CHAPTER 11

GLOBAL RELIGION

Introduction

The Easter Sunday suicide bombings of April 2019 that killed more than 300 people were indications
of the catastrophic cultural condition of Sri Lanka. These terror attacks which were blamed to radical
Islamist group targeted churches and hotels killing hundreds of faithful and tourists. Fingers were
pointed out by the Sri Lankan government to the National Thowheeth Jama'ath, a separatist known
for the promotion of terrorist ideologies in South Asia. In India, the rise of fundamentalism security
condition across border and its experience with fundamentalist movement has been bloody and
traumatic. Mahatma Gandhi, before he could fully savor the fresh air of independent India, fell victim
to a Hindu fundamentalist's bullets. Minister Indira Gandhi was gunned down by her own Sikh
bodyguard in the aftermath of the Sikh fundamentalist movement that swept through the vibrant state
of Punjab in the early 1980s. And a female suicide bomber of the Tamil fundamentalist group from Sri
Lanka blew up Indira's son Rajiv Gandhi, who had succeeded her as Prime Minister (Kumar 2002-
18).

These cruel acts described by the international community are parts of the various global attacks
targeting religion and its believers New Zealand, a country that is known for tight security procedures,
like Sri Lanka was a victim too. A Muslim migrant killed New Zealanders during a church ceremony In
the Philippines, a cathedra was bombed and religious items were damaged by terrorists during the
Marawi siege in Mindanao. In some parts of Europe, intelligence reports have shown that churches
are primary targets of groups who wanted to destabilize the region. Muslims, Christians and other
global religions have experienced threats and dangers on their religions.

Extremists use their faith as a medium of defending their land territory and identity Others use religion
as retaliation to the excessive control and power of majority As the world is becoming more
interconnected and interdependent, new fibers of religious ideologies are becoming more evident
used differently and effectively based on their causes and intentions This chapter aims to discuss the
definition roles and problems of religion It explains two common linkages religion and conflict and
religion and globalization.

Definition of Religion

Religion Facts has garnered various definitions of religion from known personalities Included in
its list are the following four statements of meaning

Britannica Concise Encyclopedia (online, 2006)

1. "Relation of human beings to God or the gods or to whatever they consider sacred or in some
cases, merely supernatural.”
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary (online, 2006)
2. "a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes. beliefs Collegiate and
practices, a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor 2006) and faith"

Peter Berger
3. "Religion is the human attitude towards a sacred order that includes within it all being-human
or otherwise Le.. belief in a cosmos. the meaning of which both includes and transcends man."

Goldie Hawn, Beliefnet interview

4. "We go into religion in order to feel warmer in our hearts, more connected to others, more
connected to something greater and to have a sense of peace."

Portland State University, on its part has also gathered different definitions of religion on the
account of several authorities. Below are four definitions which are excerpts from its lists

American Heritage Dictionary

1. "Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power recognized as the creator and governor of
the universe; A particular integrated system of this expression; The spiritual or emotional
attitude of one who recognizes the existence of a superhuman power or powers."
John Ayto: Dictionary of Word Origins
2. "Latin religio originally meant 'obligation, bond’. It was probably derived from the verb religare
'tie back, tie tight It developed the specialized sense "bond between human beings and the
gods, and from the 5th century it came to be used for 'monastic life'.. 'Religious practices'
emerged from this, but the word's standard modern meaning did not develop until as recently
as the 16th century.”
Immanuel Kant
3. "Religion is the recognition of all our duties as divine commands:"

Ludwig Feuerbach
4. "Religion is a dream, in which our own conceptions and emotions appear to us as separate
existences, being out of ourselves."

From the lists of the definition of religion, which do you accept or refute? What is your own definition
of religion? Do you agree that the definition of religion is a controversial subject? In what sense?

