SEARCH Journal

Far-Right Extremism - the challenge to the Churches

THE GLOBAL polarisation of social, political and religious thought is a major challenge for Christian churches today. While in the past far-right and Fascist ideologies changed the course of 20th century European history, now they are finding new expressions and a new resurgence in ur globalised and digitised world. Ireland has traditionally understood itself as avoiding any significant representation of extreme far-right ideologies. However, after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, a new form of anti-immigrant far-right extremism began to affect communities across the country in terms of two poignant issues for Christians; racism and the misappropriation of Christian language and symbols. These become the context in which we are invited to respond to the rising threat.

THE GLOBAL polarisation of social, political and religious thought is a major challenge for Christian churches today. While in the past far-right and Fascist ideologies changed the course of 20th century European history, now they are finding new expressions and a new resurgence in ur globalised and digitised world. Ireland has traditionally understood itself as avoiding any significant representation of extreme far-right ideologies. However, after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, a new form of anti-immigrant far-right extremism began to affect communities across the country in terms of two poignant issues for Christians; racism and the misappropriation of Christian language and symbols. These become the context in which we are invited to respond to the rising threat.


* Full article available in printed copies.


Philip McKinley