Living Religion in Northern Ireland: Experiences of Faith Minorities
This research project at Trinity College Dublin aims to explore the experiences of faith minorities in the Christian-majority landscape of Northern Ireland. Through surveys and case studies conducted from 2009 to 2011, the project delves into religious diversity, perceptions of reconciliation and ecumenism, and perspectives of both faith leaders and laypeople. The surveys provide insights from both faith leaders and laypeople, highlighting the nuances of diversity within Christian congregations and other religions. Despite challenges due to small sample sizes, the project sheds light on the complexities of religious dynamics in Northern Ireland.
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Living Religion in Northern Ireland: Experiences of People of Faith Minorities in a Christian Majority Landscape. By Dr Gladys Ganiel Trinity College Dublin
Part of the IRCHSS-funded research project To be completed over three years (2009-2011) Marks Centenary of 1910 Missionary Conference Surveys, sociological case studies, theological reflection Trinity College Dublin
Tonights Talk Focus on data related to Faith Minorities Data from 2009 Surveys Data from 2010 Case Study Trinity College Dublin
Purpose of Surveys To audit religious diversity on the island Ethnic diversity within Christian congregations/parishes; and other religions Perceptions of reconciliation (what is reconciliation & who should be reconciled?) Perceptions of ecumenism (what is ecumenism & does it matter today?) Perspectives of both faith leaders & laypeople Trinity College Dublin
Surveys of Faith Leaders Clergy, Pastors, Ministers, Faith Leaders More than 4,000 direct email or postal requests April-July 2009 Response rate 18% Evangelicals over- represented Highest response rate among Methodist & Church of Ireland Trinity College Dublin
Surveys of Laypeople On-line Exploratory Survey More than 900 respondents April-July 2009 on www.ecumenics.ie Atheists & evangelicals over-represented Provide useful points of comparison for survey of faith leaders and provide directions for future research Trinity College Dublin
Minority respondents Only 14 of 710 respondents on faith leaders survey 9 from Republic, 5 from Northern Ireland Response rate 24% Baha i, Buddhist, Hare Krishna, Hindu, Humanist, Jewish, Muslim Nothing substantial can be claimed from this data, due to small sample size BUT Trinity College Dublin
Interesting Findings Leaders from Other Religions were most likely to say they had been provided with adequate training or resources for promoting reconciliation (89%) Other Religions (89%) reported the most positive conceptions of ecumenism. On ecumenism, Christians prioritized options including Catholics and Protestants Trinity College Dublin
Lay Minority Respondents 910 total respondents, 29 from Faith Minorities (23 from Republic, 4 from NI, 2 did not indicate location) Includes Baha i, Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Humanist, Jewish Orthodox, pagan, Soto Zen Buddhist, Tibetan Buddhist Again, nothing substantial can be claimed from this data, due to small sample size BUT Trinity College Dublin
Interesting Findings The laypeople who responded to our survey were more likely to indicate that good civic relations and dialogue with Other Religions is part of ecumenism, than were the faith leaders who responded 25% of laypeople on the island as a whole reported accessing resources on reconciliation between people of different religions 28% of laypeople on the island as a whole had accessed general resources on reconciliation (25% in the Republic and 38% in Northern Ireland). The most likely to have done so were people from Other Religions (47%) and Other Christians (38%). Trinity College Dublin
Faith Minorities Case Study 2010 Context of seven other case studies Fermanagh Churches Forum Holy Cross Benedictine Monastery, Co. Down Sli Eile (Jesuit youth organisation) Abundant Life Assemblies of God church, Limerick St Patrick s United Church, Waterford Jesus Centre, Dublin Ballyboden Catholic lay parish council, Dublin Trinity College Dublin
Faith Minorities Case Study (2010) Our purpose? To provide in-depth perspectives on what it is like to live as a member of a faith minority community on this island Interviewees are not representative Semi-structured interviews provide room for depth and more nuanced understanding Participants sourced through ISE contacts and 2009 surveys Trinity College Dublin
Interviewee Demographics Age Range Birthplace Religious background Current Religion Current residence Gender 40-60 Northern Ireland Church of Ireland NI M Baha i 40-60 Turkey Muslim (Sunni) Muslim (Sunni) NI M 40-60 India Hindu Hindu NI M 18-25 Turkey Muslim Muslim NI F 40-60 India Sikh Sikh Ireland M 40-60 Ireland Jewish Jewish Ireland F 26-40 Northern Ireland Catholic Buddhist Ireland M 40-60 Ireland Catholic Buddhist Ireland F 65+ Ireland Church of Ireland Ireland F Baha i 65+ Ireland Catholic Buddhist NI M (LGBT) Trinity College Dublin
Committing to a new faith Irish or Northern Irish born interviewees Dissatisfaction or disappointment with previous religion But always several factors Trinity College Dublin
Experiences of Acceptance With family With society around them I can easily say this is one of the relaxed and good countries, where you can live your faith and don t have any problem. As long as you don t go to very sensitive areas of the country where nationalism is very high. - Afandee, Turkish Muslim in N. Ireland Trinity College Dublin
Experiences of Rejection/Prejudice & Lack of Recognition Present in all narratives In social interactions In public policies, politics, educational system, etc. Trinity College Dublin
Meaning & Practice of Everyday Religion Prayer, meditation, social work religions give meaning to people s everyday lives All say their religions are not about converting others Many emphasise that their religions are non- violent Trinity College Dublin
Ecumenism All say other religions should be included This may be related to desire for recognition or acknowledgement But, one had not heard of ecumenism, two were unsure, and another had checked its meaning in the dictionary Is ecumenism the same as inter faith dialogue? Trinity College Dublin
Points to Ponder Acceptance is hard to come by Ordinariness of everyday religious life When little recognition, who should reach out? Relationship between inter-faith dialogue & ecumenism Trinity College Dublin