Let us take examples of American Heritage Dictionary and Goldie Hawn on religion.
The former viewed religion as "Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power recognized as the
creator and governor of the universe a particular integrated system of this expression; the spiritual or
emotional attitude of one who recognizes the existence of a superhuman power or powers". The latter
on the other hand, gave the benefits one derives into going into religion by saying that "We go into
religion in order to feel warmer in our hearts, more connected to others, more connected to something
greater and to have a sense of peace"

The two abovementioned views are what OpenLearn argues as the two types of defining religion. The
first refers to substantive and the second one refers to the functional definition. A substantive
definition is a kind of definition that tells us what kind of thing religion is by pointing to its
distinguishing characteristic - usually its beliefs and or practices This type which attempts to describe
religion in terms of one distinguishing characteristic was found by scholars to be problematic in its
narrow and inflexible way of giving meaning to the word Such manner will entail prejudice or bias.

As one discusses religion, it is imperative to avoid being too narrow and too rigid, an alternative type
of defining religion in concentrating on what beliefs and practices do for the individual and the social
group on the needs they fulfill These needs include but are not limited to experience that people get
as they feel the warmth in their hearts, the connection with others and to something greater and the
sense of peace. This type of definition as many scholars prefer is known as a functional definition.

Dominant Religions in the World

Dr Stephen Juan (2006) stated that there are some 4,300 religions of the world. This claim is
according to Adherents, an independent, non-religiously affiliated organization that monitors the
number size of the world's religions.

From his research, the world's 20 largest religions and their number of believers are

 Christianity (2.1 billion)

 Islam (1.3 billion)

 Nonreligious

 (Secular/Agnostic/Atheist )(1.1 billion)

 Hinduism (900 million)

 Chinese traditional religion (394 million)

 Buddhism 376 million

 Primal- indigenous (300 million)

 African traditional and Diasporic (100 million)

  Sikhism (23 million)

 Juche (19 million)

 Spiritis m (15 million)

 Judaism (14 million)

 Bahai (7 million)

 Jainism (4.2 million)

 Tenrikyo (2 million)

 Neo- Paganism (1 million)

 Shinto (4 million)

 Cao Dai (4) million)

 Zoroastrians m (2.6 million)

 Unitarian- Universalism (800,000)

Table 11. 1 World's 20 Largest Religion

In addition, Dr Stephen Juan (2006) further states that nearly 75 per cent of the world's population
practices one of the five most influential religions of the world: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism,
Islam, and Judaism. Christianity and Islam are the two religions most widely spread across the world.
These two religions together cover the religious affiliation of more than half of the world's population.
If all non-religious people formed a single religion, it would be the world's third largest.

New Religious Movements(NRM)

As people search for a more eclectic, pluralistic, and syncretistic approach to their religious beliefs
and practices as brought about by the desire that these certain needs be met and satisfied in
response to modernity, pluralism and scientific worldview, they opted to try an alternative religion in
the form of a new religious movement

Klenk (2012) in his essay provides a systems theoretical perspective on the contentious debate on
the term New Religious Movement (NRM). He argues in favor of a systems theoretical definition of
NRM as a religious variation of a special type of social system, called New Social Movement Such
definition re-defines NRM as a special type of communication system (Movement) that gets its form
by a particular form of mobilization of communication for religious issues (Religious). Lastly, NRMS is
viewed as a product of the functional differentiated society evolving from the late 17th century (New).
Rubinstein (2019) in his article New Religious Movement stated that the new movement is usually
founded by a charismatic and sometimes highly authoritarian leader who is thought to have
extraordinary powers or insights. Many NRMs are tightly organized In light of their often self-
proclaimed "alternative" or "outsider" status, these groups often make great demands on the loyalty
and commitment of their followers and sometimes establish themselves as substitutes for the family
and other conventional social groupings.

Table 11.2 presents as a list of five NRM's with its brief description. founders, and its respective belief
and actuation.

