Category: Secularisation

Why Secularisation is Good for the Churches – New Article in ‘Reality’ Magazine

I have a new article in Reality magazine, ‘Choice and Uncertainty: Why Secularisation is Good for the Churches.’

Reality is published by Redemptorist Communications Ireland. You can purchase a copy here.

I have reproduced the first few paragraphs of the … Read more...

Clare FM Interview: The Pandemic’s Effects on Churches

I was interviewed about my research on churches during the pandemic on Clare FM’s Beyond Belief programme, which was presented by Stephen Fletcher and aired last night.

We cover a number of topics featured in my reports on my research, … Read more...

Church during Coronavirus Survey: Have Your Say

Researchers at Mater Dei Centre for Catholic Education, Dublin City University and York St John University in the UK are conducting a second survey on religious practice during the pandemic: ‘Covid-19 and Church-21’.

Ordained clergy and laity from all denominations … Read more...

Churches during Covid on RTE Radio 1’s ‘The Leap of Faith’

I was interviewed about my research on religion during the Covid-19 pandemic on RTE Radio 1’s ‘The Leap of Faith’ programme, Friday 5 February. It draws primarily on my latest research report, Something Other than a Building: Churches during … Read more...

Can Ireland’s Churches be Something Other than a Building? Post on Slugger O’Toole

My post, ‘Can Ireland’s Churches be Something Other than a Building?’ was published on Tuesday on the Slugger O’Toole blog.

It outlines the results of my latest research on churches in Ireland during the Covid-19 pandemic.… Read more...

Patrick Mitchel’s Thoughts on ‘Considering Grace: Presbyterians & the Troubles’

Theologian Patrick Mitchel has written a thoughtful post on his ‘Faith in Ireland’ blog about my book (co-authored with Jamie Yohanis), Considering Grace: Presbyterians and the Troubles.

Recognizing that the heart of Considering Grace is the stories it contains, the … Read more...

How Irish churches are celebrating Christmas during a pandemic: My article on RTÉ Brainstorm

I have a new article on RTÉ Brainstorm on ‘How Irish churches are celebrating Christmas during a Pandemic.’

Click here to read the full story. 

Image: Clonard Monastery in Belfast, December 2020. Sourced on Clonard’s Twitter feed.… Read more...

Christian modernities in Britain and Ireland in the twentieth century: Article on the Journalism of Fr Gerry Reynolds published in Contemporary British History

My article on ‘Clerical modernisers and the media in Ireland: the journalism of Fr Gerry Reynolds’, has been published in a special issue of the academic journal Contemporary British History on ‘Christian modernities in Britain and Ireland in the … Read more...

Catholic Activism Today by Maureen K Day: On ‘Catholic Books Review’

I’ve reviewed Maureen K Day’s Catholic Activism Today: Individual Transformation and the Struggle for Social Justice, on the Catholic Books Review website.

It’s a worthwhile study of Catholic activism in the United States, deftly situated within historical and sociological … Read more...

Faith Leaders’ Response to the Pandemic in ‘Search: A Church of Ireland Journal’

I’ve contributed an article, ‘Faith Leaders’ Response to the Pandemic’, in the latest issue of Search: A Church of Ireland Journal (Autumn 2020).

The article outlines the key findings from a survey I conducted in May, in partnership with the … Read more...

Review of Peter Mulholland’s Love’s Betrayal: New Post on Slugger O’Toole

I have a new post on the Slugger O’Toole blog, a review of Love’s Betrayal: The Decline in Catholicism and the Rise of New Religious Movements in Ireland, by Peter Mulholland.… Read more...