Protestant-Catholic Conflict: Historical Legacies and Contemporary Realities
Lead Research Organisation:
The Open University
Department Name: Religious Studies
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
People |
ORCID iD |
| John Wolffe (Principal Investigator / Fellow) |
Publications
Wolffe J
(2014)
A Comparative Historical Categorisation of Anti- C atholicism
in Journal of Religious History
Wolffe J
(2014)
The Commemoration of the Reformation and Mid-Nineteenth-Century Evangelical Identity
in Bulletin of the John Rylands Library
Wolffe J
(2011)
Protestant-Catholic Divisions in Europe and the United States: An Historical and Comparative Perspective
in Politics, Religion & Ideology
| Description | The project has taken a 'longue duree' comparative view of religious conflict, combining historical research with interviews in contemporary Northern Ireland, and seminars with users and policy makers in a variety of locations. It has thus drawn out fluctuations and contingencies. The overall broad conclusion has been to show that there is no inevitability that religious DIFFERENCE will lead to religious CONFLICT, and more specifically to pinpoint the historical specificities that destabilise situations of more or less peaceful co-existence. More particular insights include: • The close parallels between anti-Catholicism and Islamophobia and hence the value of analysing both complex sets of attitudes alongside each other in the endeavour better to understand underlying Western attitudes to perceived 'dangerous' religion; • That secularization should not be seen as a 'solution' to religious conflict, as religious categories can persist - notably in Northern Ireland - even when religious practice declines. Loss of religious literacy and a reduction in the authority of religious leaders diminish the effectiveness of religion-led peacebuilding; • That a simplistic view of history - of straightforward 'wars of religion' in the distant past, of their subsequent disappearance, and recent resurgence - can be dangerously misleading insofar as it influences contemporary thinking and action; • The importance of balancing concerns for 'hard' physical security with a proper understanding of the factors conducive to 'soft' cultural security, of which religion is an important part. |
| Exploitation Route | Key implications for different categories of users are as follows: • Policy makers need to consider the ways in which well-intentioned strategies to promote equality and diversity may have unintended consequences in reifying religious categories and divisions that are more subtle and fluid on the ground. This is a particular issue in past-Good Friday Agreement Northern Ireland. • Religious leaders need to be aware of the perception that they have 'failed' in the past, and to be conscious of their potential to shape the future by more effective engagement with their own nominal communities to resist radical extremism on the one hand and the decline of religion into social irrelevance on the other. • The media and educators can help to address religious conflict situations by encouraging religious and historical literacy rather than simplistic stereotyping. The upcoming 'decade of anniversaries' in Ireland, and the centenary of the First World War everywhere will offer particular challenges and opportunities in this respect. |
| Sectors | Government, Democracy and Justice,Security and Diplomacy |
| Description | H2020 |
| Amount | € 2,500,000 (EUR) |
| Organisation | European Commission H2020 |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Belgium |
| Start | 05/2018 |
| End | 12/2021 |
| Description | Anti-Catholicism in British History 1520-1900 |
| Organisation | Newcastle University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Active participant and speaker and two workshops supported by this AHRC funded network |
| Collaborator Contribution | Organization and coordination of events |
| Impact | Publications pending. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Extremism: Is it All Bad? (Burnley) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | This invitation to talk about the research in another Lancashire town was a follow-up to the earlier successful events in Blackburn. The event in Burnley in November took place under the shadow of the terrorist attacks in Paris the previous weekend, which made the issues particularly timely and topical. Prof Wolffe's presentation on the dangers of stereotyping drew on both his GU projects, and stirred extensive discussion and questioning from an audience that included a substantial proportion of sixth-form and younger school students as well as teachers, other professionals and third sector representatives. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Extremism: Is it all bad? (Rochdale) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | This event in February 2016 was a repetition of the successful event in Burnley the previous November, with Prof Wolffe again delivering his presentation on stereotyping. It was well and intelligently received by the audience, which religious/community leaders and several Rochdale Borough Councillors. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Reassessing the Role of Religion in Northern Ireland Community Divisions (Northern Ireland Assembly, Stormont) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Interest in presentation and briefing paper available on NIA website. Basis for ongoing contacts with NI religious, political and community leaders |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| URL | http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/Assembly-Business/Research-and-Information-Service-RaISe/Knowledge-Exch... |
