Don't forget to tune in later at 15.00 UTC for the launch of the Freedom of Thought Report by Humanists International! Here are some highlights from the report.

Facebook link: https://t.co/CwLfjYjT1i
YouTube link: https://t.co/tLO0FyfBjC

Here are the 10 most discriminatory countries against the non-religious
There are 68 countries that punish blasphemy
And at least 17 countries that punish apostasy
In at least 34 countries, religious education is mandatory in all or most state-funded schools, with no secular or humanist alternative. In 5 of these such instruction may be of a coercive fundamentalist or extremist variety.
17 countries brutally repress expression of humanist values
And in 15 countries, it is difficult or illegal to run an overtly humanist organization
In 79 countries, there is discriminatory state funding of religion
In 26 countries, the non-religious are barred from holding office
In 35 countries, state legislation is derived from religious law
In 60 countries, religious authorities have power. In Iran, they have supreme authority over the state; in the other 59, there is systematic religious privilege.
Here are some changes we have witnessed due to COVID-19
If you've spotted something that you believe is missing or not quite right, please consider joining our army of volunteers who work with us to keep the report updated. Please get in touch by sending an email to [email protected]

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MDZS is laden with buddhist references. As a South Asian person, and history buff, it is so interesting to see how Buddhism, which originated from India, migrated, flourished & changed in the context of China. Here's some research (🙏🏼 @starkjeon for CN insight + citations)

1. LWJ’s sword Bichen ‘is likely an abbreviation for the term 躲避红尘 (duǒ bì hóng chén), which can be translated as such: 躲避: shunning or hiding away from 红尘 (worldly affairs; which is a buddhist teaching.) (
https://t.co/zF65W3roJe) (abbrev. TWX)

2. Sandu (三 毒), Jiang Cheng’s sword, refers to the three poisons (triviṣa) in Buddhism; desire (kāma-taṇhā), delusion (bhava-taṇhā) and hatred (vibhava-taṇhā).

These 3 poisons represent the roots of craving (tanha) and are the cause of Dukkha (suffering, pain) and thus result in rebirth.

Interesting that MXTX used this name for one of the characters who suffers, arguably, the worst of these three emotions.

3. The Qian kun purse “乾坤袋 (qián kūn dài) – can be called “Heaven and Earth” Pouch. In Buddhism, Maitreya (मैत्रेय) owns this to store items. It was believed that there was a mythical space inside the bag that could absorb the world.” (TWX)