Name of NRM Description Founder/s Belief /Actuation

Aleph formerly (1987- began in the 1980s as Matsumoto Chizuo, Aum gradually became
2000) AUM Shinrikyo, a spiritual group mixing known to his followers a paranoid doomsday
Japanese new Hindu and Buddhist as Master Asah who cult, convinced the
religious movement beliefs, working in declared himself to be about world to collapse
founded in 1987 AUM elements apocalyptic both Christ and the first into World War Three
Shinrikyo (AUM Christian prophesies "enlightened one" and only its members
Supreme Truth") since Buddha. survive. It was
responsible Tokyo
subway attack of 1995,
in which 13 people
died and thousands
more were injured
following the release of
nerve gas into the
city's subway system.
Arya Samaj (Sanskrit: vigorous reform Dayananda Sarasvati Reestablishment of the
"Society of Nobles) movement of modern Vedas, the earliest
Hinduism, founded in Hindu scriptures, as
1875 revealed truth.

Heaven's Gate religious group Marshall H. Applewhite The group advocated

founded in the United (1932-1997) and extreme self-
States on a belief in Bonnie Nettles (1927- renunciation to the
unidentified flying 1985) point of castration. The
objects. public was made
aware of its existence
after the suicide of 39
of its members in a
suburb of San Diego,
California, in March
1997.
 Peoples Temple religious community James Warren Jones, 900 of its members
(May 13 1931- died at their
November 18, 1978) compound. Jonestown,
in Guyana in a
massive act of murder-
suicide on Nov 18,
1978.
Transcendent al Technique of The technique was In the West,
Meditation also called meditation in which taught by the Hindu Transcendental
TM practitioners mentally monk Swami Meditation eventually
repeat a special Brahmadanda came to be taught and
Sanskrit word or Saraswati. also known practiced as a secular
phrase (mantra) with as Guru Dev (died path toward mental,
the aim of achieving a 1953). emotional and physical
state of inner well-being.
peacefulness and
bodily calm.

List of Sample NRM's with Some Pertinent Information

Religious Conflict and Violence

With a lot of religious institutions in the world coupled with its differing views and beliefs, it is would be
difficult to co-exist peacefully Aside from this, within each principal religious block there exists
fragmentation or dis-unity and even the NRM's are not exempted from this But what if religion unites
itself with politics? History would tell us that there is a long-continuing prying of religion in politics It is
surmised that when religion allies itself with state authorities, this would be a cause for war to erupt.
Havoc is also the aftermath when religion makes its presence felt in the arena of asserting the
supremacy of one's country or race over the other

Religion Persecution and Violence

Armstrong (2014) argued that before the modern period, religion was not a separate activity. it
permeated all human undertakings and ones of the culprits of the so called myth of religious violence
according to her were the European wars, in the 16th and 17th centuries. The pointless battles
between the Protestants and Catholics that were so caught up with their theological passions of the
Reformation resulted in a casualty of 35% of the population of central Europe. Aside from these, there
is an interplay of politics as this was also a conflict between two sets of state-builders. the princes of
Germany and the other kings of Europe as they were battling against the Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V and his ambition to establish a trans-European hegemony tailored after the Ottoman
empire.
Her premise was that these wars were neither "all about religion" nor "all about politics" Nor was it a
question of the state simply "using" religion for political ends. There must be something else The
same contention was held by Cavanaugh (2006) as he mentioned that part of the founding myth of
modern liberalism is that the early modern "wars of religion" threatened to destroy political life until
liberalism tamed religion by the separation of church from state Cavanaugh points out in his book,
however, that many historians argue that these "wars of religion" were not really about religion but
about state-building, nationalism, and economics If the wars of religion were about religion, says
Cavanaugh, then we would expect to see Catholics consistently fighting Protestants. But he notes,
Catholics often formed alliances with Protestants to fight other Catholics.

