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Despite its diplomatic isolation, Taiwan shines in East Asia as a beacon for pluralism. This is a rare example of a progressive and liberal society where both deep religious diversity and a tolerant secular state co-exist. Taiwan's liminality between world empires, and its unique position in the global economy partly explain its openness to a diversity of worldviews, but also exposes it to greater challenges to achieve covenantal pluralism. Taiwan's hard-won democracy has entrenched positive trends, but three issues threaten to undermine it: the political pressure of a domineering China that limits its own religious diversity and that wants to annex Taiwan; the rise in influence of a rather intransigent and divisive religious minority that demonizes its opponents; and the increasing labor immigration addressing the challenges of an aging society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Political leaders need to recognize that religion remains a powerful force shaping the world around us. As globalization pushes the world together it becomes more urgent to find ways for people of different faiths (or no faith) to coexist peacefully. The honoring of religious minority rights and a healthy religious pluralism are core aspects of democracy and key priorities of the open-minded. People of faith must have the right to speak out on issues that concern them and in the name of beliefs derived from faith. At the same time, religious voices cannot predominate in democracies that preserve equal rights for all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]