Did you know that religious freedom is limited by governments as well as social actors? To understand how this dual-pronged limitation was discovered, see the research in this TEDx talk by Brian Grim (from when he was at the Pew Research Center).

By Brian Grim, Ph.D.

Religious Freedom is as much a socio-economic issue as a legal-political one

Most people think of religious freedom as a legal-political issue, but it is equally a socio-economic issue. This discovery leg me to leave the Pew Research Center in early 2014 and started the Religious Freedom & Business Foundation.

In The Price of Freedom Denied, Roger Finke and I argue that religious freedom is essential for peaceful and prosperous societies. Contrary to the belief that restricting religion helps maintain social order, our research shows that denying religious freedom often leads to increased violence and instability.

Using data from nearly 200 countries and detailed case studies, we demonstrate that:

— Government and societal restrictions on religion are widespread and often lead to higher levels of violent persecution and religion-related conflict.

— Religious freedom fosters social harmony, democracy, and economic prosperity, while its absence correlates with repression and unrest.

— Societies benefit more from free religious competition than from state control or suppression of religious expression.

We conclude that the cost of denying religious freedom is too high, and any society aiming for peace and progress must actively protect and promote religious liberty.

For more details see my initial research and doctoral dissertation, publications in American Sociological Review with Roger Finke, and then Pew Research Center analysis (which I began in 2007).

Economic Contribution of Religion to Economies

Two studies on the contribution religion makes to economies of two countries with generally good levels of religious freedom (United States and Canada) give a framework for seeing how low government restrictions on religion and low social hostilities on religion create an environment where the contributions of religion to the economy are robust.

Specifically, the religiously free environment in the United States allows religion to contribute economically to American society in three general categories:

• — Congregations: $418 billion
• — Religious institutions: $303 billion
• — Business: $437 billion (faith-based, -related or -inspired)

Congregations: Each year congregations spend $84 billion on their operations ranging from paying hundreds of thousands of personnel, to paying for goods and service as diverse as flowers, sounds systems, maintenance, and utilities. Almost all being spent right in the local community. Schools attached to congregations employ 420,000 full time teachers and train 4.5 million students each year. By comparison this is the same number as the total population of Ireland or New Zealand.

Examples of Congregational Impact. Congregations are like magnets attracting economic activity ranging from weddings, as I’ve already mentioned and can give personal detail on, to lectures, congresses, and even tourism. For instance, 120,000 congregations report that people visit them to view their art and architecture. Finally, and most importantly, it’s what congregations do in their communities that makes the biggest socio-economic contribution. These programs impact individuals and families in a variety of important ways. Here are just a few examples:

— Congregations provide 130,000 alcohol recovery programs such as The Saddleback Church “Celebrate Recovery” program that has helped over 27,000 individuals over the past 25 years.

— Congregations provide 120,000 programs to help the unemployed. For example, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has employment service centers in each of their stakes across the country (and across the world), for that matter.

— Some of this work runs counter to stereotypes some may have about religious groups. For instance:

a) Nearly 26,000 congregations are engaged in some form of active ministry to help people living with HIV-AIDS. That makes one HIV-AIDS ministry for every 46 people who are HIV positive. Just this past weekend on 9/11, under the sponsorship of Walgreen’s and the “First Ladies” (pastors’ wives) of Chicago, nearly 50 Chicago churches hosted free screening for HIV and other diseases. —

b) In fact, the data show that congregations overwhelmingly include a society-building, outward community focus, with over 320,000 congregations helping to recruit volunteers for programs outside their walls, to non-religious groups, ranging from Big Brothers and Big Sisters to the United Way and the American Red Cross. For example, St. Benedict’s Prep readies 530 mostly poor, mostly minority boys for college and beyond. In an area where public schools are working hard just to keep young men from ending up in gangs, in jail or dead, St. Benedict’s sends 95% of its graduates to college, including a sizable number to Ivy League schools. And graduates, such as Uriel Burwell, return to make an impact. Upon graduating from Drew University, Uriel returned to his childhood neighborhood to build 50 new affordable houses, rehabilitate more than 30 homes and attracted more than $3 million funding to build additional affordable homes and apartments in the area.

