Labour, Nationality and Religion

by James Connolly

A defense of Irish socialism first published in 1910.

Genres: Ireland, Politics, Theory, Nonfiction, History

62 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1954

About the author

James Connolly (Irish: Séamas Ó Conghaile) was an Irish socialist leader. He was born in the Cowgate area of Edinburgh, Scotland, to Irish immigrant parents. He left school for working life at the age of 11, but became one of the leading Marxist theorists of his day. Though proud of his Irish background, he also took a role in Scottish and American politics. He was executed by a British firing squad because of his leadership role in the Easter Rising of 1916.

Reviews

[graceofgod · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The day has passed for patching up the capitalist system; it must go. And in the work of abolishing it the Catholic and the Protestant, the Catholic and the Jew, the Catholic and the Freethinker, the Catholic and the Buddhist, the Catholic and the Mahometan will co-operate together, knowing no rivalry but the rivalry of endeavour toward an end beneficial to all. For, as we have said elsewhere, Socialism is neither Protestant nor Catholic, Christian nor Freethinker, Buddhist, Mahometan, nor Jew; it is only HUMAN. We of the Socialist working class realise that as we suffer together we must work together that we may enjoy together. We reject the firebrand of capitalist warfare and offer you the olive leaf of brotherhood and justice to and for all."

[Ryan McGonagle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Connolly here points out how the ruling class have used religion as another tool to suppress the working class of Ireland. Much of the book is a back and forth between radical socialist James Connolly and Jesuit priest fr Kane. Connolly finely deconstructs myths and untruthful statements often used to discredit socialism in response to fr Kane's lenten discourse against socialism in Gardiner at church, Dublin 1910. Very much enjoyed this and a top quick read. I read it in a 2 hour journey from Dublin to Belfast. Highly recommended for fans of Irish history, socialism and religion.

[Manus In Belfast · Rating 4 out of 5]

Labour, Nationality, and Religion is a response by Irish Revolutionary, James Connolly, to anti-Socialist rhetoric from the Catholic leadership in Ireland in the early 1900's. It's essentially James Connolly listing out anti-Socialist quotes from Father Kane and then proceedings to debunk the lies and false hood being used to argue against Socialism at that time.

James Connolly does cover several basic Marxist concepts in the text, such as materialism, wage exploitation, and landlordism. James Connolly also outlines important concepts for Republican Socialists such as anti-sectarianism, and separation of church and state. Several points outline a still useful outline of Irish revolutionary history.

Although not a long read, its points may be better modernised and summarised for greater effect for modern audiences who may not be familiar with Ireland in 1910. Regardless, it is still very interesting to see some of the same right wing talking points against Socialism used by Father Kane in 1910 are still very much in use today. It's depressing to see how many systemic issues identified by Connolly at that time are still in place today in modern Ireland.

[Smacky Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Connolly does a great job here dismantling what are still very common anti-socialist talking points based on bad-faith arguments and ruling class apologia. He was clearly a capital M Marxist who understood Marx's critique of capitalist society and writes in a very similar, pithy style to Marx.

The main thing most people take away from this is Connolly's very anti-sectarian approach to building a socialist movement. He simply asks that you agree that socialism is the "political and economic emancipation of our class", and leaves it at that (for better or worse). In today's political climate, it must be said that this is easier said than done. A lot needs to be agreed upon based on universal emancipation when it comes to building a socialist movement, because socialism is more than just anti-capitalism. It's the breaking of all forms of class society once and for all, and the political movement to get there needs to be treated as such.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Connolly, in a response to a series of Lenten lectures, thoroughly counters all arguments raised therein.

‘How can a person, or a class, be free when it’s means of life are in the grasps of another? How can the working class be free when the sole chance of existence of its individual members depends upon their ability to make a profit for others?’

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of all the absolutely reprehensible crimes that the British committed in the name of empire, the murder of James Connolly is among the worst, for it deprived the world of a being intelligent enough to identify what did not work in the world and brave enough to attempt change. Here he takes the Church to school.

[Camille Parrish · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this a few months ago to try to learn more about how my grandmother & great grandparents were pro-connolly but were also catholic? I didn’t gain any clarity there lmfao, truly more confused than ever, but I do think this is a really helpful (and short) exploration the relationship between organized religion in Ireland and historical systems of oppression…

“Ever counseling humility, but sitting in the seats of the mighty; ever patching up the diseased and broken wrecks of an unjust social system but blessing the system which made the wrecks and spread the disease”