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Which countries have the highest and lowest levels of religious tolerance?

Nira Oehm

Well, well, well, my fellow social media friends, it's time we delved deep into the world of religion and tolerance. Let's face it, we all have that one friend who's just way too passionate about their beliefs and can't seem to accept anyone else's - am I right? So, let's find out which countries out there have the highest and lowest levels of religious tolerance - the good, the bad, and the ugly!

First up, let's talk about the good - the countries with the highest levels of religious tolerance. Now, I don't know about you, but I always thought that Scandinavia was the place to be when it came to tolerance and acceptance. And guess what? I was right! Countries like Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland are all known for their incredibly high levels of religious tolerance. In fact, it's so tolerant up there that they even have a "Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster" - yeah, you read that right! They see religious freedom as an essential aspect of their society and value diversity in all forms.

But wait, there's more! Canada and New Zealand also made the list of highly tolerant countries. Both countries have indigenous cultures that they celebrate and respect, which has fostered a strong sense of empathy and understanding for other faiths. The United States also has a pretty good record when it comes to religious tolerance, but it's been fluctuating over the last few years due to political tensions (*cough* Trump administration *cough*).

Now, let's get to the juicy stuff - which countries have the lowest levels of religious tolerance? Brace yourselves, people. First on the list is Saudi Arabia. Unsurprisingly, this country has zero tolerance for any other religion than Islam. Non-Muslim religious practices are illegal, and the religious police have been known to raid homes and arrest those practicing different faiths. Yikes! Next on the list is Myanmar, which has been known for its persecution of the Rohingya Muslims. It's pretty bleak stuff, folks.

But it's not just those two countries - many other nations have a history of religious intolerance, including China, Russia, Iran, and Pakistan. It's a harsh reality, but we can't turn a blind eye to it.

So, what have we learned today? There's a lot of variation in religious tolerance across the world. Some countries have elevated it to an art form, while others haven't quite figured it out yet. But despite these challenges, we can all strive to be more empathetic and understanding of other people's beliefs, even when they differ from our own. Who knows, maybe we'll even learn something new!