Religious Institutions: If we extend our view beyond what happens at local congregations and schools, we can find tens of thousands of other religiously-affiliated charities, health care facilities, and institutions of higher learning also doing these sorts of good works every day. These add another $303 billion of socio-economic impact to the US economy each year. These include:

— Charities such as the Knights of Columbus whose 1.5 million members respond to disasters and other human needs

— Health care services such as provided by the Adventist Health Systems which employ 78,000 people in 46 hospitals

— Institutions of higher education such as Brandeis University which is one of thousands of religiously-based colleges throughout the country such as institutions as Islamic Relief USA, which responded to the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, by hiring 20 local staff and distributing 135,000 gallons of water during the height of the water crisis.

Businesses: Religion-related business add another $438 billion to the US economy each year. These include faith-based businesses, ranging from the Halal and Kosher food industries to religious media such as EWTN and the Christian Broadcast Network. The largest group within this sector are not religious companies, per se, but are faith-inspired or religion-friendly companies. Tyson’s Foods, for example, employs a large force of chaplains for their multi-religious workforce.

Across the country there are associations of CEOs who seek to put the moral and ethical teachings of their faith to practice in their business. One such association is C12 with over 2,500 members, some of whom have business worth billions of dollars.

Global Economic Impact of Religious Freedom

Freedom of belief is one of three factors significantly associated with global economic growth, according to a 2014 study I did with Greg Clark and Robert Snyder. The study looked at the GDP growth of 173 countries in 2011 and controlled for two-dozen different financial, social and regulatory influences.

While a study such as this does not prove that religious freedom causes economic growth, it does suggest the matter deserves more consideration.

Indeed, as the world navigates today’s turbulent economic environment, freedom of religion or belief may be an unrecognized asset. For instance, the same study finds a positive relationship between religious freedom and 10 of the 12 pillars of global competitiveness, as measured by the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Index.

Research indicates that when freedom of religion or belief is put to practice, it has the following effects:

— Reduced corruption: Research finds that laws and practices that exclude religion are related to higher levels of corruption. This is borne out by a simple comparison between the Pew Research Center’s 2012 Government Restrictions on Religion Index and the 2014 Corruption Perceptions Index. Nine of the 10 most corrupt countries have high or very high governmental restrictions on religious liberty. This includes North Korea, which Pew does not have enough data to rate but considers one of the most religiously restrictive countries. Religious freedom allows businesspeople to draw on spiritual values and moral teachings as they go about their work; it helps to inform business ethics.

— More peace: When religious freedoms are not respected, the result can be violence and conflict. Normal economic activities become vulnerable to disruption, with local and foreign investment driven away and sustainable development undermined. One need only look at Egypt, where religious regulations and hostilities have adversely affected the tourism industry. More generally, tolerance is a key ingredient in peace and stability, which is particularly important for business because, where stability exists, there is more opportunity to invest and conduct normal and predictable business operations, especially in new and emerging markets. This is the topic of the 2011 Cambridge University Press book The Price of Freedom Denied and a 2014 study by the Institute for Economics and Peace.

— Less harmful regulation: Some religious restrictions can directly affect economic activity, creating legal barriers for import and export industries, such as the halal food market. Proscriptive laws can also stoke region-wide religious hostilities, again disrupting markets. Examples range from discrimination against women in the workplace (over such things as headscarves) to the use of anti-blasphemy laws to attack business rivals, such as recently happened in the media industry.

— Reduced liabilities: Stocks of Abercrombie & Fitch dropped when news broke that the clothing retailer had allegedly refused to hire a Muslim woman wearing a headscarf, potentially a violation of American equal opportunity employment laws. By avoiding religious discrimination in the workplace, businesses can avoid such liabilities.

