definitions that only the Christian religion counts. And not just any version of Christianity, but TRUE CHRISTIANITY ONLY!

[luckystone]

I've been to Vietnam, didn't realise it was restricted, didn't try to buy a bible or anything because I'm not Christian. But my friend went to church there and nobody was arrested lol. Maybe they're using some technical definition of the laws. Which might explain Colombia which I thought was Christian. Or, more likely, it's total crap because it's propaganda for stupid fundies. I'm impressed they got the country labels right to be honest.

[Guest Anonymous]

This must be pretty good for those, vaguely masturbatory, persecution fantasies entertained by fundies. The only problem is that there is no special colour for Europe (run by socialists) or the US (run by a secret Muslim).

I am not sure why Belarus is listed as a hostile territory. I would have thought that the majority of Belorussians were Christian.

Riffles

[Peas n carrots]

So I found this on one of the leghumpers Instagrams, and I figured it was too much fo a subject for it not to have its own post. So I Hope you don't mind:

Heres a bigger version: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7FOeqL5aVgg/T ... er+map.jpg

Now in googling I came across quite a few of these 'religion maps of the world', with many varying degree's of inconsistency! But what gets me is the claims it makes...

I don't know a lot about statistics of religion in the world, but as far as I know Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia and the Philippines, Thailand etc (any of those southeast Asian countries) are not hostile territories. So I can't help but feel this is a big propaganda thing! Am I right?

Could someone enlighten me with some good information? Feel free to discuss any aspect of the issue, ask questions so we can learn etc. Its all very interesting to me and I would love some answers and information! Thanks!

Philippines is very Catholic, which the evangelicals do not consider Christian.

This is just me musing, but perhaps they are considered hostile because the countries highlighted do not have Christian majorities or a state sanctioned Christian church?

I'll have to do more research. I wonder if some of these countries are hostile towards missionary type activities, or is there more of a leftover anti-colonial sentiment and Christianity is only part of the equation.

[luckystone]

Philippines is very Catholic, which the evangelicals do not consider Christian.

I thought most of South America was like that though and almost none of it is hostile.

[Renting with Raggles]

There are Bibles and books on religion for sale in the bookshops here in China. In English and Chinese. It's surprising how many people just don't get how little the government gives a fuck. Last time I was in the train station to Beijing reading Orwell and this American came up to me and asked me if I wasn't scared to be caught with it. Dude, I bought the copy here!

[gardenvarietycitizen]

I'd like to see a map like this made for $cientology with the same types of definitions and see what the Christians think of it.

[maybeizfundie]

Can't speak to the rest, but there are parts of Indonesia that are extremely hostile to Christianity.

My husband's country makes the list even though it is about half Orthodox Christian. There are two reasons for that--one, there are regions where Christians are the minority and they do suffer violence--physical attacks and church burnings, etc. And two, because the teeny-tiny Evangelical population is not well-liked by either the Muslim population or the Orthodox population and there have been incidents of conflict because of that.

[Grania]

I am not sure why Belarus is listed as a hostile territory. I would have thought that the majority of Belorussians were Christian.

Riffles

President Lukashenko is called the last dictator in Europe. It's basically hostile for everyone.

[Loveday]

I really know very little about it, so maybe I shouldn't say anything, but I do remember hearing my in-laws (they're Filipino) talking about certain regions in the Philippines where Christians (Catholic or otherwise) are also in the minority and things can get very violent there. So maybe that's why the Philippines comes up as either restricted or hostile, depending on area, on that map. :think:

[emmiedahl]

I know a bit about the situation in Kazakhstan. Christians are allowed to openly practice and also to discuss their religion but proselytizing is illegal for EVERYONE. Kazakhstan has a very ethnically and religiously diverse population, and this is a way of maintaining peace between the groups. So if persecution means Christianity is treated EXACTLY LIKE EVERY OTHER RELIGION, then, yeah, I guess Kazakhstan persecutes Christians.

They refused entry to some JW's a while back because they were there solely to proselytize.

