Background
to the
Research
- The nature and extent of
secularisation in western Europe continues to receive much attention
in sociological research. NI has high levels of religious affiliation
and religion plays many roles in civil society and is said to 'lag
behind' other countries in relation to secularisation. This article
explores religious trends in NI and finds the dynamics of religious
change comparable across regions of the UK.
Research
Approach
- The author draws on data from the 1998
NI Life and Tines survey and on 40 long narrative interviews with
a variety of practising and non-practising Protestants and Catholics
in NI in 2000.
- The data are analysed using Casanova's
three dimensions of 'religious differentiation', 'decline' and' privatization'.
Main
Findings
Religious Differentiation
- Separation of Church and state is incomplete
in NI. This is mainly due to continued segregation in the educational
system where most Catholic children are educated denominationally
and only 2% of children are educated in integrated schools. In the
context of Britain, the increased role of faith schools in education
means that NI is not too far from the norm.
Religious Decline
- In the 1961 Census, only 384 people (out
of nearly 1.5 million) identified themselves as atheists, free-thinkers
or humanists. Whilst this number had risen by the 1990s, just under
90% continue to select a religious identification, four out of ten
identify as Catholic and five out of ten as Protestant.
- Whilst 95% of Catholics attended church
weekly in the late 1960s, attendance had fallen to 72% in 1998. Amongst
Protestants, weekly attendance in the 1960s was 46% compared with
weekly/bi-weekly attendance of 43% in 1998.
- The data on religious affiliation and
church attendance masks the diversity of religious belief. Some of
those rejecting a religious denomination have a faith system of some
kind. Equally, some of those who declare affiliation to a denomination
hold a diversity of beliefs in terms of which church teachings they
choose to practice.
Religious Privatization
- Religion in NI continues to influence politics
in the region; the churches exercise an unofficial moral authority
that is reflected in policies such as abortion. Church leaders engage
with political parties and paramilitary organisations and the political
conflict have heightened demand for them to take on this role. The
function of religion goes beyond believing and practicing a faith
and forms part of political, cultural and social identity for individuals
and communities.
- There is a high degree of overlap between
religion and social life in NI, with church-goers taking part in charitable
work in the wider community and many people coming into contact with
churches through sporting activities, uniformed organisations, youth
clubs, women's groups, choirs, bowling clubs and so on. The conflict
has served to deepen these public dimensions of religion as nearly
all these social activities take place along segregated lines.
Conclusions
- The salience of religious ideas and practices
in NI demonstrates considerable religious continuity and there is
little evidence of the emergence of a secular society. Despite the
peace process, communities in NI remain divided and this would suggest
that the overlap between the private and public functions of religion
is set to continue.
- The whole of the United Kingdom is undergoing
change, and religion plays a dynamic role in this process. Religion
has social importance in all societies and the social dimension is
as detectable in British society, particularly as racial and religious
diversity become norms and low-level social conflict persists.
- Although the characteristics of religion
may differ in the regions of the UK, religious change is universal
not particular. In this sense, it can be argued that the phenomenon
that sets NI apart is the fact that the social importance of religion
has been heightened by the conflict. As Britain formulates policies
to cater for religious plurality it should not ignore the experiences
of religious division and change in NI.
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