• Date: Monday, 27th October 2025
• Time: 10:00 to 17:00, followed by networking & light refreshments\
• Venue: Microsoft UK Headquarters, Paddington, London

We are delighted to invite you to our AI & Faith Conference: ‘Sacred Code – Ethics, Faith and the Future of Work’

Artificial Intelligence is transforming every sector, unlocking extraordinary opportunities, but also raising complex risks around ethics, trust, and human impact. As society demands greater accountability from business, leaders are faced with critical challenges: How do we innovate responsibly? How can we drive innovation without sacrificing ethical standards? How do we design AI systems that not only align with human values but also respect the diverse faith identities, moral convictions, and cultural contexts of our global workforce and customers?

For senior leaders, the stakes are high: Brand reputation, talent retention, and regulatory trust increasingly depend on how organisations navigate these ethical and social frontiers.

This exclusive conference is designed for:

• – Chairs, CEOs, and Executive Board members
• – Chief Data Officers, Chief AI Officers, and AI leaders shaping strategy and governance
• – Chief People Officers, HR leaders, and DEI executives
• – Senior policymakers and faith leaders collaborating with business

Join senior voices from global corporations, technology giants, religious communities, academia, and ethics think tanks as we explore:

• – The business case for values-driven leadership in an AI-powered economy
• – Practical frameworks for mitigating bias, preserving human dignity, and ensuring trust in AI
• – How faith traditions and ethical principles can guide AI development and deployment
• – Case studies from firms turning ethical commitments into competitive advantage

Join this strategic conversation to explore how businesses can stay competitive while safeguarding their brand, workforce, and social license to operate in the AI era.

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Faith itself is the Lifeline: New Data Shows Having Faith Shields Against UK’s Mental Health Crisis

Dr Amanda Murjan, the author of the just-released report from the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL), shares how faith offers a powerful counterpoint as the UK and UK workplaces grapple with rising levels of loneliness, anxiety and mental distress.

‘Faith & Happiness: How Religious Belief Shapes Britain’s Emotional Wellbeing‘ examines how religion influences experiences of wellbeing and attitudes towards mental health by comparing the UK’s two largest religious groups, Christians and Muslims, to those without faith. Through a nationally representative survey of 2068 UK adults and a series of in-depth interviews, this report explores the experiences of religious and non-religious people in relation to a range of wellbeing measures, including life satisfaction, worry and anxiety, low mood and depression, loneliness, and attitudes to mental health.

Research in this area often relies heavily on statistical data, but this report adopts a mixed-methods approach. By asking individuals to describe in their own words how their faith helps improve their emotional wellbeing, this report can explore how they use those beliefs, especially in moments of stress, to restore clarity, calm, and control.

Dr Amanda Murjan, IIFL research associate and report author remarks:

“Faith can significantly boost our emotional well-being. Our research shows that certain character strengths and skills tend to be more developed in people of faith compared to those without, which may help promote greater well-being. People of faith are more likely to actively seek a deeper sense of balance and harmony in their lives and accept life’s circumstances. They are more inclined to recognise positives in life, stay optimistic, and adapt to life’s unpredictability, trusting that all difficulties will eventually pass. Faith is linked to a strong sense of self-efficacy, self-reliance, and greater trust in personal resources to handle life. All these factors contribute to higher life satisfaction, less worry, and improvements in overall emotional health.”

Dr Amanda Murjan completed a PhD in Theology with a specialist interest in psychology at the Centre for Catholic Studies at Durham University. Her thesis examined papal teaching on human flourishing using Carl Jung’s psychoanalytical theory and positive psychology. She is also a research fellow at Birmingham University studying the role of spiritual practices in UK African and Afro-Caribbean Churches in cultivating human flourishing by providing resources to cope with and challenge racism. Amanda also holds a postdoctoral research position at Durham University, working on an international project examining Catholic lay participation in church governance.