| Description | Religion and identity in Northern Ireland (Belfast) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presented at seminar for religious and community leaders in Northern Ireland, reporting on initial outcomes of research project. Ongoing conversations |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
| Description | Religion, Security and Global Uncertainties (Edinburgh) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | This event, hosted in collaboration of the School of Divinity (especially the Centre for Theology and Public Issues and the Religion and Ethics in the Making of War and Peace project) at the University of Edinburgh, provided an opportunity to discuss the implications of the report in a Scottish context. There were two sessions each introduced by a presentation from John Wolffe. In the first session Understanding and Addressing Sectarianism: Scottish Perspectives, the other speakers were Stewart J. Brown (University of Edinburgh), Dave Scott (Nil by Mouth) and Charlie Irvine (Place of Hope). In the second session Getting Religion: Informing Policy and Media Responses to Violence response to John Wolffe's presentation were given by John Mason MSP (SNP, Glasgow Shettleston), Jolyon Mitchell (University of Edinburgh) and Mona Siddiqui (University of Edinburgh). Both sessions generated wideranging and insightful discussion. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.open.ac.uk/arts/research/religion-martyrdom-global-uncertainties/events |
| Description | Religious Conflict: Understanding the Past to Inform the Future (London) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Seminar reporting project interim conclusions to policy makers (especially in Foreign and Commonwealth Office) with responses and discussion None as yet specifically attributable, but contact and dialogue with participants is ongoing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | Religious Conflict: Understanding the Past to Inform the Future (Birmingham) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation in initial research insights, leading to lively discussion among religious and community leaders from the West Midlands. Ongoing contacts. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | Religious Conflict: Understanding the Past to Inform the Future (Liverpool) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Sharing of research insights stimulated lively discussion among participants, including religious and community leaders and strong representation from the police. Ongoing contacts. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | Religious Conflict: Understanding the Past to Inform the Future (Milton Keynes) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Report on initial project insights led to lively discussion with local religious leaders and community activists. Ongoing contacts |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | Remembering 1916: Martyrdom and Sacrifice (Belfast) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | This talk, at Union Theological College in Belfast, was given at the invitation of the Council for Church and Society of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, and drew a substantial audience (50-60) from all over Northern Ireland, as well as a few from the Republic of Ireland. It formed part of their endeavours to facilitate constructive reflection and response to the centenaries of the Easter Rising and the Battle of the Somme, both of which fall in 2016. Prof Wolffe's presentation stimulated extensive discussion and questioning, which the organizers considered a very helpful contribution to their wider endeavours to build cross-community understanding in Northern Ireland. There was a follow-up interview with a local radio station the following morning. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://www.presbyterianireland.org/News/Article/February-2016/Professor-Wolffe-s-Talk-Remembering-1... |
| Description | The Role of Religion in Contemporary Security Challenges (London) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | This workshop was organized by Dr Tristram-Riley in his role as Partnership for Conflict, Crime and Security Research Impact Champion, and brought Prof Wolffe's work together with that of three other Leadership Fellows, Profs Gleave, Knott and Morey. There was widespread engagement and discussion with key policy professionals, from government, thinktanks and NGOs |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Thoughtcrimes and the control of 'subversive' views: Historical and contemporary perspectives (Exeter) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | This small workshop was held in collaboration with a fellow Global Uncertainties Leadership Fellow, Prof Robert Gleave of the University of Exeter. It sought to explore the ways in which alleged 'thought crimes' have been controlled historically (eg through intolerance of certain religious groups) or contemporaneously (eg through the 'Prevent' programme) and to develop constructive critiques and responses. It brought together academics and third sector practitioners. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.islamicreformulations.net/resources/Thoughtcrimes%20and%20Control.pdf |