Customer Reviews (6)

The Celtic Christian Tradition.
_Celtic Christianity:A Sacred Tradition, A Vision of Hope_ by Benedictine monk and Roman Catholic priest Timothy J. Joyce, published by Orbis Books, takes a profound look at one of the unique Christian traditions originating among the Celtic peoples.The author is of Irish ancestry and notes the unique contributions of this subtle race to spirituality and tradition.Although the book is marred by a leftist bias which overemphasizes the changes in the church which took place at the Second Vatican Council, it nevertheless provides an important survey of the spirituality arising from the Celtic peoples.

The author begins by discussing the ancient Celts, a pagan people who would later easily come to embrace Christianity.The Celts included peoples spread out all over Europe, including not only the British Isles (Scotland, Wales, and Ireland) but also the Continental mainland, ranging from France, Britanny, all the way to Switzerland and Eastern Europe.Indeed, the tribe of Gauls were of Celtic origin, and the adventures of this ancient people are well known and recorded in the writings of various Romans.The origins of the Celts remain a mystery and many have suggested that they may have originated in the East and migrated Westwards.The early Celts had a unique philosophical understanding emphasizing the sacredness of place, revealed in their ruins and sacred sites.In addition, the Celts were a warlike people, although they placed emphasis on spirituality and humility unlike other barbarian tribes.When Christianity came to the Celts, it was an easy conversion.The author relates tales of the saints Patrick, Bridgit, Brendan, Columcille, and Columban.Indeed, these early saints were capable of incorporating Christianity to such an extent that Christ could be referred to as the "Great Druid".Celtic Christianity emphasized nature and monasticism.Indeed, many of the Celtic saints were responsible for bringing monasticism to the British Isles.The relationship between the Celtic Church and Rome is more complicated.While the Celts always adhered strongly to such orthodox Christian beliefs as the existence of Purgatory and the truth of the Trinity, their church structure was somewhat different from the Roman Church.Nevertheless, the Celts sought to maintain unity with the pope at Rome, although they often remained somewhat critical of his personal faults.Following this discussion of the early Celtic Church and Celtic monasticism, the author turns his attention to the crises the Celtic Church underwent.The author discusses not only the changes that took place in the church during the Middle Ages, but the subsequent events of the Protestant Reformation and Cromwell's persecution which completed devastated the Irish.Finally, the author turns his attention to Ireland's "Darkest Hour".Here, he emphasizes the poverty of this nation and the results of famine.Many of the Irish became immigrants to the United States, Canada, or Australia, fleeing their land of woe.However, they preserved their Catholic spirituality as they went.This spirituality emphasized obedience to Rome, the Rosary, the adoration of Mary and the saints, prayer for the "poor souls" in Purgatory, and the Irish wake and funeral.However, with the rise of the modern age, new possibilities for spiritual growth remain for the Celtic peoples and in particular for the Irish.The author believes that Celtic spirituality offers a vision of hope for the Roman Catholic church in the contemporary period.It is unfortunate however that he places so much of an emphasis on the changes in the church that took place at the Second Vatican Council as opposed to traditional Catholic spirituality.

This book provides a thorough introduction to the spirituality of the Celtic peoples and to their profoundly Christian vision for the future.While the book is marred by a leftist denial of the traditional Catholic faith, it nevertheless makes some good points regarding the early Celts and the profound healing power of their spirituality for the modern age.

Lots of History, But...
The cover blurb of this short book by an American Benedictine monk promises Celtic Spirituality "introduces a mysterious and extraordinary spiritual world (that) developed among the Celtic peoples sixteen centuries ago."Fr. Timothy's book tells something of pre-Christian and early-Christian Celtic social structure, customs and worldview and provides a few examples of Celtic prayers.But this book is primarily the HISTORY (i.e., names, dates, administrative structure) of Christian institutions in Celtic lands and not an exploration of Celtic Christian beliefs and practice or, more specifically, how those beliefs and practices shaped the Celtic people before they came under Norman and English domination.

Fr. Timothy emphasizes that Ireland was the only early-Christian culture in Western Europe never controlled by the Roman Empire.The Celtic Church, while strictly Trinitarian in belief, celebrated God's gifts of nature and humanity in a relatively non-legalistic manner.Then he recounts the history of the Roman church eventually dominating the native Irish, until the 1840s Potato Famine horror destroyed both the economy and any remaining traditional Celtic social structure and laid mid-Nineteenth Century legalistic, conservative, hierarchical Roman Catholicism over impoverished, dysfunctional Irish families.Fr. Timothy asserts the result, today's image of "Irish Catholic", is a foreign, inauthentic Irish Christianity far removed from its Celtic roots.

