ABSTRACT

This chapter focuses on how governments restrict religion. It addresses the treatment of minority religions and the treatment of religion in general separately. Regulation, restriction, and control of religion in this context means that a government by law or practice places some form of limitation on all religion in the country, and this specifically includes the majority religion. The chapter identifies three potential types of motivation for engaging in this type of policy. The first is ideological. Second is a fear of religion's political power. Third, religion is one of the creators of civic culture. Policies restricting, regulating, and controlling religious institutions are those that limit religious institutions in a manner beyond just restricting their ability to engage in politics. Rather these policies somehow limit the institution itself or its ability to act autonomously, even in matters having nothing to do with politics. The chapter discusses the types of discrimination related directly to religion.