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Faith in Numbers: Can we Trust Quantitative Data on Religious Affiliation and Religious Freedom?

In this essay we attempt to do four things. First, we discuss the appeal of quantitative data generally and the particular salience of the Pew Research Center data on religious identification and religious restrictions. Second, we examine Pew’s data on religious identification. Third, we examine Pew’s data on religious restrictions. Fourth, we provide some recommendations for diplomats and other international affairs practitioners as they engage with quantitative data on religion.