People with no religious affiliation are least likely to express tolerance of religious differences.

Abstract

While scholarship on religious tolerance has grown, little is known about how (non)religious identity shapes prejudice in highly religious societies, particularly in the Global South.

This exploratory study addresses that gap using Afrobarometer survey data from 39 African countries (N≈147,000) to examine the relationship between religious affiliation and willingness to accept neighbours of different faiths. Contrary to expectations drawn from secularisation and pluralism theories, I find that individuals without religious affiliation are significantly more likely to express religious prejudice than adherents of Islam, Christianity, traditional religions, and other faiths.

This might be because in societies where religion is culturally hegemonic, non-religious individuals may experience symbolic exclusion or anticipate value imposition, fuelling outgroup aversion.

These findings extend theories of boundary-making and secular minority experience by highlighting how dominant religiosity can structure exclusionary attitudes even among individuals presumed to be more tolerant.

Daniel Tuki Daniel Tuki is an independent researcher in Berlin, Germany.