Former Northern Ireland Assembly Speaker and Liberal Democrat Peer, Lord John Alderdice
A previously unseen work by leading Irish Presbyterian scholar, James Ernest Davey, has been published by Lord Alderdice and will be launched at First Belfast Presbyterian Church on Friday, 5 November.
Davey, who was tried on charges of heresy by the Presbyterian Church in 1927 for his liberal views, is widely regarded as one of Northern Ireland’s leading public intellectuals of his time. Titled “Religious Experience: its nature, validity, forms and problems”, this book, which was written in the 1950s, contains his final considered reflections on religious truth and point to a radical rethinking of theology.
This previously unpublished manuscript was printed only for private circulation in the 1960s due to fears regarding what its publication could mean for rising religious fundamentalism in Northern Ireland at that time. Upon this publication by Lord Alderdice, Davey’s critical insights on the religious experience are now available in full.
Speaking about the publication, Lord Alderdice said:
“As a son of the Presbyterian manse myself, I have long been fascinated by the life and work of J Ernest Davey. His story is key to understanding the liberal/conservative debate in Irish Presbyterianism, not just throughout the 20th century, but at the present time.”
“I am thrilled to have been able to bring this book to publication for the first time, because even now, over 60 years after Davey’s death, I believe that his ideas provide the basis for a new approach to theology and faith.”
The launch of Davey’s book “Religious Experience: its nature, validity, forms and problems” will take place on Friday, 5 November from 6.45pm to 8pm at the First Belfast Presbyterian Church, Rosemary Street Belfast. It will include a short organ recital, followed by a conversation between William Crawley and Lord Alderdice and a Q&A session.
To register for the event, visit: LINK.