Handbook on Religious Liberty

Handbook on religious liberty around the world
The Rutherford Institute
347 pages. £6.00

The recently-reported case of the Kuwaiti national who had lost his wife, family and livelihood as a result of his conversion to Christianity, and even in fear for his life, is but one dramatic example of the persecution many Christians face in the world today.
It should challenge us to pray for our brothers and sisters, and poses the question as to whether we are sufficiently informed to do so with real coherence and understanding. The latest publication from The Rutherford Institute -The Handbook on Religious Liberty - describes itself as 'a tool for all those involved in the battle to stop religious persecution'.
After a brief introduction, seven sections deal with the major geographical areas of the world. Each section summarises trends and general statistics for the region and gives a representative sample of countries intended to illustrate the full spectrum of religious liberty.
The report for each country is in three parts: an historical and legal background, constitutional and legal provisions (often quoted verbatim) and reports of recent cases of religious intolerance. In the words of the editor, this format is intended to allow comparison between 'the theoretical and legal framework with the practical reality of cases, all in the context of an historical background.' Many readers will be familiar with Operation World and the value of its contribution to informed prayer for the situation in other countries. This Handbook could be regarded as an extension in certain aspects of Operation World.
However, in reading through this work from The Rutherford Institute, I found some difficulties with its format and overall approach. Readers unacquainted with legal phraseology may find that the statutory and regulatory provisions sit rather uncomfortably with the brief and sometimes rather sensational reporting style of the case-notes. There is also the danger that the reported cases, depending as they do in some instances only on the findings or advice of the Institute itself, do not appear sufficiently objective and thus detract from the Handbook's authority.
In many instances it is obviously difficult (if not impossible) to refer to an independent source, but a couple of examples from the UK - where I am more at home with the constitutional position - left me wanting more information to convince me that this did, in fact, amount to a loss of religious freedom.
In the section on Australia, the reported facts concerning the issue of the ordination of women only left the impression that the courts were honestly trying to determine what the Australian church's constitution itself permitted, rather than, as claimed, ensuring that civil legislation made 'internal rules for the church'.
The definition of religious liberty is therefore not an easy one to frame, but the questions I had perhaps stem from the fact that the Handbook deals with discrimination against all religions and not merely Christianity. Almost half the case entries in the UK section dealt with the Moonies, and in Thailand and Pakistan with the Muslims and Hindus.
While all Christians must surely abhor the violence and tensions arising where any group is treated unfairly or prejudicially, the approach of defending all religions only continues the debate on how the truth is to be biblically upheld. It is the Rutherford Institute's own declared intent that in the 'modern world's sea of relativism, we must take clear stands on the important issues'. I am not sure that the Handbook itself makes clear how the truth should be defended in a pluralistic world.
The book is valuable, but may be of somewhat limited practical use. It does reinforce the challenge to all Christians not only to pray for those who are persecuted, but also to think through the principles which should govern these prayers and the practical efforts we should be engaged in.

Sarah Creedy

Sarah Creedy is a solicitor (not practising).

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