Philip Orr

Shedding Light on the Shadows of Oppressive Religious Upbringings..

Philip Orr on May 16, 2024, 7:00 am

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I In Northern Ireland there is plenty of evidence for poor mental health connected to living in communities which have experienced political violence, tension and deprivation. A fellow counsellor in one such area of Belfast tells me that many individuals who come to see him have lived for years with trauma. However, I would argue that one other cause of poor mental health in our society is ‘unhealthy religion’. I am referring not just to the legacy of a repressive …

Grass Roots Unionist culture – lacking the voices it needs…

Philip Orr on January 30, 2021, 9:54 am

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When I was working on a community history project in Mid-Antrim several years ago, I engaged with bonfire committees across the district. They were in receipt of a grant from the local council to help make their Eleventh Night festivities family-friendly and to enable participants to be more aware of the traditions they sought to uphold. As part of my work, I referred to the (possible) origins of bonfires in 17th century celebrations to greet the victory of William of …

Caring for each other in a time of lockdown…

Philip Orr on June 6, 2020, 7:00 am

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The global crisis wrought by the Coronavirus has made us aware of some of the most important things in life: good health, effective healthcare, supportive relationships, and wise governance. Self-isolation and fear have shown us just how much we depend on companionship for strength and well-being, while our dependence on the dedication of those who care for us when we are sick, frail, or aged has never been more evident. Perhaps it is time to invoke the wisdom of the …

Never before? The Spanish Flu and COVID 19…

Philip Orr on April 7, 2020, 1:05 pm

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Boris Johnson is not the first British prime minister to fall ill during a pandemic. In September 1918, with the First World War far from over, David Lloyd George succumbed to the Spanish Flu. Johnson is not the only world leader affected by Covid 19 and a century ago, a global range of politicians was also affected by influenza; while still suffering from the aftermath of his severe infection, Lloyd George visited the Paris peace conference in 1919, only to …