Not of This World?: Evangelical Protestants in Northern Ireland

by Glenn Jordan

Glenn Jordan. Evangelicalism in Northern Ireland often evokes emotions ranging from bewilderment to disdain and even fear. Arguing that evangelicalism plays far too important a role to be easily dismissed or misunderstood, this important new book is based on in-depth interviews with more than seventy men and women. The result is a candid and complex portrait of an influential community and a better understanding of the wider society in which evangelicals live, work, and worship. Glenn Jordan is Director of Care and Training Services at East Belfast Mission. Published in association with the Centre for Contemporary Christianity in Ireland.

Genres: Ireland

244 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2001

Reviews

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

The insights of 20 years ago are prophetic and help us understand how much of evangelicalism in Northern Ireland has got to its current position.

[Nicholas Whyte · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1995114.html[return][return][return]This is a study of evangelical Protestants in Northern Ireland, published in 2001, by a semi-insider, in that Jordan is himself a Belfast church worker but crucially comes from Bray, Co Wicklow (a convert from Catholicism). It is a very interesting book, phrased as a series of conversations using extracts from dozens of interviews with self-described practising or former evangelicals; while some fit the stereotype of barnstorming bigots, there is a full spectrum of those whose faith leads them to ecumenism and cross-community outreach, in some cases even to support for Irish nationalism, or indeed to turn their backs on politics and get on with witnessing for a different kingdom. [return][return]Jordan himself is a semi-outsider; though a Belfast church-worker, he is from Bray, Co Wicklow, and has converted from Catholicism. He makes it fairly clear that his own sympathies are with those who choose to engage positively with politics and with their neighbours, but sensibly and compassionately resists moralising and allows all of his interviewees to give their testimony in their own terms. [return][return]2001 was a low point in the Northern Ireland peace process, and Jordan's interviewees are split between those disappointed with the results of the 1998 agreement and those gleefully claiming that they told us so. Most of them must now be voting for the DUP, whose remarkable swing to support of implementing power-sharing coincided with their rise to political dominance among Protestants. It would be interesting to hear from his interviewees now.[return][return]But basically, the book shows that if we want to, we can learn much more about people who we disagree with by listening to what they have to say than by yelling about how wrong they are. I found it very useful.

[Brian Kerr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book several years ago and thought it a bit negative in tone. However, reading it again, I've changed my mind. Yes, it is critical of Northern Ireland evangelicals (especially of the fundamentalist and pietistic varieties) but maybe at least some of the criticism is deserved. It's a somewhat academic book and read as such it presents a useful picture of evangelicalism in Northern Ireland.

[David Campton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Each time I read this book it leaves me more uncertain than ever about my own self-description.