The Land of Unlikeness

The book comes out of the experience of living in the society of Northern Ireland which has undergone some level of political violence during the whole of the authors adult life. It is therefore about Northern Ireland but it is not only about Northern Ireland because there are lots of societies experiencing violent conflict or coming out of violent conflict. The book asks questions can such societies make good again? And what can Christian faith bring to the search for reconciliation. In exploring the answers to these questions the book looks at the meaning of reconciliation and offers biblical and theological perspectives. At the heart of the book is an examination of the vital question of dealing with the past in particular how the complex and multi-stranded weave of forgiveness, justice, truth and repentance can diversify the past. The book is primarily interested in the resource Christians can bring to the search for reconciliation, particularly in a social and political context.