Abstract

This article discusses the construction of the measuring instrument for the study of social perception of religious freedom (SPRF). We provide an overview of existing definitions of religious freedom from a social-science perspective, which ground the empirical research of religious freedom and describe the conceptualization of SPRF. We focus on the operationalization model and introduce the operational variables for the SPRF research, also emphasizing the political, religious, and human rights contexts of independent variables. Finally, the results of exploratory factor analysis that allow to construct the balanced model of SPRF based on statistically weighted factors and scales are presented. The theoretical and statistically tested instrument is discussed as a result of this analysis.

Highlights

  • The central argument of this article is that the study of the social perception of religious freedom (SPRF) allows to identify religious freedom as a multidimensional concept keeping the heuristic tension between its societal and subjective meanings

  • Drawing on the sociological definition we introduce in this article that sociopolitical structures, personal meanings, and individual choices and experiences mediate the process of construction of religious freedom meaning, the research of SPRF aims to integrate five conceptual domains producing it

  • The multidimensional concept of religious freedom takes its shape through the understanding of intergroup dynamics behind it

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Summary

Introduction

The central argument of this article is that the study of the social perception of religious freedom (SPRF) allows to identify religious freedom as a multidimensional concept keeping the heuristic tension between its societal and subjective meanings. The shared religious freedom meaning in society is produced by intergroup dynamics—by social actors with various civil, political, religious, and nonreligious identities—favoring one dimension of the concept more than the other. It is the robust task for sociology to understand these dynamics behind the religious freedom meaning and, to track the socioreligious and sociopolitical processes challenging its future. Exactly from the study on human rights and religion through approaching the topics of gender, peacebuilding, and legal pluralism (Possamai et al 2015; Durham and Clark 2015; Giordan and Zrinščak 2018; Giordan and Breskaya 2018), the sociological dimensions of religious freedom analysis are evolving focused on pluralism policies, interfaith dialogue, empowerment of women, and sustainable development. The novelty of global challenges for religious freedom creates a new task for sociologists—to consider existing approaches to religious freedom analysis and revise its sociological definitions

In Search for Sociological Theories and Definitions of Religious Freedom
Five Dimensions of Religious Freedom Meaning
Operationalization of Indicators for SPRF Research
Religious freedom as religious groups’ autonomy
Societal function of religious freedom leaning to pluralism
Societal challenges for religious freedom
Religious freedom as a principle of religion–state governance
Religious freedom and religion–state governance patterns
Religious freedom as an international human rights standard
Religious freedom as a freedom to manifest religion
Religious freedom and modes of religious expressions
Negative and positive obligations of the state
Testing theelaborated
F7: Subjective meaning of RF
Social Perception of Religious Freedom and Intergroup Dynamics
Findings
Conclusions

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