Culture, crisis and salvation on the Isle of Lewis

Harris, Eilidh (2024) Culture, crisis and salvation on the Isle of Lewis. MRes thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

The historical resilience of communities such as those found in the Gàidhealtachd, with their long traditions of communal living and self-sufficient means of subsistence, can provide a model from which to derive alternative modes of living equipped to deal with crises. The Isle of Lewis is a small scale social formation that is at odds with the world of unchecked expansion of industry and commerce. This particular Gàidhealtachd culture places value on sustainability, peacefulness and maintaining their distinct cultural heritage. These values are sustained through communal reinforcement that partly comes from religious conviction as well as spiritual connection to the community and the environment. This thesis will investigate the role of religion in the resilience and survival of this culture through a variety of local and global crises. Field interviews with tradition bearers inform the analysis, drawing on a grounded theory approach. By considering how religion has contributed to this resistance and survival, this thesis will investigate how this unique cultural identity operates as a living religion. Consequently, asking if this cultural identity operates in a similar way to liberation theology in the ways that it helps to sustain the indigenous islander way of life.

• Item Type: Thesis (MRes)
• Qualification Level: Masters
• Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BL Religion; B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BR Christianity; P Language and Literature > PB Modern European Languages > PB1501 Scottish Gaelic Language
• Colleges/Schools: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Critical Studies > Theology and Religious Studies
• Supervisor's Name: Gamliel, Dr. Ophira and Nicholson, Dr Sarah
• Date of Award: 2024
• Depositing User: Theses Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:2024-84725
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 02 Dec 2024 09:13
• Last Modified: 09 Dec 2024 07:39
• Thesis DOI: 10.5525/gla.thesis.84725
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/84725