The Religion and State Project

The Religion and State project is pleased to announce that as part of a grant funding the Association of Religion Data Archives , the John Templeton Foundation is funding the second round of data collection of the RAS dataset. The data collection has commenced and we hope to complete the collection by 2012. The new dataset will include revised versions of the old variables as well as new ones.

Revised versions of the old variables

	RAS Round 1	RAS Round 2
The official relationship between religion and state.	8-item scale	11-item scale
The general extent of restrictions on religion	5-item scale	6-item scale
Restrictions on minority religions	16 types of restrictions	30 types of restrictions
Regulation of the majority religion	11 types of regulation	29 types of regulation
Religious legislation	33 types of legislation	51 types of legislation

New Variables

Four variables on religion in public schools which will examine in detail: the extent of mandatory and optional religious education, in what religions religious education is available (eg. in just the majority religion or also in minority religions), who teaches religious education (e.g. Clergy vs. lay teachers), and the extent of mandatory and optional prayer sessions.
Eight variables on the extent, nature, and limitations, of mandatory and optional registration of religious organizations.
Nine types of restrictions on abortion.
One variable measuring the presence and nature of religious language in oaths of office for government officials.
12 types of restrictions on proselytizing.
One variable measuring links between religious identity and citizenship.

Round 2 Codebook Available

For a full description of all variables being collected in round 2 of the RAS project download the RAS round 2 codebook.