All of that may be true and interesting, but I finished the book still not knowing exactly what Celtic Christianity is and how, other than making pilgrimages to contemporary retreat centers scattered through Ireland and Britain, one might pursue modern day Celtic spirituality.

Although Ireland's lack of Roman domination is mentioned several times and Fr. Timothy mentions Eastern Orthodox Christianity in passing a couple of times, his Roman Catholic-centered world view never lets him, if you'll allow me a newly popular but already overused phrase, connect the dots.Since St. Patrick and his peers brought Christianity to the Celts at a time, around 400 AD, when all Christians were still "Orthodox" and other books demonstrate direct connections between the Celtic Church and the Eastern Christian monasteries of the Desert Fathers, it seems logical to conclude that Celtic Christianity was the local version of what still lives on as Eastern Orthodoxy.

There is a fairly long bibliography (virtually all for books published in the 1990s) and a list of organizations sponsoring Celtic retreats, revival, etc. (although not a single Internet address is provided).A few black and white photo reproductions are unremarkable.

I enjoyed reading Celtic Spirituality, and recommend it as a short history of Christian Church administration in Celtic cultures but feel one needs to look elsewhere to learn more about Celtic (Orthodox) Christianity itself.

Celtic Christianity, A Sacred Tradition, a Vision of Hope.
A gentle & interesting book for those exploring Celtic &/or Irish roots, & history. It provides valuable insights into understanding and recognising the Celtic traits and spirituality within us. A worthwhile read for Catholics, who, like myself, sometimes wonder!Definitely worth asecond read (or more)!

3 in 1
Father Joyce has written a thoughtful and useful book. It is pure joy

An Adventure in Celtic Scholarship
The Rev. Joyce offers us a well-reasearched, and scholarly analysis of the elements and factors which define Celtic Christianity.The thorough history of Christian worship as it developed primarily in Ireland allowsthe reader to virtually travel through time to gain a full understanding ofthe psyche of the Irish people, and how this has influenced (and has beeninfluenced by) the parallel rise of European Christianity.

The author'swriting style makes the work a bit more difficult than it might otherwiseneed to be, however.Much of the factual work is related to the reader ina somewhat cold style, thus requiring the reader to persevere.The basicthesis of the work could be stated more clearly in the introductorychapter, rather than summarized in the end.

Overall, a sound,non-judgemental treatment of a subject which each Christian shouldunderstand in order to fully appreciate the rich history and diversity ofthe Church. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A challenge to fullness from the far shore of ancient Christianity
Lehane proves a good, entertaining guide to the Celtic Church in its creative centuries of independence. His account highlights a fresh, innovative movement of self-motivated evangelists, which at first owed little or nothing to the state church of the Roman empire. In Ireland, the first native Christians assumed it natural to have female priests and bishops. They set up "double monasteries" of both men and women, and the head of the whole monastery was often a woman. So in 664, the council of Whitby took place in a Celtic double monastery, with both sexes under direction of Abbess Hilda.

Lehane explores the social world and accomplishments of this great religious movement. Then he shows how its open spirit came to clash with the imperial church's requirements for control over women and other subordinates. In Lehane's account the dreams of the old Celtic Church seem to come alive and challenge our imagination.

--BG, author of "Different Visions of Love" and "The Gardens of Their Dreams"

This is a good book!
I read this book prior to Cahill's "How the Irish Saved Civilisation" which is better known due to its run on the bestseller list.I found that reading this book first was a good choice, because its deep background made Cahill's book a better read.In fact, "Early Celtic Christianity" proved to be an excellent read because it allowed a friend (a Cahill reader) and I to compare and contrast the two different views of this interesting point in history.Largely about the same era, this book focuses particularly on three of the more important saints of Ireland -- Brendan, Columba, and Columbanus, and because of this has the distinct advantage of being able to concentrate on some of the smaller details of their lives, and how that effected the turning points of the day, including the christianization of Scotland and the controversial Council at Whitby.While Cahill tends to be more secular and political in his approach, Lehane is more religiously and historically oriented, leading to a more intimate view of the culture.I also found it refreshing that he was careful to present well documented materials as facts and rumors and legends as theories, rather than muddying the two together.It invites you to make your own decisions on how to interpret.A good read all around.A great second read for those who enjoyed Cahill.

