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Speak Your Piece
Exploring Controversial Issues

OFF THE WALLS
A Guide for Teachers, Youth and Community Workers

Religion

We had fed the heart on fantasies,
The heart's grown brutal from the fare;
More substance in our enmities
Than in our love;

from The Star's Nest by the Window by WB Yeats

John Kelly speaks from Massada, where in 70AD hundreds of Zealots chose to kill themselves in a mass suicide rather than submit to the Roman army. He talks about the holy city of Jersusalem/ El Quds and its religious significance through the ages for Christians, Jews and Muslims.

The studio debate explores religious identity, bigotry and prejudice, and the experience of doubt.

The drama profiles conflicting views about nationality and religion, highlighted in a tense confrontation between Ken and Pat.

Garden of
Gethsemane

Wars have been here for centuries. Wars about territory, wars about God.

Before viewing...

In small groups, discuss the following questions:

1. How important is religion in your life and in the life of your family?
2. Do you think that religion has contributed to conflict in Northern Ireland?
3. What contribution does religion have to make in resolving conflict in Northern Ireland?



Is religion part of the problem? Can it be part of the solution?

  • Here in Jerusalem, city of peace, we find the most classic and most ironic case of religion and conflict. Is religion the problem, or is it something which makes matters worse? (Kelly)
  • Where was God when I killed that fella? (Don)
  • Our God does not advocate violence. Our God advocates peace and peace entails working together, feeding people that are starving, helping those who are homeless (female)
Activity one This activity is called a walking debate and works best with at least ten people. Space is required for the whole group to stand in a line.
Walking Debate Label one end of the room agree and the other disagree.
  1. Arrange participants in a line initially in terms of height or birthdate.
  2. Read out the statements below. Ask participants to respond by choosing a place along the line depending on their strength of feeling about each statement.
  3. Interview the participants at the various points on the line and allow them to discuss their positions with each other.
  • religion is important to me
  • Protestants and Catholics belong to different religions
  • the Churches are out of touch with young people
  • schools in Northern Ireland should be integrated
  • in Northern Ireland there is too much religion and not enough Christianity
  • religious people are less tolerant
  • God is on 'our side'
  • the Churches could do more to bring peace to Northern Ireland.


How do Protestants and Catholics see each other?

  • People can be filled with both God and hate to a murderous degree - and just like Abraham are prepared to sacrifice anything or anybody for the glory of God. (Kelly)
  • Protestant religion, what I call Christianity, and the Catholic faith are two totally different religions. (male)
Activity two Refer to Worksheet 3 on page 16.
  1. Each person should complete the two lists on the worksheet.
  2. Usually these lists contain negative stereotypes. Discuss the lists in small groups and decide which statements refer to religious differences, which are cultural and which are political?
  3. Discuss these lists in the large group. What do the lists tell us about the way in which Catholics and Protestants think and feel about each other?

Dome of the Rock,
Jerusalem
… everyone believes that God is on their side.


Does religion make people more or less tolerant?
  • It's like they're afraid of anything different, they're afraid of change. (Bob)
  • So what do you call your dog? (Pat)
Activity three This activity is designed to sensitize participants to the experience of discrimination. The space should be arranged so that there are a few comfortable seats, but most people have to sit on the floor.
Discrimination
1. As participants enter the room direct each person to sit either on a comfortable seat or the floor. Your decision about where each person sits should be based on some random distinction, for example, eye colour or first letter of name.
2. The minority should have the comfortable seats. Treat those seated with the utmost respect and allow some form of privilege. Adopt a contemptuous attitude towards the others.
3. After an appropriate length of time divide into small groups and discuss how individuals felt about the way they were being treated.
4. Why is religion sometimes a basis for discrimination? Each group could consider what factors contribute to discrimination and this may lead to an agreed definition of the term.
5. Have individuals experienced other forms of discrimination? Does it exist in the school, college, club or organisation to which you belong?


Worksheet 3
Religion

Activity two - statements as a basis for discussion

Ten things that Catholics say are different about Protestants
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Ten things that Protestants say are different about Catholics
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