Not of this World? Evangelical Protestants in Northern Ireland

Author(s): Glenn Jordan
Document Type: Book
Year: 2001
Publisher: Blackstaff Press
Place of Publication: Belfast
ISBN: 08564-699-6
Subject Area(s): Culture/Identity, Religion, NI Conflict
Client Group(s) : Men, Women

Abbreviations: NI - Northern Ireland

Background to the Research

  • Evangelicalism is one of the least understood sectors of NI society. The author provides a complex and in-depth picture of the evangelical community in NI.

Research Approach

  • The author conducted 72 separate in-depth interviews with randomly selected evangelicals and draws on primary and secondary sources.

Main Findings

Evangelicals and Protestant Identity

  • Amongst evangelicals, the most common form of cultural expression and the greatest indicator of identity is the culture and identity of the Church.
  • Evangelicals demonstrate at least 3 understandings of their Protestantism, political, secular or religious and these are present to varying degrees in all evangelicals.
  • Those who asserted their Protestant and unionist identity have the keenest sense of threat to their identity. Evangelicals who are ambivalent about their Britishness and their Protestantism are more likely to seek to embrace an Irish identity. They are also more likely to perceive that the threat to their faith comes from cultural forces like secularism, rather than any political threat.
  • Three sources of threat are identified by evangelicals, the perceived political threat posed by nationalism and republicanism, the Roman Catholic Church and the perceived dilution of the Protestant faith/identity.
  • Some evangelicals who are members of Loyal Orders feel that the core values of brotherhood and tolerance are being undermined by events such as the violence at Drumcree.

Evangelicals and Political Engagement

  • The majority of evangelicals shy away from politics and from discussing the mix of politics and faith in political life in NI. Evangelicals tend to filter politics through the kaleidoscope of their religious doctrine. Some evangelicals, on both the right and left wing of the movement, wish to see the Church more closely involved in promoting Christian principles in politics.
  • For many evangelicals, engagement in society and the community is a compelling element in their faith. However, their focus is on the Kingdom of God and many engage others in the community purely at the level of their faith - their activities centre around gospel meeting and other forms of worship.
  • Members of the Brethren do not vote, it appears that the majority of evangelicals vote Unionist, with a sizeable minority voting for the Alliance Party. Some young people living in urban areas vote Social and Democratic Labour Party. Evangelicals tend to vote for the person rather than the party - the moral status of the individual is important.

Evangelicals and Roman Catholicism

  • Because of the differences between the Catholic and evangelical understanding of faith, it is unlikely that widespread co-operation between evangelicalism and Catholicism would be possible in the near future. The political instability of NI has heightened division because of unionist fears about nationalism and republicanism.

Evangelicals and Violence

  • Evangelicals have their own subculture which enables them to isolate themselves from the rest of society therefore, many have been able to distance themselves from institutions such as the Orange Order and from Protestant paramilitary groups. Others have been less ready to condemn violence, whilst many articulate strong support for a robust security solution to terrorism.
  • Those evangelicals who were most critical of loyalist violence tended to demonstrate some understanding of why republicans resorted to violence, however, many evangelicals, like many Protestants find it hard to trust republicans.
  • The dilemma for evangelicals in relation to the peace process is how much compromise can be made before Christian principle is violated.

Evangelicals and the Future

  • Many evangelicals detect a decline in evangelical lifestyles and a dilution of doctrine and hope for a revival of the Church. Some hope for a revival that will bring change to the wider society in NI.
  • Many evangelicals wish to bring about change through activism in their neighbourhoods and communities through conversion and influencing others in the way they live their lives.
  • Some evangelicals see the role of the Church as preserver of tradition, others wish to see the Church becoming more welcoming to members of the wider community, especially in the political climate of NI. Others see the role of the Church as central to a broader mission to engage the contemporary world and discover new waves of prophets and teachers who will carry the evangelical message into the future.
 

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