Armstrong (2014) further claimed when the new word "secularisation" was coined in the late 16th
century, it originally referred to "the transfer of goods from the possession of the church into that of
the world" This was a wholly new experiment. It was not a question of the west discovering a natural
law, rather secularisation was a contingent development. It took root in Europe in large part because
it mirrored the new structures of power that were pushing the churches out of government.

Murphy (2014) cited Cavanaugh (2006) into saying that it has become a very widespread article of
faith that there is something especially dangerous about religion. Ever since the Enlightenment many
liberal statesmen and intellectuals have argued that religious conflict is a profound threat to civil
peace and that the only way to secure civil order is to separate church from state Only by denying
religious institutions the coercive powers of government and making religion a purely private affair will
we be safe from the threat of religious violence.

It would be easier to define religion persecution in the context of religious liberty According to the
Office of Social Justice (2019) to manifest fully, in public and private, one's religion without
interference from the state' and (2) the obligation of the state to protect citizens from anyone who
might threaten the expression of those citizens faith

Does Religion Unite or Divide?

Lambert and Dollahite (2006), in their paper How Religiosity Helps Couples Prevent, Resolve, and
Overcome Marital Conflict conducted in-depth interviews with 57 highly religious, middle-aged
married couples representing the major Abrahamic faiths (Christianity. Judaism, Islam) residing in
New England and Norther California The study uses grounded theory methods to create themes and
a model describing the ways that religiosity influences marital conflict. Couples reported that
religiosity affects the conflict in their marriage at three phases of the conflict process: (a) problem
prevention, (b) conflict resolution, and (c) relationship reconciliation. The researchers suggested that
Practitioners may assist religious couples that are struggling with marital conflict by encouraging them
to look to religious beliefs and practices.

The above example clearly shows that religion does unite Another example is the incident that
Matthew (2017) in his article How Religion Unites and Divides Us mentioned. During times of crisis,
for instance after 9/11, people of the same religion were united as they go to their places of worship
and get comfort from each other Of course, people will only go to their own place of worship and the
different religions will still be divided.
Matthew (2017) expressed that most people believe in a religion so they can have a type of
community and so they can be united with other people. Religion has many negative effects as well. e
causing violence and wars which can create a divide between people Religion tends to divide people
more than it unites people

Many wars in history and in the present have been started because of religion. In the book "Does
Religion Cause Violence?" by Wam T Cavanaugh (2006), he says "Christianity Islam, and other fahs
are more inclined toward violence than ideologies and institutions that are identified as secular This
quote says that violence is more likely to come from religion than from any other institution that is not
religious. A well-known religious war in the past was the crusades and the inquisitions where
Christians waged war against other religions. About one to three million people were killed in the
crusades and about 3000 people were killed in the inquisitions Religious violence and wars can bring
people apart because it is usually people from one religion fighting against another religion

The Concept of Jihad

When one speaks of religious violence, one idea that would immediately come into one's mind is
Jihad. One definition given by dictionary.com as regards the word Jihad is a holy war undertaken as a
sacred duty by Muslims.

BBC (2009) claimed that that Muslims use the word Jihad to describe three different kinds of struggle:
1). A believer's internal struggle to live out the Muslim faith necessarily well as possible.
2). The struggle to build a good Muslim society
3). Holy war: the struggle to defend Islam, with force if necessary

For the purpose of discussion, the focus would be on holy war as this is the most commonly
associated phrase to Jihad Enein (2009) maintained that in the 19th century. Jihad (as warfare)
merged with national liberation movements, and regrettably the term Jihad as war found romanticism
and resonance in the case of Abdel-Kader of Algeria resisting French occupation, Ahmed Urabi of
Egypt resisting British control, and the Sanussis of Libya resisting the Italians The terms jihad,
national liberation and resistance became part of common Arabic discourse in the Middle Fast and
impacted Islamic thinking on the term jihad.

