God and the Gun: The Church and Irish Terrorism Book

This book looks at the relationship between the paramilitaries, both Protestant and Catholica, in Northern Ireland and their relationship with their respective churches. Dillon uses a series of interviews with both paramilitaries and clergymen to illustrate the different views and opinions with some indicating a close relationship between the church and the paramilitary while others show a more strained relationship based on the politics of the region rather than religious conviction.

Although this book does cover both sides of the religious divide and is relatively well balanced, it doesn't go into the depth of analysis and detail as Dillon's other works and as a result it leaves the reader wanting to know a lot more than is given. Whether this is due to the author or an over eager editor trying to simply a complex situation or due to the lack of co-operation that was evidently a real hurdle when asking about this particular subject I do not know. I'm inclined to think that it is more the latter than anything else as the role of the church within the communities on both sides is not only a very complex matter but one that is protected fiercely from any form of criticism by those it serves.