The Role of Religion in the Formation of National Identity

Abstract

National identity is the feeling of belonging to a particular nation. It is more than being legally integrated within a country; it is rather a psychological integration. National identity gives a sensation of being at home, a home united by a common history, language, customs and traditions. As a nation, the Scottish people are very proud. They are well-known for their strong sense of nationhood, which recently became an interesting topic for many researchers. Nonetheless, these researchers have closed on how this national identity came to existence and what are the main elements that led to its formation. The present dissertation investigates the Scottish national identity and the role of religion in the process of its formation. Different chronicles and historical books were analysed to collect data about the origins and cultural aspects of the Scottish people. After studying their case history, the peoples of Scotland were groups of apposing clans of different origins, lifestyles and who spoke different languages. Their traditional religion was the only common element between them. Later, with the advance of Christianity, the Scottish people put aside their differences and former identities to embrace a new collective identity revolving around Celtic Christianity. The latter made Scotland a consolidated unit and a nation well-prepared for future political unions. National identity is usually a result of common origins, language or culture; however, with the Scottish people it is completely a different situation. Scotland is a nation conjoined only and alone by its religion.