Talking about Jihad, a war will not be considered as such if the purpose is to: Force people to convert
to Islam. Conquer other nations to colonize them, Take territory for economic gain. Settle disputes,
and /or Demonstrate a leader's power

The permissible reasons for military Jihad are Self-defense Strengthening Islam, Protecting the
freedom of Muslims to practice their faith, Protecting Muslims against oppression, which could include
overthrowing a tyrannical ruler Punishing an enemy who breaks an oath, and Putting right a wrong.
The costs and effects of religious conflicts

Treve (2013) stated in his study. "Religious Conflict and its Impacts on Society A Case Study of
Global Evangelical and Evangelical Presbyterian Churches in Anyako", that religious conflicts had
negative effects on people on Anyako. The parent church had lost more than half of its members in a
new church in the province. The relationships of the people appeared to be strained because of
insecurities within the homes and inside of the community Fishing, as one of the means of living,
suffered negative impacts also because of the reduction in the income of the families. There is also
an interruption in the education of the students because of the staff in schools. In short, the conflict
decelerated the development of the town of Anyako. Moreover Lokko (2012) provided reasons why
there is an increase in religious violence in Africa such as "ethnicity tribalism, poor leadership,
mediocrity lack of accountability, exploitation of national resources by nationals and foreigners without
giving back to the society what they deserved. looting of national coffers and asserts."

On the other hand, some scholars claimed that conflicts could provide positive impacts On the other
side of the coin. Thompson and Hickey (2011) argued that conflicts generated negative implications
more often. They claimed that conflict is harmful to individuals and society; it should be avoided as
much as possible However, they confessed that conflict could enhance social solidarity and provide
space for change. In other words, it could be deduced that conflict as a whole could be destructive in
nature, but also constructive.

1. Impacts on Religious Life

Religious conflicts could result in two possible variants: it could strengthen the faith of the believers or
divide the church, In Christianity, they didn't encourage people to avoid conflict rather they challenge
the individuals to continue being faithful despite aggression and conflict. But in some cases,
Christianity's great philosophies became twisted. In 1517 a German monk named Martin Luther
pinned his 95 theses against the Catholic Church, questioning the papal authority and some
scriptures. This led to his excommunication and the split of the Western Catholic Church Dovio (2005)
that every time a new church rises, it breaks away the faith and practices of the old church.

2. Impacts on Social Life

In Anyako, Trevo reported that the relationships of the individuals became strained. The Protestants
started to created enmity around them, causing havocs in families and peers. Many of the people are
confused in their relationships in the town. In line with these, Barthel and Edling stated that, "Church
conflict is a shameful thing, it hurts, divides and it also brings about a painful and devastating family
conflict. Friends and family members who had their lifetimes together were no longer speaking with
one another (2012:1-15)." In addition in the findings, it was revealed that the people became so
annoyed with each other that a little provocation could start a fight. The people started to lose
perspective of the original conflict and took it personally Adeyemo (2006) claimed that a religious
conflict can be powerful enough to break relationships, spilt the nation, destroy a community and
demoralize the individuals involved.
 3. Impacts on Educational life
In some countries, teachers were forcefully removed from their departments because of an
involvement in a faction of the opposite church. This caused a delayed instruction in education, one of
the most sensitive sectors. During religious conflicts, children are one of the most pitiful individuals.
Their sufferings didn't stop after the war for schools and facilities were left in ashes and stones after
the conflict. It will take years and decades to rebuild and gather school materials.

In Ghana, teachers are relieved from their positions because of the conflict After the conflict, teachers
couldn't still resume classes because of the water shortage The students spent their mornings looking
for water to drink and water for bath.

