Building a Church Without Walls
My review of three books on religion, violence and peace in Northern Ireland has been published online in Marginalia.
Richard Jordan’s The Second Coming of Paisley; John Brewer, David Mitchell, and Gerard Leavey’s Ex-Combatants, Religion and … Read more...
I have a new post on the Slugger O’Toole blog: Constitutions and Culture Wars: Institute for British Irish Studies Conference at UCD. The conference marked the retirement of UCD Prof of Politics John Coakley, founding director of IBIS, and … Read more...
Previously I blogged about the launch of the new Scottish Religious Cultures Network.
Given my own research interest on religion on the island of Ireland, including the religious links between Northern Ireland/Ulster and Scotland, I’m enthusiastic about this new venture.… Read more...
It’s no surprise that Rev Mervyn Gibson addressed loyalists at Twaddell Avenue this past weekend, in anticipation of the 300th Day of the protest, which falls tomorrow.
Gibson, grand chaplain of the Orange Order, has been a prominent spokesman … Read more...
I have a new post on the Slugger O’Toole blog based on last night’s Catherwood Lecture by Canon David Porter, ‘Telling Stories about the Future: David Porter and Heather Morris on the Role of Christian Activists.’… Read more...
Can Christians contribute a vision for a better future on this island?
This question has been raised in a number of debates over the last few months: online, on the air, and in newspapers. But believe it or not, there … Read more...
Yesterday I posted the first part of the talk I gave at the Merriman Summer School in Lisdoonvarna, Co. Clare, titled, ‘The Challenges of Reconciliation.’ The theme of the Summer School was ‘Ireland: North and South – Two Societies … Read more...
Tomorrow the 2013 Merriman Summer School in Lisdoonvarna, Co. Clare, gets underway, and I’m excited to be taking part. 
Yesterday’s Irish News carried an intriguing piece by Religion Correspondent William Scholes on the Maze Peace building and Conflict Resolution Centre, and the potential role of the churches in leading debate around what will happen at the site.
In light … Read more...
On my desk I have a calendar from Holy Cross Monastery in Rostrevor, Co. Down, which features photographs of the monks and the monastery throughout the year. In the month of July, the 12th is designated “Orangemen’s Day.” … Read more...
I’ve reviewed ‘Northern Ireland’s Lost Opportunity: The Frustrated Promise of Political Loyalism,’ by Tony Novosel, on the Slugger O’Toole blog.