A leading sociologist will tonight (November 19) argue that religion in Northern Ireland, and elsewhere, can be a force for reconciliation rather than conflict.
Over the past 30 years Northern Ireland, in particular, has been characterised by hostility, sectarianism and religious conflict. But is this view actually correct?
Professor John Brewer will examine this idea by discussing the strength and weaknesses of religion as a resource for peace.
He will also debate whether the situation in Northern Ireland is a unique case or if other religious conflicts can learn from the Irish experience.
Over 200 people are expected to attend what is the latest in a series of prestigious public talks being given by internationally renowned academics working at the University of Aberdeen.
Professor Brewer's lecture is entitled "Ireland – enough religion to make us hate, not enough to make us love" (Swift): religion, conflict and peace in Northern Ireland.
"I'll be talking about the popular association of religion and conflict - the idea that religion is, to use the words of the Irish Association in 2003, 'nothing but trouble', whether in Ireland or elsewhere," he explained.
"This critique of religion has been made even more popular by Richard Dawkins dismissal of religion. It repeats the views of Jonathan Swift in 1728, that religion in Ireland garners hatred not love, illustrating the cultural continuity of the view of religion as an arena of conflict.
"I will focus on religion as a site of reconciliation, both in Ireland and elsewhere. I use this focus not only to readdress the hoary old view that religion is a problem in Ireland, but also as a way of renewing the intellectual concerns of the sociology of religion."
This is the fourth of the University's Inaugural Lectures which allow some of the institution's top scholars to share their thinking on topics as diverse as literature, social cognition, politics, global warming and chronic pain.
Professor Brewer has held academic positions in the UK, USA and Australia, and he has published widely in the sociology of religion, social conflict and peace processes.
A former Chair of the British Sociological Association, in 2004 he also became only the third sociologist to gain membership of the Royal Irish Academy.
Tonight's lecture takes place at King's College Centre from 6pm to 7pm when there will also be opportunities for questions.
For more information about The Inaugural Lectures 2007 visit: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/inaugurallectures/