The Scarlet Woman and the Red Hand

Book excerpt: This book provides a comprehensive description of how evangelicals in Northern Ireland interpreted the Troubles (1966-2007) in the light of how they read the Bible. The rich and diverse landscape of Northern Irish evangelicalism during the Troubles is ideally suited to this study of both the light and dark sides of apocalyptic eschatology. Searle demonstrates how the notion of apocalypse shaped evangelical and fundamentalist interpretations of the turbulent events that characterized this dark yet fascinating period in the history of Northern Ireland. 'The Scarlet Woman and the Red Hand' uses this case study to offer a timely reflection on some of the most pressing issues in contemporary negotiations between culture and religion. Given the current resurgence of religious fundamentalism in the wake of 9/11, together with popular conceptions of a 'clash of civilizations' and the so-called War on Terror, this book is not only an engaging academic study; it also resonates with some of the defining cultural issues of our time.