A post regarding this subject will appear here within the next few weeks
Meanwhile, I have reproduced below two definitions of sectarianism (a short one and a long one) from the book “Moving beyond Sectarianism” by Leichty and Clegg (Columba Press 2000)
Short definition
“sectarianism is a complex of problems – including dividing, demonising and dominating – which typically arise from malignant intersections of religion and politics and which are characteristic of the kind of religiously-shaped ethno-national conflict experienced in Northern Ireland”
Long Defninition
“Sectarianism is a system of attitudes, actions, beliefs and structures
- at personal, communal, and institutional levels
- which always involves religion, and typically invoves a negative mixing of religion and politics
which arises as a distorted expression of positive, human needs especially for belonging, identity, and the free expression of difference and is expressed in destructive patterns relating:
- hardening the boundaries between groups
- overlooking others
- belittling, dehumanising, or demonising others
- justifying or collaborating in the domination of others
- physically or verbally intimidating or attacking others.”
