History and the politics of depravity give pause to that theory. Politics alone will never save. If the British and the Irish still vie for control, violence will return and Strands will be broken. The key will be if depravity can be reined in a tad. For that, the treaty needs changed hearts and strong churches.
Religion is still very much alive and well in politics.
It holds both the key to the success of such plans, and it also largely explains the rival factions. Both sides, no doubt, manifested less than eschatological purity of motive at times. Yet, the driving engine of this century s political uproar in Ireland has been religion. Religion won t go away. Like in the middle east, the far east, and here in the secularized west, religion will continue to be an important part of politics.