>> Government restrictions peak >> A bombshell study is highlighting an explosion of religious persecution radiating throughout the world. >> Last week, an international Pew Research Center (Pew) study [found](https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/11/10/government-restrictions-on-religion-around-the-world-reached-new-record-in-2018/) that 56 countries had "high" or "very high" levels of restriction on religion in 2018. The study tracked levels of religious restriction back to 2007. It uses what's called a "government restriction index" employing a 10 point scale with 20 indicators to get accurate results. >> Pew reported on Nov. 10, "In 2018, the global median level of government restrictions on religion — that is, laws, policies and actions by officials that impinge on religious beliefs and practices — continued to climb, reaching an all-time high."