4. Impacts on Economic Life

In a town in Ghana, people had difficulties in making a living According to a finding, 85% in Ghana
came from fishing In the midst of conflict, people of the town didn't have an access in some parts of
lakes and rivers due to safety precautions: Some of the fishermen couldn't wake up early too.
Because of this, partners became rivals causing a decline in fishing Sooner there is a shortage in
fishes and aquatic organisms The conflict resulted in a high cost of living in Ghana. because there is
no equilibrium in supply and demands Above analysis, there is a negative impact in economy and
livelihood

Another problem after the conflict is Inflation After Syrian War the country struggled against inflation
and poverty In 2013, the country reached 120% at an average of 50% per month since crisis started
Syria's currency-Lira collapsed from 50 Lira to a dollar in 500 Lira because of the casualties

The Future of Global Religions

According to Gale (2005), there are two basic possibilities on the relation of religion and globalization.
The first one involves the religious perspective on globalization. Many religious commentators either
considered globalization as a threatening challenge to human race or manifestation of evil They
believed that it could only result to violence and creates oppression in individuals. Still, some of them
believed that religion could help shaping globalization for the better

The second possibility revolves in the perception of globalization towards religion. A certain approach
involves perceiving religion as a transnational corporation, which could be rooted economic and
political understanding. Vast literatures on globalization appear to ignore religion and religious
organization with very exception of Islam. Some literatures about global migration and ethnicity only
paved a little attention in religion, only allowing it to play a significant role

Roles of Religion in Globalization

According to Thomas Gale (2005) in his article, Globalization and Religion, religion has three roles in
globalization.
1. Religion as a Transnational Institution
In spite of religion's wide contributions on history including in the rising of globalization, there is still an
absence of religion in several theories and perspective about globalization. Religion, as one of the
powerful forces in the past and oldest institutions, had been used to bind different regions in the world
It aided in creating a large geographical global system, economic trade and political empires.

During the times when the Europeans expand their reign and influence around the globe, Christianity
served as a key contributor to the process. The Church accompanied European colonizers in Africa,
America and Australasia through evangelical approach These movements, however, did not just
contribute in the rising of globalization but also in increasing the membership of Christianity Today,
Christian religions have the most numbers of members. It is important to take note that Christian
Religions are not just composed of the Catholic Church. There are the variety of Christian Religions
and orders which include: Protestant and Eastern Orthodox churches, the World Council of Churches.
Seventh-day Adventists. the worldwide Pentecostal movement, and Jehovah's Witnesses.

Along with the Christian Religion as a Transnational Institution, and organizations are also included
Abbas explained that there is Islamic Globalization and it started in Umayyad dynasty (661-750). This
does not just enlighten their souls but also drive them in supporting scholars and studies about
natural and social science. The knowledge they acquired are also distributed in other academe

In addition, Oomen described all religions as Transnational Institutions as long as they could organize
people beyond the national boundaries.

2. Religion as Cultural and Political Resource

Migration is common in globalizing world as people searched for better life. Religions served as
ground that furnishes them with identity and integrity especially if they are surrounded by strangers
Migrants depend on their religions as these attended their needs such as in food and shelter

For poorer migrants, religions offer survival aids that established them in the new land. Religion also
helps them back u global connectivity and in global flows it also helps them maintain ties with their
place of origin.

Moreover the role of religion is not only limited to migrants in terms of cultural resource. Globalization,
regardless of how it was defined and understood, involves a sudden change and uprooting
characteristics that could be too much for the people In Africa and Latin America, large of their
regions and populations are excluded from the main site of globalization, yet their lives are seemingly
affected. Religion and its religious organizations aided people in understanding themselves and how
to cope with the risky situations As such, they provided them with life practices that could help them
find a both meaningful and dignified place in the globe
 3. Religion as a Globalizing system
The role of religion in globalization transcends beyond the idea of its participation in the process It
concentrates in the depth that the very role of religions is in its institutional formation and modern
understanding. Religion as a whole implies that a globally extended religious system is composed of
similar characteristics and widely recognized kinds of religions. This includes Christianity, Islam,
Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Sikhism, Daoism, Jainism, Baha7, Shinto, Candomblé. African
Traditional Religions (ATR), Scientology, and so forth. In addition, the idea that a religion came from
other distinct and similar religions may be common to people including their believers.

