Freedom of religion and the right to spirituality is a factor that we often tend to overlook when planning a move abroad. You will admit that visiting holy sites abroad has a magical power that brings about well being and mindfulness. Which are the world's most tolerant countries with religious freedom and diversity? Expat.com gives you an insight into the Wayfairer's latest Global Spirituality Index.
Canada
Known as a nation of immigrants from around the world, Canada has tremendous cultural diversity. You shall therefore not be surprised that it ranked as number one as the most spiritual country in the world. You will recall that Canada always ranks among the best destinations for quality of life. In the spirituality index, the country also stands out for religious freedom, diversity, and tolerance. Also, the Canadian constitution guarantees freedom of religion as a fundamental right, along with freedom of thought, belief, opinion, and expression. Canadian residents can thus unite to practice their religion without any limitation or interference. Religions such as Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism are very present throughout the country. Moreover, religions have no obligation to register with the Canadian government, but they still have to register with the Canadian Revenue Authority to be eligible for tax exemption. During your free time, you can choose from a range of sacred and religious sites to discover. The Sainte-Anne de Beaupré Sanctuary, the Basilica of Notre-Dame in Ottawa, the Cathedral Basilica of Notre-Dame in Québec, and St. Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal in Montreal are some of the must-see sacred sites.
Italy
Even though the Italian constitution guarantees religious freedom, the government recently committed to setting up an observatory regarding respect for religious freedom in the world. You might have understood by now that Italy is a secular State that gives vital importance to religious freedom and pluralism. While today most Italians identify themselves as Catholics, many other religions are practiced, given the country's cultural diversity due to the presence of large communities of immigrants. Protecting and promoting religious freedom has thus become one of the government's priorities. In the spirituality index, Italy stands out for quality of life and religious diversity. Your stay in Italy will take you into the heart of one of the world's most iconic spiritual sites. The Vatican Museum, the Sistine Chapel, the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral in Florence, the St. Mark's Basilica, and the Duomo of Milan are not only sacred places but also the most visited spots in Italy due to their architecture and rich historical and cultural heritage.
India
Home to one of the oldest civilisations in the world, India is without any doubt a highly spiritually rich country, coming up 3rd on the list. Needless to say that the Indian constitution guarantees religious freedom. Everyone living in the country has the right to equality, freedom of conscience, and freedom to profess, practice, and propagate their religion. Even though India is today a modern country, it gives crucial importance to its citizens' freedom of faith regardless of their origins. It is worth noting that over the years there has been a proportional decline in the number of Hindus and an increase of Muslims in the country. Some of the religious communities in India are Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, Jews, and Bahais, all living together in perfect harmony in spite of incidents. Your stay in India will be an opportunity for you to discover its unique spiritual wealth, both in big cities and in the countryside. In New Delhi, for example, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is one of the most popular religious sites. Some of the must-sees in India are the Golden Temple (Sri Harmandir Sahib) in Amritsar, Shree Siddhivinayak in Mumbai, St. Michael's Church, and St. Andrew's Church. Varanasi is a city that needs no introduction regarding spirituality. Varanasi Banaras Ghats, the Tibetan Temple, the Nepali Temple (Kathwala Temple), and the Thai Temple speak for themselves.
Japan
Japan is a fascinating country, known not only for its modern and developed cities with incredible landscapes interspersed with towering skyscrapers, but also for its cultural diversity. Over the years, it has become one of the world's most popular travel and expat destinations. Japan especially stands out for quality of life and religious diversity. Article 20 of the Japanese constitution guarantees freedom of religion for all. Moreover, one cannot be compelled to take part in any religious act or ceremony against their will. Japanese can, therefore, practice their religion freely while being strictly neutral regarding religion. While Shintoism – which was formerly the national religion – remains widespread, other religions such as Christianity including Catholicism, Protestantism, and Orthodoxy, as well as Islam and Buddhism, are present and cohabit in perfect harmony. If you're planning to move to Japan, you should definitely take a trip to Itsukushima Island (near Hiroshima), nicknamed Miyajima, which is not only a tourist spot but also a Shinto sanctuary. In Kyoto's western suburbs, Kokedera, also known as Saihoji, is a Buddhist temple with a beautiful Zen garden with over a hundred varieties of moss. Among the must-sees in Kyoto, you also have Adashino Nenbutsuji, a Buddhist temple located in Sagano, with 8,000 Buddhist statuettes and stupa. In Tokyo, Gotoku-Ji is another Buddhist temple famous for its statues of benevolent cats.
UK
Bringing together England, Scotland, Wales, and Nothern Ireland, the United Kingdom is an impressive country thanks to its cultural heritage. Also, the large number of immigrants and expats living there contribute to its cultural and linguistic diversity. You shall therefore not be surprised to find the UK in the top five spiritually rich countries. Having signed many international conventions on human rights, the UK is a country where freedom of religion and belief is respected and protected. Freedom of thought, conscience, and religion have been incorporated into British law by the Human Rights Act which came into force in 2000. While most British identity themselves as Christians, other religions like Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Buddhism are also present. In contrast, recent studies show a significant decline in church attendance during past decades. During your stay in the UK, make sure to visit the Westminster Abbey, Southwark Cathedral, and St. Mary Abbots Church. Among the famous spiritual sites, you also have BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London Sri Murugan Temple, and London's Central Mosque.
United States
As a multicultural country, the USA gives significant importance to spirituality and religious freedom in spite of past incidents. The First Amendment to the American constitution guaranteed freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of association to anyone living in the country. Today, most Americans identify themselves as Christians while the rest either has no religious belief or practice other religions such as Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, or Buddhism. You will be surprised by the number of sacred and spiritual places across the country. The Meditation Mount in Ojai, Wat Thai Temple and Thien Hau Temple in Los Angeles, St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York, and the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis are some of the must-sees. It's also worth noting that the USA has recently committed itself to set up a task force to further protect and promote religious freedom in the world as a universal right.
