ICC Note: The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life has, in what is perhaps the most in-depth survey of its kind, reported that hostility towards religion continued to rise across the globe throughout 2012. Hostility rose the most in countries where radical Islamic theology has grown. This alarming development does not bode well for Christian minorities, who faced restrictions or hostility in more countries around the world than any other faith. The following article takes a look at some of the statistics reported by the Pew Forum. 
1/15/2014 World (WWM) – The world became generally more hostile to religious believers of all faiths, Christianity included, in 2012, according to a major annual report issued Jan. 14.
Christians were harassed in more countries than followers of other faiths, though pressure on Muslims and Jews was widespread globally, according to the study, conducted by the Washington, D.C.-based Pew Research Center.
The report, now in its sixth year, measures constraints on religious freedom in two major categories: social hostilities and government restrictions. It surveys conditions in 198 countries, encompassing 99 per cent of the world’s population.
Social Hostilities
A third of the world’s countries had high measures of social hostilities in 2012, the highest level recorded in the study’s six-year history. Pew defines social hostilities as ranging from terrorism and mob violence to harassment over religious attire.
Nearly half of all countries reported abuse of religious minorities by individuals or groups who took offense at, or felt threatened by, the minority. In the first year of the study, less than a quarter of all countries reported such abuse.
Violence, or the threat of it, against religious minorities to enforce religious norms was reported in 39 per cent of countries, compared to 33 per cent a year earlier and 18 per cent in the first year of the study.
The report said 2012 growth of social hostilities was especially rapid in Northern Africa and the Middle East, and was highest in Pakistan.
…
The Christian experience
The Pew Center report concerns itself with all religions, not Christianity alone. It did say, however, that Christians in 2012 were harassed in more countries, 110, than any other single religion. Muslims were harassed in 109, and Jews, 71. Since the report began in 2007, Christian harassment has been reported in 151 countries, and harassment of Muslims in 135.
About the report
The Pew report released Tuesday covers 2012. It doesn’t take into account momentous developments in 2013, such as the ouster of Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Morsi from Egypt’s presidency and the subsequent violence against Coptic churches across Egypt; or the anarchy and deadly Muslim-Christian violence in the Central African Republic; or the continued exodus of Christians from Syria and much of the Middle East; or the bombings in Peshawar, Pakistan, that killed scores of Christians.
…
[Full Story]