Religious literacy and diversity for business

Abstract

This chapter shows why religious literacy about religion and religious diversity is important for business and how businesses are becoming more faith aware and faith-friendly. It is important because religion impacts the workplace and the marketplace, co-workers and partners as well as customers and clients. Religious populations are dramatically outgrowing non-religious populations worldwide, especially so in emerging markets where Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist and Pentecostal Christian populations are growing. At the same time there is a global countervailing trend of rising restrictions on freedom of religion and belief. Companies tone deaf to religion will be less successful in these markets than companies that are faith aware. Companies that are in touch with religious dynamics are usually those that have become faith-friendly workplaces, embracing religion and belief as part of their overall equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives. As this chapter shows, this is primarily driven by employees within the world’s largest and most successful companies. Finally, this chapter concludes by arguing that religious literacy for business must also understand how freedom of religion and belief are positively associated with sustainable, human flourishing.