If you have read neither book, I recommend both, making this one the first.It presents a firmer foundation (in my humble opinion) and gives Cahill's quicker and lighter view of Columbanus a strong background. ... Read more

Download Description
Celtic Christianity: the form of Christian faith that flourished among the people of Ireland during the Middle Ages has gained a great deal of attention lately. George G. Hunter III points out that, while the attention paid to the Celtic Christians is well deserved, much of it fails to recognize the true genius of this ancient form of Christianity. What many contemporary Christians do not realize is that Celtic Christianity was one of the most successfully evangelistic branches of the church in history. The Celtic church converted Ireland from paganism to Christianity in a remarkably short period, and then proceeded to send missionaries throughout Europe. North America is today in the same situation as the environment in which the early Celtic preachers found their mission fields: unfamiliar with the Christian message, yet spiritually seeking, and open to a vibrant new faith. If we are to spread the gospel in this culture of secular seekers, we would do well to learn from the Celts. Their ability to work with the beliefs of those they evangelized, to adapt worship and church life to the indigenous patterns they encountered, remains unparalleled in Christian history. If we are to succeed in reaching the West . . . again,then we must begin by learning from these powerful witnesses to the saving love of Jesus Christ. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

My Roots Restored
This book restored my belief in Celtic Christianity and the practice of evangelism as it should should be according to the Word. It is simply becoming disciples in this world in an effective manner. It is an individual process, not merely an "institutional" tradition of men, programs, and church buildings. It is a daily walk of love with the entire Body of Christ, not just with our own little group. God is in every person and all things. This is not Narcissm, but practical and truly a welcome change from the traditional "works oriented" Christianity of the western church.Doctor Hunter has truly written a marvelous treatise on how we as Christians can change our mindset and heart for all people we wish to reach with the Gospel.

Disappointing!!!
I began reading this book with much anticipation, but was greatly disappointed in what I found.The first three chapters offered some good insights into Celtic Christianity, but by chapter four the author pretty much ran out of Celtic material.
From chapter four on he gives an exposition of contemporary theories of mission and church growth, weakly tied into the "Celtic" theme with statements like, "We don't have any direct evidence that the Celtic church did this... but based on their success we may assume that they did!"
When he gets to his applications for the church today, he doesn't do much with the Celtic material either.He points to examples of ministries that have seen above average success (everything from the 18th century Moravian movement to the Brooklyn Tabernacle) but doesn't really "tie it in" very well to any Celtic connection.
Perhaps my greatest disappointment is that the author came to the Celtic material with the anti-supernatural bias of traditional Protestant Christianity.Because of this, he is forced to discount most of what we really know about Celtic evangelistic methods.He assumes that the many accounts of healing, prophecy, supernatural manifestations and "power encounters" are simply myths.Having rejected the supernatural elements of Celtic Christianity, he didn't have much left to work with to explain their phenomenal success.

Interesting but weak
The Celtic Way of Evangelism has some great tid-bits of information and heart-warming examples, but overall it is weak.The emphasis on building relationships, loving "outsiders" and seeking to serve God is commendable.There is a definite hint of anti-intellectualism in the book and a subtle attack on "rationality," as evidenced on page 72.There also seemed to be a false dichotomy between the "Roman" way of "apologetics" and the Celtic way of reaching "barbarians."The "Celtic way" is really about relational evangelism; living, working, and sharing our lives with others in ways that demonstrate Christ's love and sacrifice to the world; being a "living Bible" if you will to everyone we meet.

The emphasis on hospitality and being cautious of legalism is a valid point to be considered.Other good points of the book include recognizing and learning how to speak to people in a secular culture.Every Christian's challenge is to speak to and reach the culture in a cultrually relevant way without being caught up in the culture.

Celtic Christianity is, but should not be, something new to the Church
From the preface, the reader will understand that this book is more than a chronical of events and mere story telling.This book is a wake up call to The Church to go back to its roots and find a way to do biblical church.Forget programs and forget 'high' church... what this emerging and increasingly pessimistic postmodern culture needs is bare-naked Christianity.The kind of Christianity that seeks to understand the individual and the indivisuals problem.This book sets out a framework for how the Emerald Isle was won for Christ and what it took for the (what was then unique) brand of Christianity to disappear.

