It is clearly evident how religion is the cause of (and still causing)
turmoil between Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland.  Can
someone please provide me with specific ways/examples of how religion
is involved in BRINGING ABOUT PEACE in Northern Ireland.  The examples
should be contemporary i.e., within the past 50 years at most.  Please
provide a few key points on each way/example.  Links to websites would
also be appreciated.

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Clarification of Question by quik4life-ga on 08 Apr 2005 12:10 PDT

It is clearly evident that the causes of the conflict in NI were
political, but they did have ties to religion.  After all, the "media"
did label the two parties at war as "Protestants" and "Catholics."

Therefore, I wish to change my question in hopes that someone can post
an answere ASAP.

Edited Question:

Can someone please provide me with specific ways/examples which led to
the bringing of peace in Northern Ireland.  I would like a minimum of
3 examples and a brief (50-100 words) explanation of each.  The
examples which led to the bringing of peace should be contemporary,
i.e., within the last 40 years at most. Links to websites supporting
the information would also be appreciated.

You want to know how religion is the cause of turmoil? or how it bring
about  peace? or both?:) The best website, bar none, on the Northern
Ireland conflict is http://cain.ulst.ac.uk. There's tons of articles
and info. there

I am not sure that religion is at the root of the problem.

There were Protestant Irish Nationalists.

Religion is one of several distinguishing characteristics of two
separate tribal groups.

I am simply interested in specific ways/examples of how religion
is involved in BRINGING ABOUT PEACE in Northern Ireland.

I know one way/example is through ecumenism between Protestants and
Catholics.  So if you were to use this as one of your examples in the
answer, please provide some brief points about it and some websites to
confirm/extrapolate the information.

And by religion, I'm specifically refering to Christianity.

So, how has Christianity been involved/or trying to resolve the
conflicts and violence in Northern Ireland.

Thank you.

Both the Catholic religion and the Protestant religion have lost
members to the Jehovahs Witness faith, after those ex members have
seen and understood that their former religions were not truly
following what Jesus asked for. Those same ones are now genuinely
united in their efforts to help people realise just what Almighty God,
through Jesus, wants of us. Knock, knock..that must be them now!.

So can anybody answer my question as posted...

I would only like 3 or 4 examples of how religion or religious means
are involved in the peace process in Northern Ireland...some points on
each example would also help.

thanks.

It really seems like there isn't much to support arguments that
religion has done anything towards promoting peace in Northern
Ireland. Ecumenism has sort of reached an impasse in areas where there
is no strife between the RC and protestants, but there certainly is in
N. I., not between the churches, per se, of course, but insofar as
religion is the primary identifier for the the conflicting parties,
regardless of the fact that historically the origins of the problem
were political/economic:  the 17th century arrival of English with the
upperhand over the peasant Irish populations.  Of course, at that
time, 30 Years War, etc., religious orientation and differences
between Christians had more significance than it has today (see who
all was at the Pope's funeral).
I will be very interested to see if someone can give you some examples.

After reading all the comments and since I do need an answer ASAP, I
am changing the details of my question.

Please see the edited version above.