The Bloomberg Law article by Elias Schisgall discusses a new memo from the Trump administration’s Office of Personnel Management (OPM), led by Director Scott Kupor, which encourages federal employees to openly express their religious beliefs at work—even to the point of proselytizing. While the memo echoes Clinton-era guidance, it notably omits cautionary language about supervisors’ religious speech potentially being coercive. Legal experts warn that this shift could make employees less likely to report unwelcome religious pressure and may influence private-sector norms, especially in light of the Supreme Court’s recent Groff v. DeJoy decision, which raised the bar for denying religious accommodations. Critics argue the memo blurs boundaries between personal expression and workplace pressure, particularly when supervisors are involved.

The article quotes Brian Grim:

Brian Grim, president of the Religious Freedom & Business Foundation, said it’s possible the memo’s authors were drawing from their own faith traditions, but “religious freedom includes being literate of other faiths.”

“I read it trying to see how other faiths might read it, and I think they would see that this offers them opportunity for protection as well,” Grim said.

Taylor Telford of The Washington Post reports on new federal guidance issued by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) that affirms the rights of federal employees to express their religious beliefs in the workplace. This includes wearing religious attire, displaying religious items in personal spaces, and engaging in respectful conversations about faith, as long as these actions do not disrupt operations or violate anti-discrimination policies.

The guidance aims to clarify existing protections under the First Amendment and relevant executive orders, ensuring that religious expression is treated with the same respect as other forms of personal identity.

The article quotes Brian Grim:

The new guidance can help address “the unintended consequence of all federal faith-based employee resource groups (ERGs) being suspended when diversity offices were closed across the federal government,” said Brian Grim, founding president of the Religious Freedom & Business Foundation, a nonprofit that promotes faith and religious freedom for all in the workplace.

By Brian Grim

It was wonderful to meet recently with Ken Wolfe, Director of the Faith-Based Office at the U.S. Department of Labor. After nearly 23 years at HHS’ Administration for Children and Families, Ken was just appointed last month as the director of the Faith-Based Office. I’m looking forward to exploring ways to work together.

McKinsey Health Institute finds that for a “modern understanding of health, spiritual health is not a ‘nice to have’ but a core dimension, along with physical, mental, and social health.”

They define spiritual health as having a sense of meaning and purpose in life, a connection to something larger than oneself, and a sense of belonging.

This is not a small problem affecting just a few. A recent Harvard study found that nearly 3 in 5 young adults (58%) report lacking “meaning or purpose” in their lives.

The Religious Freedom & Business Foundation’s Faith-Friendly Workplace ‘REDI’ Index includes providing for spiritual health as one of the best practices for workplaces to benchmark.

For insights on addressing this crisis that adversely impacts workplaces and the rising generation of future workers, watch discussion with Patrick Regan, OBE. Patrick is an Honorary Fellow at the London South Bank University for his contribution towards justice and well-being. He has written several books, the latest one being Brighter Days: 12 steps to strengthening your wellbeing.

• – Email: hello@brighterdays.life
• – Website: brighterdays.life

This session will help you:

• — See the Role of Spiritual Health in the Workplace
• — Understand more about your own mental wellbeing
• — Look at the character traits of a resilient person/team
• — Explore the environment needed to allow people to flourish and grow
  

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Patrick Regan OBE, is founder of Brighter Days, Wellbeing & Resilience Training that helps your people flourish and thrive. Meet him at #Dare2Overcome

Patrick Regan OBE is an activist who is passionate about speaking on themes such as wellbeing , spirituality, and compassionate leadership. He has founded two award winning charities; XLP, a Schools and Community Charity which he ran for 22 years and pioneered Kintsugi Hope which has Wellbeing Groups all over the UK to help people in their emotional and mental health. He was awarded the London Peace Award by Boris Johnson for his work in the prevention of knife crime. He is a mental health first aider, a campaigner on issues of social justice and was awarded an OBE for his services to young people by the late Queen Elizabeth II.