This book will fit right in with any reader who is involved in House Church or thinking of getting involved in Hosue Church.George G. Hunter finds several defining characteristics of Irish Christianity and they seem to mirror the Hosue Church movement.It is probably not a coincidence because it seems that both movements are based on an assumption that Acts 2:42-47 is THE blueprint for church life.

A good book to read and hopefully it will shake-up a few pastors or denominations.

The only thing wrong here is....the book.
Truly.I bought a used copy and was surely glad of the savings.I would have hated to waste full price on it.The basic issue/problem with this book and probably more specifically, its author, is that it ignores the most important of all facts concerning the Celtic church:it was Orthodox.Yes, Big 'O'.In other words, Mr. Hunter appears to be blissfully unaware that his theory of "pub churching" is so erroneous as to be almost blasphemous, as entertaining as it may seem in a popular culture.It is in short, absurd.Mr. Hunter appears to isolate minute detail and parade it through his pages as "facts" that "support" his theory.The only trouble is:Mr. Hunter's religion is only about 500 years old, bearing no resemblance whatsoever to that of St. Padraig, and Celtic Christianity dates to at least the third century, possibly the second.(Depending on which history you lean toward and whether or not you accept the Coptic Connection theory. )

I dislike writing "bad" reviews.But this one is so deserved, that I almost, but not quite, enjoyed writing it.To enjoy bashing a book and/or its author, is to be un-Christian, definitely un-Orthodox.Assuredly Celtic, however.

... Read more

Book Description
In this anthology, the stories of the Celtic saints are interspersed with verses, prayers, and sayings attributed to those ancient sages, from St. Patrick and Brigit, through Brendan and Columba, to Aidan and Cuthbert.

We do not know when or how Christianity first arrived at those westernmost reaches; it seems always to have been there. Legend tells us that Irish bards attended the events on Golgotha "in the spirit." There is in the Celtic tradition a continuity in cosmic process. For the Celts, Christ's death and resurrection was a healing that made possible a reconciliation of humanity and nature in God. In this sense, Christianity was always in Ireland, and we seek its historical beginning in vain.

If the Celtic Chrurch had survived, it is possible that the fissure between Christianity and nature, widened by the centuries, would not have cracked the unity of the Western attitude toward nature and the universe. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

a good miscellany
This little anthology offers a good introduction to the Celtic saints through a combination of sketches of their lives, excerpts from the writings of the saints themselves (stories and prayers), stories about themby commentators such as Bede and others, and many prayers from the CarminaGaedelica and other sources.The introduction treats of the earlyChristian history of the British isles.It would make a good first read inthis area, and thus would be a great gift for birthdays, graduations, andother holidays.It has a durable cover for lots of handling, and it shouldbe handled often! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Discovering Celtic Christianity
This book is a great combination of a travel log, background information on the Celts and personal spiritual challenges.Each chapter deals with a specific location, saints and gives good information on them.Then at the end of the chapter there is a time of personal applicationof thechapter's content.There aren't any religious barriors or personal agendasthat came through in the book.The final comment is the chapters are smallenough to fit into a busy lifestyle, but long enough to cover the topic. ... Read more

Book Description
There has been a revival of all things Celtic in recent decades, producing everything from Irish folk music to a rise in pagan mysticism. By contrast, Tracy Balzer's book, THIN PLACES An Evangelical Journey into Celtic Christianity is written to introduce contemporary Christians to the great spiritual legacy of the early Celts, a legacy that has remained undiscovered or inaccessible for many in the evangelical tradition. Thin Places not only reveals the deeply scriptural, sacramental faith of the Celts, but also provides ways for us to learn from this ancient faith expression, applying fresh and lively spiritual disciplines to our lives today. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

The Natural Elements of Celtic Christianity +++
I find the following description quoted from the back side of this great little book to be quite true -- "The Elements of Celtic Christianity provides a thought-provoking examination of the spirit religion which flourished on the islands of Britain during the Dark Ages, and which was notable for its great simplicity, austerity and profound respect for the dignity and sanctity of nature." I also find the following paragraph to be an interesting sample of this great little book [quoted from page 103] -- "Celtic spirituality is 'green' through and through, and quite unselfconsciously. It approaches everything in personal terms, again unconsciously. It was never necessary to articulate the proposition that a personal Creator would be unlikely to create anything that was not -- in some sense -- a person. There are no 'things', for everything is a person. The insights of a Teilhard de Chardin, that consciousness is inherent in the hydrogen atom, is wholely consistent with the Celtic vision of things and, indeed, of the Celtic experience of things."