[Sunnichick31]

Turkey's considered hostile? Bullcrap. Turkey is a secular, Muslim country. Muslims are probably persecuted more than Christians there. (I'm not making that up. Wearing a headscarf to school and work is restricted, and when Sunnidude was in the military there, he couldn't let any of the higher-ups see him praying or they would have given him a hard time. He's told me a lot of stories about TUrkey, and while it does sound nice, it also sounds like they seriously have problems regarding religion.)

Since Christians don't usually wear headscarves, nor do they have to pray in an obvious way, I doubt there is any persecution there. They could blend in with the masses.

[freealljs]

I have friends who teach throughout the Middle East. Most of them are Christian, and they attend churches there, no persecution or threats of violence. Unless the leghumper has been there herself, she really needs to shut the fuck up and do some research before putting out tripe like this.

[emmiedahl]

I have a feeling those countries are all ones in which Christianity is not given an explicit, institutional preference. Because anything else is persecution :roll:

[E Street Fan]

I have a feeling those countries are all ones in which Christianity is not given an explicit, institutional preference. Because anything else is persecution

QFT!

I think that to the fundies, anything short of Fundie World Domination means they are being persecuted. I seriously want to punch anybody who says the words "persecution of Christians."

[terranova]

WTF?? My country isn't even on the map!

[DifferentGurl]

I thought most of South America was like that though and almost none of it is hostile.

Yes, the Philippines is very Catholic, but there are parts of the country where a majority of the the population is Muslim ( in the map, it mentions only Mindanao, not the whole country ). But the main problem is the fact that there is this Muslim terrorist group that is terrorizing parts of the country. That could be what the group meant by the Philippines being a "hostile country".

As for Colombia, apparently the FARC guerrillas are anti-Christian. That could be why it's called a "hostile country".

[DifferentGurl]

QFT!

I think that to the fundies, anything short of Fundie World Domination means they are being persecuted. I seriously want to punch anybody who says the words "persecution of Christians."

Just like how I hate it when some Muslim countries "persecute the Christians", I hate it when Christians persecute other religions. Let everyone worship in whatever way they want! Don't force your religion down everyone's throats! There is no "bad religion"!

[Deleted07]

Just like how I hate it when some Muslim countries "persecute the Christians", I hate it when Christians persecute other religions. Let everyone worship in whatever way they want! Don't force your religion down everyone's throats! There is no "bad religion"!

This! I was just thinking how would they react if the Islamic Muslim faith came out with the same map, only with say, America, England and Australia as "Hostile" areas for the muslim faith, because they are see as more 'Christian' countries, who often have a few idiots speaking out against that faith, openly.

[Esther]

This! I was just thinking how would they react if the Islamic Muslim faith came out with the same map, only with say, America, England and Australia as "Hostile" areas for the muslim faith, because they are see as more 'Christian' countries, who often have a few idiots speaking out against that faith, openly.

Hush, don't you know England's under Sharia law now? I've had two idiots on the Internets tell me this the past few days.

[bananacat]

Why is there a pie chart comparing communists to Muslims and Hindus? Is someone really stupid enough to think that communism is a religion?

[terranova]

Why is there a pie chart comparing communists to Muslims and Hindus? Is someone really stupid enough to think that communism is a religion?

Anyone not a Christian is a dirty commie, dontcha know.

[thoughtful]

RESTRICTED NATION

This includes countries where government policy or practice prevents Christians from obtaining Bibles or other Christian literature. Also included are countries where government-sanctioned circumstances or anti-Christian laws lead to Christians being harassed, imprisoned, killed or deprived of possessions or liberties because of their witness.

HOSTILE AREA

This includes large areas in nations where governments consistently attempt to provide protection for the Christian population, but Christians are victims of violence because of their witness.

Bolding mine. Maybe the witnessing is part of the problem, since many in the "we're being perrrrrrsecuuuuuted" crowd don't take St. Francis of Assisi's advice (preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words).

Just going and being themselves wouldn't be on their travel plans -- they'd probably be annoying.

I don't think anyone should have violence used against them for that, but perhaps they are not just talking about people who go to a country and happen to be Christian, or just want to worship in private or in churches once there.