He is an Honorary Fellow of the London South Bank University for his contribution to Justice and Wellbeing. He is an accredited trainer of the Compassionate leadership course and recently was awarded CEO of the Year 2023 for mental health training. He has written 7 books on topics such as Justice, Gang Culture, Faith, Suffering and Courage.

His latest book is Brighter Days, 12 Steps to Strengthen your Wellbeing which reached number 2 on the Popular psychology charts on Amazon. He is married to Diane and has 4 children.

McKinsey & Co.’s Health Institute’s global survey of 41,000 people finds that spiritual health matters to many, regardless of age, country, or religious beliefs.

Spiritual health refers to a sense of purpose, inner peace, and alignment with personal and organizational values. When nurtured, it can enhance employee well-being, foster a more compassionate culture, and improve overall engagement and productivity. It’s not about religion, per se, but about creating space for meaning, connection, and ethical integrity in daily work life.

This is not a small problem affecting just a few. A recent Harvard study found that nearly 3 in 5 young adults (58%) report lacking “meaning or purpose” in their lives. The Religious Freedom & Business Foundation’s Faith-Friendly Workplace ‘REDI’ Index includes providing for spiritual health as one of the best practices for workplaces to benchmark.

One way that organizations support spiritual health in by providing chaplains, having faith-and-belief employee affinity or resource groups, and/or offering faith-related services – such as counseling – through their Employee assistance Programs. Last week, Diane Brady, who publishes the Fortune CEO Daily newsletter, included an intriguing quote by Penny Pennington, head of the investment advice firm Edward Jones, saying, “We’re a health and wellbeing company.” I dropped Diane a note about the rising attention of companies to Spiritual Health, and mentioned Tyson Foods’ Chaplaincy Program, which provides compassionate multi-faith chaplaincy services at all their major plants. She’s following up to see if she can interview John Tyson about this for a future newsletter.

Another way is by offering mindfulness and/or meditation programs. A 2022 research article in the Harvard Business Review estimated that More than half of American employers offer some form of mindfulness training to their workers, contributing to a global corporate wellness market that’s valued at over $50 billion. The article offers strategies to help employers and employees implement the targeted mindfulness programs that will be most beneficial for everyone.

Spiritual health is also supported by having a purpose-driven work culture. Next month, I’ve been invited to Walmart Headquarters to speak at their Faith Network Associate Resource Group’s August event titled “Live our Values”. I’ve been asked to speak about how faith connects to Walmart’s Core Values and explore with them meaningful ways that associates can show up to work each day to live out their faith and embody the Walmart values of “Respect for the Individual”, “Acting with Integrity”, and “Striving for Excellence”. This is something every organization could do – open the space for their members to reflect on how their own faiths and beliefs animate how they lean into their organization’s values.

There are other ways that organizations can support spiritual health, but the last that I’ll mention is to provide Inclusive Spaces for Reflection and Dialogue. Of course, such rooms shave proliferated as a best practice across the corporate world. Last week, I had a meeting with the Director of the Faith-Based Office at the US Department of Labor. He heard about today’s session and wanted to explore ways they might reinforce this message. I’m looking forward to what comes from that meeting, but one thing we talked about was the multi-faith meditation room on the fourth floor of the Department of Labor. One his first thoughts was to reinvigorate that space, including making it more like an interfaith chapel or perhaps like the meditation room in the picture.

I’d like to invite you to join the UK Faith@Work Network next month on 14th August to hear from Dr Amanda Murjan, the author of the just-released survey and research report from the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL), on how faith offers a powerful counterpoint as the UK and UK workplaces grapple with rising levels of loneliness, anxiety and mental distress: registration link.

It’s now my pleasure to introduce my friend and seasoned mental and spiritual health practitioner Patrick Regan, awarded Order of the British Empire by the Late Queen Elizabeth II.

Patrick is an Honorary Fellow at the London South Bank University for his contribution towards justice and well-being. Patrick has written several books, the latest one being Brighter days, 12 steps to wellbeing.