Excellent summation of Celtic Christianity
So many web definitions and recent books on celtic spirituality and christianity have so much fluff and confusion.

This book is well written, let's you know what the author thinks and who disagrees with him.

great for anyone interested in celtic spirituality

Concise, Poignant & Almost Academic
Duncan's presentation is fast paced and to the point.It mixes academic research with some clearly identified personal opinions. The main thrust of the book is that St. Augustine is responsible for forcing the Romanization of the Church in Celtic lands.His influence carried over into the reformation -- Luther was an Augustinian monk.Duncan claims that Augustine's renounciation of human sexuality was the result of his attempts to deal with his personal demons, including the putting away of his concubine.Duncan, an Anglican priest, is understanding of Augustine and tries not to portray the 'Doctor of the Church' as a villian, but as a human.

Personally, I found this book answered many of my questions about the Celtic Church.It presents the issues and history of the Celtic Church in a context that is, in my opinion, fair and not idealistic or 'a romantic faery tale'.It is for the serious reader and has a theological tone.

Not bad, for a basic overview
This book gets into a basic analysis of what is and is not Celtic Christianity for those that only know Celtic from green beer in March and the PBS "Gimme Money" Riverdance special.

Now, this isn't tosay it is simplistic, or dull.It is quite well written, but is also shortenough to be inserted into a larger collection (The 'Elements Of' series). Thus, the style of writing reflects the entire series more than thematerial really deserves.

All in all, it's a good start for those thatwish to learn a little more about the differences between post AugustineIrish Catholicism and the older Christianity of Patrick. ... Read more

Book Description
A hidden tradition of Christian spirituality has always existed alongside the institution of the Christian church.In the past only a few hardy pilgrims explored the mysteries of the hidden tradition on the "spiritual bypaths," whereas the majority of Christians traveled upon the familiar "highway" represented by the church.However, the challenges of our modern world demand that we explore the riches of Christianity's hidden tradition, and recent discoveries have opened the spiritual bypaths to all dedicated seekers. Walking the Path of ChristoSopia invites you to join in the quest along the nature, feminine, and mystical bypaths of Christian spirituality as it integrates scholarly investigations of the hidden tradition with practical applications to help the contemporary seeker explore these bypaths. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

The Mystery at the Heart of the Cosmos
This book is like a spring of precious water that can nourish and sustain the reader over many years, even a lifetime. Lovingly wrought, it can be consulted again and again for its wisdom and insight. Working together,the authors have recovered for us vital elements of the Christian tradition that have been lost or excluded from mainstream teaching, to the great impoverishment of Christianity as a whole. At this crucial time of choice for humanity, their book reveals the way of the heart that could unify the visible and invisible dimensions of life, reconnecting nature with spirit, body with soul. The great spiritual task of our time as they see it, is to integrate the ancient wisdom that recognized divine immanence as the feminine face of God with the extraordinary scientific discoveries that point to our participation in the awesome Mystery at the heart of the cosmos.

Highly Recommended Book for People of All Faiths
This marvelous book points the way for all who are concerned with peace, justice, and the survival of the planet.With power and grace, the authors demonstrate that the path of ChristoSophia balances the Divine Feminine and the Divine Masculine, thus restoring humankind and all creation.The authors' scholarship is impressive and their style is accessible, as they synthesize a wide variety of traditional and excluded sources.

Cynthia Avens and Richard Zelley use the apt metaphor of "bypaths" for the hidden traditions within Christianity.The creative symbol of ChristoSophiarestores the Divine Feminine to her original prominent place in Christianity.The institutional Church suppressed Sophia; the authors show that it is imperative to rediscover her in the "bypaths" of the Christian tradition. This insightful book reveals ways that ChristoSophia resurrects the Divine Feminine, restores the natural world, and recovers the mystical Christian tradition.

I highly recommend WALKING THE PATH OF CHRISTOSOPHIA to people of all faiths who desire a deeper spiritual experience, equality and justice in human relationships, and the restoration of the earth.

