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Belgium comes top in global 'freedom of thought' index

20:54 30/10/2018

Belgium is the best country in the world to live as an atheist, according to a new global report by secular organisation the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU).

The country came joint top alongside Taiwan and the Netherlands in the Freedom of Thought index, presented on Tuesday at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

This is the IHEU's seventh annual study, covering 196 countries, but it is the first time that the report has specifically looked at the way each country treats atheists, humanists and non-believers.

Belgium was praised for its pluralist approach to religion in a secular society. IHEU spokesman Bob Churchill said religion had its place in Belgium, but believers were not systematically discriminated against.

"For the first time our report shows, with authority and accuracy, the discrimination faced by people around the world because of their non-religious beliefs," said the organisation's president Andrew Copson.

The study also looks at education and children's rights, freedom of expression, society, community and justice. France and Japan also score highly, while Saudi Arabia is ranked last, alongside Iran and Afghanistan.

Written by The Bulletin

Comments

eyebicycle@gmail.com

It's not a secular society at all. What they are really saying that people who used to identify as Christians, no longer do...and this is where they get their definition of secular from. However the immigrants who come into Belgium are very religious and don't even understand the concept of secularism. Additionally I have read, and this may seem like a contradiction, but that much of the pain that Belgium has suffered at the hands of certain people is because they consider Belgium to be a godless country...not Christian or Muslim....and this upsets them.

Oct 31, 2018 14:36
eyebicycle@gmail.com

Also, please note that Bulletin reported on April 4, 2017 that the Catholic Church in Belgium is experiencing record numbers of converts.

Oct 31, 2018 14:39
silverflipper

Difficult to accept that Belgium is fair to its secular citizens when tax payers are forced to accept use of their taxes to subsidize religious groups. Hardly puts the country #1.

Oct 31, 2018 22:52