Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures Project

This is a request to support a second phase of the Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures project (GRF), an extensive research undertaking that is intended to become the definitive source of global information on religious demographic trends, religious beliefs and practices, and restrictions on religious freedom. The GRF project analyzes religious change and its impact on societies around the world by using well-tested social science methodologies to examine three major trends: 1. Trends in religious affiliation, including the current and projected size of the world’s major religious groups; and 2. Patterns in religious beliefs and practices, including how these shape people’s social values and political attitudes; 3. Comparisons of restrictions on the practice of religion, including restrictions imposed by governments as well as social groups, organizations and individuals. The Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life is conducting this research. To increase the use and reach of this data, the Pew Forum is developing a dedicated website for the Global Religious Futures project for late summer 2012, as well as continuing its targeted dissemination efforts to the media, policymakers, religious leaders and academics.