The Study of Religions in Ireland

Reviews / Votes

The editors of The Study of Religions in Ireland are to be congratulated. As someone who researches Irish religious history, it often seems that most books on religion in Ireland focus solely on Catholic and Protestant Christianity. The rich variety of approaches in this fine collection contributes to a holistic, balanced view of religious studies in Ireland. * Reading Religion * For centuries, religion has played a major role in Irish society but The Study of Religions in Ireland is the first critical study dealing with the different religions in Ireland in the past and at present. This volume is required reading for anyone seeking to understand the fundamental changes that Irish society is undergoing in relation to religion at large. * Tuula Sakaranaho, Emerita Professor of the Study of Religions, University of Helsinki, Finland * This book is a landmark publication, which offers a state-of-the-art survey of religions in Ireland and an ambitious agenda for future work in this increasingly important field. It will be essential reading for scholars, practitioners and journalists. * Crawford Gribben, Professor of History, Queen's University Belfast, UK * 15 years after the establishment of the first Study of Religions Department in Ireland at University College Cork, this volume offers a highly valuable snapshot of current research on Ireland's diverse religious field and promises to inspire more research in the future. * Oliver Scharbrodt, Professor of Islamic Studies, Lund University, Sweden * This book makes and holds space for a diverse and nuanced discussion on the dynamics of religion in Irish life, and the relationships between religion and identity, gender, community life and social and political history. It will be an important touchstone for scholars across a number of disciplines that engage with the continuing significance of religion in contemporary life, as well as the material, cultural and social heritages of religion in Ireland. * Niamh NicGhabhann, Senior Lecturer in History, University of Limerick, Ireland * We find in the diversity and extent of the collection a comprehensive filling of a gap in the literature. As far as being field-defining, this purpose is achieved insofar as, from the first page, there is a sense of being introduced to an emerging discipline. In this volume, the editors, Brendan McNamara and Hazel O'Brien, introduce the reader to ASR (Academic Study of Religions) in Ireland, and provide a diverse overview of religions that are old and new to Ireland, with an in-depth historical overview from different perspectives ... We consider this book to have much to offer as a valuable source for the academic community, students, and lay readers interested in the study of religions in Ireland. -- Iarfhlaith Watson & Sarah Carol * Numen *