Description
The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland describes itself as ‘a membership organisation… committed to the protection of the principles of the Protestant Reformation and the Glorious Revolution of 1688 which enshrined civil and religious liberty for all’. Yet, the controversial history of the Order raises questions about such commitments as it was seen to espouse a political Union with Britain that would deny Irish Catholics civil, religious and political liberties.Such contradictions are often not recognised by members of the Order who continue to view the organisation positively and as representing a true liberty that it believes stands in stark contrast to their sectarian ‘Other’ – the Catholic, nationalist population.
Exploring secondary data/surveys involving its members, and using previous studies on ‘the Orange’, this paper will situate the Order within the framework of Othering. The paper will examine the dynamics that have enabled Orangeism to continue to view itself in an almost exclusively positive light, despite the criticisms that have consistently been levelled against it from various quarters. In so doing, the paper will argue that there are lessons to be learned from these Othering processes that can be applied to contemporary western societies experiencing increased polarisation.
| Period | 10 Aug 2023 → 12 Aug 2023 |
|---|---|
| Event title | Turbulent Religions, Alternative Futures |
| Event type | Workshop |
| Location | Belfast, United KingdomShow on map |
| Degree of Recognition | International |