Is the USA the only country where people can practice any religion?

Question

It is often said that the USA is the country with the most religious freedoms. Does this mean that no other country allows its citizens to openly practice their choice of religions? I know there are the obvious exceptions (ie the middle east) but seriously, we can't be the only one. Is this just more "propaganda" the US promotes so the citizens will feel superior in their world status?

Answer 1

Absolutely not--many countries allow their citizens to practice whatever religion they choose. They do not, however, have these "rights" written into their constitutions.

Answer 2

It is not the only country that allows its citizens to practice whatever religion they want. Most European countries allow the same and probably a few more countries in other continents too. You're right, it's just another propaganda the US promotes to make itself sound greater than the rest.

The funny thing is, the US has less religious freedom than some other countries. US citizens can practice whatever religion they want, but they can't become President if they're atheists. That's not full religious freedom, is it?

Answer 3

While there are other countries that have certain freedom of religion, most have an official state religion, and people are encouraged to join to the extent that most don't even consider others.

For example, in Norway any member of the Lutheran church gets free health care from the government. How much headway do you think other religions can make against that?

Most people in Great Britain are members of the church of England, just because they always have been. Things are changing - especially with Muslim immigrants - but most people belong to a church they never attend.

While it's technically legal to worship in other ways in Italy, Roman police have stood by while church buildings were destroyed.

We may not be the only country where people can practice any religion, but we are able to do that, no matter how much it angers the atheists.

Answer 4

My experience of living in Canada and the US is that Canada has the same religious freedom that the US claims, but religious diversity is much better tolerated by Canadians--in fact, not merely tolerated, but appreciated for the diversity it brings to life.

I feel that you have zeroed in on something when you mentioned the propaganda that makes the US seem superior -- I think that that Canada and other countries' example of national health care and welfare systems are much better and more compassionate--that these countries, despite the higher tax rate that American are less willing to take on, enjoy a much higher standard of living on the average.

Yes, the US has many good aspects about it, but is the only place on earth that does? --no, it certainly is not.

Answer 5

In general, countries that do not have an official stance prohibiting religion or are mostly Christian / Catholic are open to practice any religion. There are some obvious items forbidden, such as human sacrifice and such, but otherwise these countries shouldn't have a problem.

As for the US, it is actually very ironic, since you cannot practice Christianity in their public school system (whereas Islam is allowed).

Answer 6

The things about religion that are unique to our nation (U.S.A.) are that our religious freedoms are written right into the constitution as well as a "separation of church and state". Many other countries allow a certain amount of "freedom of religion" NOW but it was not always that way. Also many other countries still have a state/government controlled religion.

Answer 7

Great Britain, France, and Germany all allow a person to practice any religion, but that doesn't mean they allow as much freedom as we do here. Germany and France are officially agnostic, which means that they make laws to keep people from preaching too openly, going door to door, etc. Britain has an offical (Christian) Church (the Anglican Church) that gets money from the state, so even though you can worship at any church you want, no other church gets as much money from the government.

Answer 8

You can openly practice your religion in most western nations.

It is restricted in most others in violation of the UN "Universal Declaration of Human Rights" which all member nations are required to adhere to.

Article 18.

"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."

Try THAT in China, Saudi Arabia or Indonesia.

Answer 9

no, not really. Where the governments of other countries allow more than one religion, or even more than one denomination of the same religion, the people and their ministers/priests tend to treat each other as DEADLY enemies. just look at the catholics and protestants of Northern Ireland.

In the USA most religious violence is white trash like Aryan nation and the KKK blowing up black churches, which is more racist than religious.

Answer 10

Saying we are the country with the MOST religious freedoms does not mean that we are the ONLY country with religious freedoms.

Peace!

Answer 11

Young Grasshopper,

Are you kidding?? This is what the hyper-patriot nationalists would LIKE us all to believe!! Take a look at our current government...er...fundie, fundie, and more fundies, screaming that we live in a "Christian" nation. I think we are probably one of the only "first-world" countries still arguing over abortion!!

Witches still get harassed here (not burned anymore, thankfully though). Muslims still get profiled as "terrorists". We still have "In God We Trust" written on our currency!

In reality, we are probably at the very bottom of the religious tolerance barrel as far as first-world countries go!!