--Jann Aldredge-Clanton, Ph.D.
Chaplain, Baylor University Medical Center
Author of IN SEARCH OF THE CHRIST-SOPHIA
and INCLUSIVE HYMNS FOR LIBERATING CHRISTIANS

Wonderful Guide
What a wonderful guide to greater spiritual fulfillment.

In their scholarly but eminently readable book, Avens and Zelley explain the important role of women in early Christianity, focusing on the two Marys, and celebrate the significance of Sophia, the feminine aspect of the Divine.

The authors also discuss the hidden revelations of lost scriptures, the role of Celtic Christianity, the history of the Holy Grail, the symbolism of the Green Man in nature, the mysteries of the Kabbalah and the rewards of walking a unique spiritual bypath...that of the ChristoSophia...which acknowledges the union of feminine and masculine divinity, the sacredness of nature and the rewards of mystical experience.

The authors' genuine belief in the spiritual rewards of walking "the path with a heart" is likely to appeal to readers of all faiths, and perhaps even those who have lost their way along the spiritual highway.

S. J. Iacone, Ph.D.
Senior Lecturer, Adelphi University

A "ByWay" on the Path of Christian Mysticism
This wonderful little book will assist those who wish to explore the various "ByWays" along the Christian Mystical path..

The authors pull together an interesting and insightful synthesis of The Feminine, Nature, and Mysticism,to lay the foundation for the Christo-Sophaic path of Christian Mysticism.

I would highly recommend this book for those interested in exploring Christian Mysticism.. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

At Last Some Sense
Writing on the subject of Celtic Christianity is beset with sentimentalism plus a generous dose of wishful thinking. Bradley's book is a sobering reflection on some of this writing - including his own! The author of "The Celtic Way" has had cause to stop and consider the scholarly accuracy of his previous work, something which takes great courage.

The result is this overview of a succession of Celtic revivals spanning from the 7th - 20th Centuries, including Victorian Celtic Romanticism. It is interesting that the first revival Bradley refers to is from the period which other popular commentators tend to include within the Age of the Celtic Church itself: 7th-9th Centuries. Yet Bede's nostalgia for a past era of holy and simple saints has a very familar ring to it!

The book concludes with the current revival and a whistlestop tour through the popular and scholarly writings that have sprung up recently, plus the wider cultural mainfestations of this such as Celtic music. [I too have played my part in this collusion of popular Celtica as singer and songwriter for the band eve & the garden(eatg).]

One discovery he makes is that despite much research by himself and his colleagues, there appears to be no reference to the term "Wild Goose" (representing the Holy Spirit)which pre-dates George Macleod, founder of the Iona Community in the 20th Century!

All is not lost in terms of the application of certain distinctive themes to the Church today, as Bradley's follow-up "Colonies of Heaven: Celtic Models for Today's Church" (Darton Longman & Todd, 2000) attests. The sobering appraisal of "Making Myths", however, stands as an initial guard on what can and cannot be said about the British Church in the early centuries of Christianity.

The one problem I would mention is that I would have preferred a more indepth analysis as to the possible reasons for the current revival - or maybe that's just because that's the essay question I'm currently working on!!

So if you have a tendency to go misty eyed and sentimental over the possibility of re-establishing the true church of the ancient British Isles, then you must, absolutely must read this book. ... Read more

Book Description
John Scotus Eriugena was born and raised in Ireland during the early ninth century. Neither monk nor priest but a “holy sage,” he carried to France the flower of Celtic Christianity.His homily, The Voice of the Eagle, is a jewel of lyrical mysticism, theology, and cosmology, containing the essence of Celtic Christian wisdom. He meditates on the meaning and purpose of creation as revealed by the Word made flesh, distilling into twenty-three short chapters a uniquely Celtic, non-dualistic fusion of Christianity, Platonism, and ancient Irish wisdom.The translator's “Reflections” make up the second half of this book and attempt to unfold some of the life-giving meaning implicit in Eriugena's luminous sentences. Inspired both by a personal search for a living Christianity and by a sense of the continuity of Western culture, these “Reflections” offer a contemporary, meditative encounter with the Word, or Logos, as mediated by both St. John's Prologue and Eriugena's Celtic homily.This favorite of Celtic Christianity, unavailable for several years, has been revised and includes a new forward by Thomas Moore, author of Care of the Soul and The Soul of Sex. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Interesting idea, but overdramatic
This work presents the famous commentary on the Gospel of John by the great Celtic philosopher and theologian, Eriugena.

