Changes
expand
Dr. the Reverend '''Ian Richard Kyle Paisley''' MP, MLA (born April 6, 1926) is a [[Northern Ireland|Northern Irish]] politician and religious leader. Paisley uses the title "Doctor" on the basis of an honorary [[Doctor of Divinity]] degree awarded by [[Bob Jones University]].
He is the founder and head of the [[fundamentalism|fundamentalist]] [[Free Presbyterian Church]] and the head of the [[Democratic Unionist Party]]. He is a [[creationism|creationist]], strongly anti-[[abortion]] and supports the criminalisation of [[homosexuality]]. He also believes that the [[Pope|Bishop of Rome]] is the [[Antichrist]]<ref>[http://www.ianpaisley.org/antichrist.asp The Pope is the Antichrist]</ref>.
He and his party have been instrumental in delaying the [[Northern Ireland Peace Process]], and remain committed to its final destruction. However in spite of his opposition, [[terrorism|terrorist]] activities other than Loyalist outrages have now almost entirely ceased in the province and the [[IRA]] has largely disarmed. It has been speculated that the main reason that he was not [[assassination|assassinated]] during the long conflict, was that his extremist views and behaviour actually generated such substantial support for his opponents that his death would have been counter-productive to their cause.
He is a lifelong teetotaler and is known to frown upon dancing.
==References==
<references/>
{{DEFAULTSORT:Paisley, Ian}}
[[Category:Political people]]
[[Category:Northern Ireland]]
[[Category:Creationist]]
