ABSTRACT
This chapter investigates the possible differences between or possibly among the religions of Ireland and ascertains whether there is any convergence taking place in these religions which might underpin any permanent or quasi-permanent solution to the Northern Island problem. Donald Harman Akenson discusses differences between Irish Catholics and Irish Protestants, using data from countries to which both groups have migrated and refutes all of the hypotheses about Irish Catholic inferiority that have been popular is Irish historiography. Irish Catholics in both regions are more likely to approve of cheating on taxes and government compensation forms and Northern Catholics are also significantly more likely to think it is all right to cheat the government than do Northern Protestants. Attitudes towards the environment may be an important effect of religious because they may represent a stance towards life and its purpose.
