Sacred communities: religion and national identities

Abstract

This article aims to review the relationships between religion and national identity as revealed through some 23 articles in National Identities published over the last 10 years. In addition I will also try to lay out a broad perspective on religion and nation from which to develop this review. Specifically the message is that religion has not gone away and in many ways is just as prevalent today in influencing national identity as in the past, despite the popularity of the secularization thesis, although religion's overt presence, role and form may have changed. In addition I will also argue that whilst the published articles represent a confirmation of the continued importance of religion they also display a greater need for an understanding of religion and its importance in human affairs.