Faiths big and small are regularly attacked by government officials, violent mobs, and everything in between. Jews remain the go-to scapegoat. Small, unorthodox faiths, such as Yazidis, Baha’is, and Jehovah’s Witnesses, are uniquely vulnerable. Muslims often suffer at the hands of other Muslims. And Christians, though the most numerous religious people worldwide, are the most persecuted.
We obviously should stand by our brothers and sisters in faith. However, it also is essential to defend the life, liberty, and dignity of those who believe differently, including not at all. Faith is real only when it is offered freely without coercion. The most fundamental decision of conscience for anyone is to assess and address the transcendent, responding to the call beyond.
So, this Christmas, whether one celebrates it or not, is a good time to offer a prayer, thought, or other support to those around the world denied a similar freedom to worship freely. Despite some worrisome attacks on religious liberty at home, Americans remain blessed compared to so many people in the world. Of the world’s 10 most populous nations, the U.S. is just one of three, alongside Brazil and Mexico, to be free of substantial and systematic persecution.
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