Most scholars argued that religion is not a global system rather an effect of Eurocentrism. They
argued that religions scopes are too narrow and didn't cover nearly everything around the world A
prime argument also added that the ideas of religion as whole and distinct religions are products of
European and Christian movements which could be traced back in history. Fortunately, the idea of
religion as a globalizing system is already contested and accepted in other regions Religion is already
involved in subjects such as power and impositions just like other human institutions.

Gale (2005) suggested that a new religion will be created and strong religion belief will escape the
system. He also stated, "The existence of this global religious system, simultaneously at the global
and local levels, therefore spawns its constant development and the constant challenging of the way
it operates. That idea leads logically to consideration of the religiousness of the global system itself."

The Crisis and Decline of Religious Organizations in Developed Countries

Postmodernism is a kind of philosophy that rejects absolute truth, meaning it revolves in its opposite
the relative truth. This means that an accepted truth of a certain community might not be accepted in
other communities. It also rejects biblical truth. The most obvious example of this is sexual morality

Christianity teaches us that pre-marital sex is considered to be immoral and sinful yet postmodernism
claims that the said view only pertains in Christian believers excluding the non-believers. This caused
sexual morality to be more permissive in our society today.

According to Jim Leffel, a Christian apologist, there are five main tenets of Postmodernism.

1. Reality is in the mind of the beholder Reality is what's real to me, and I construct my own
reality in my mind.
2. People are not able to think independently because they are defined-"scripted," molded – by
their culture.
3. We cannot judge things in another culture or another person's life, because our reality may be
different from theirs. There is no possibility of "transcultural objectivity"
 4. We are moving in the direction of progress, but are arrogantly dominating nature and
threatening our future.
5. Nothing is ever proven, either by science, history or any other discipline

Religion is a cultural system that had fundamental set of beliefs and practices agreed upon a group of
people. Most of the religion is anchored in a supreme being or a divine god. Even though some
religion shared same beliefs, practices and norms-there is still an on-going conflict between the
religions and religious organization. Aside from this, each religion is prone to different issues whether
it includes political, formation, revision of commandments, leaders or other host of examples.

The aforementioned issues became crises if not properly addressed which could result in declining of
believers.

Country Declination rates in Religious organization

Norway 81% of the total population was raised in Protestant Christianity but
only 51% remained as Christians. There is a total of -28 difference.
Switzerland Over 81% of the total population was raised in Roman Catholic
Church but only 75% remained as Christians. In addition, there's a -6
difference.
Australia 25.3% of the total population was raised in Roman Catholic Church,
its most dominant religion but only 22.6% of them remained as
Christians There is a total of 3.3% difference Aside from this, 29.6% of
the total population stated that they had no religion.
Ireland The 88% of the total population was raised in Roman Catholic Church
nonetheless only 80% remained as Christians. There is a total of -8
difference that could be observed.
Germany Over 79% of the total population were raised in Roman Catholic
Church and Evangelical Church but only 71% remained as Christians.
There is a total of -8 difference.
Iceland There is 94% of the total population that belongs in Evangelical
Lutheran Church of Iceland but only 69.9% remained as Christians.
There is a total of 25 difference.
Hong Kong There is 18.2% of the total population that belongs in Buddhism in
2010 but decreased in to 14.2% in 2019. There is a total of -4%
difference Aside from this, 75.55% of the total population said that
religion is not important in their lives in 2014 survey
Sweden Over 74% of the total population was raised in Protestant Christianity
but only 52% remained in Christianity. There is a -22 of total
difference.
Singapore 42.5% of the total population originally belongs in Buddhism in 2010
but decreased to 33.9% in 2018. There is a total of -8.6% difference.
Netherlands Over 67% of the total population was raised in Roman Catholic
 Church but decreased to 51%. There is a total of -26 difference.

Table 11.3 Top Ten Developed Countries Experiencing a Declination Rates in Its Religious
Organization