While Scotus was influenced by Celtic spirituality in the sense he had a very positive view of the universe, and especially in his belief the universe is one of God's primary 'theophanies' of manifestations, he drew most of his theological and philosophical thought from Augustine, Gregory of Nyssa, and Pseudo-Dionysius the Aeropagite.While Eriugena was an extremely creative innovator in many ways (especially in his emphasis on the meontic or negative aspects of Being, both human and divine) he was basically a Christian Platonist in a similar vein as Eckhart, and his intellectual formation relied on other Christian Platonists like Gregory of Nyssa and Augustine as much as it would on any Celtic wisdom.Eriugena is more of a world-class thinker and philosopher rather than someone who had a tribal or nationalistic agenda of any sort, and we should avoid anachronism when reading into the past.

the heart of celtic spirituality
I really enjoyed this book, it was thought provoking and honest. Its reading required prayer and a good workout of the intellect. I recommend this book.

Tribal Propaganda
Christopher Bamford, eminent writer of wisdom traditions, has written an important yet disjointed and ultimately disappointing account of/on John Scotus Eriugena. Any lover of truth will take exception to the grotesque inaccuracies marring the introductions to Voice of the Eagle. Fraught with forced associations, Bramford propagates ad nauseam a preeminent Celtic cultural import to the philosophical theology underlying Eriugena's works. Embarrassingly, Eriugena is taken out of context (ie. Medieval sage, part of the transnational Occidental wisdom canon) and is treated to page-after-page of ethnocentric historical revisionism. Bamford's views read like a form of tribal propaganda that distorts the timeless and universal themes contained in Eriugena's works. Once beyond the distractingly prejudiced intros, Bamford does an exceptionally good job to illuminate theological issues with penetrating philosophical perspectives. The obtuse subject matter leads at times to boring digressions. However, embedded throughout are lofty theosophical insights that suprisingly redeems the workmaking this book a profitable read and a keeper in one's library. For the sake of salvaging a really good work, one only hopes that in future editions, Bamford tones down the trendy Celto-mania introductions and places Eriugena where he rightly belongs in the heart of Medieval Occidental Christianity.

Good work., bad marketing
This is a fine work on Eruigena's Homily on the Prologue to the Gospel of St. John. Eruigena was deeply influenced by Neoplatonic thought and it shows in this work. Bamford does a fine job of translating it and does Eruigena's homliy justice. His prose is first rate and is a joy to read.

The book can be divided into roughly two sections. The Homily itself which constitutes about 50 pages and the rest is Bamford's take of it, which is roughly 250 pages. Bamford's hermenutics of the Homily can be skipped - it really tells the reader more about Bamford's thinking than anything else.

I must take issue with Bamford's misleading advertising he used to market his book. Like the previous reviewer I am in agreement that this work has nothing to do with Celtic Christianity unless one would equate it Greek thought. Rest assured they are not the same thing. In a sense Bamford does an injustice to both neoplatonism and Celtic Chrisitanity by doing this.

Ratings wise it gets 3 Stars. 5 stars for the Homily itself.-2 stars for misleading advertising and marketing Neoplatonic writings as a work of Celtic Christianity.

Dubious Marketing
While Eriugena's work is of significance and importance, I find that marketing this as Celtic Spirituality is somewhat deceptive. Eriugena lived and worked in France and his relationship to "Celtic" thought and spirituality is nowhere as strong as the influence of Greek Neoplatonism. 5 stars for Eriugena, none for Branford, hence 2.5, which can be rounded up to 3. ... Read more

Book Description
Love of nature is often described as a characteristic feature of Celtic Christianity. Low describes how native beliefs about nature were rejected, transformed, or restated as the peoples of early medieval Ireland and the Hebrews made Christianity their own. With close reference to the period, including extensive primary source material, Low examines the importance of the land, hills and mountains, water, trees, fire, the sun, and the elements in early Christian and biblical imagery. She shows medieval writers' awareness of biblical parallels often overlooked today, addresses the fear of "paganism" in outdoor worship, and familiarizes the reader with new ways of thinking about the relationship between Christianity and primal religions. At a time when Celtic Christianity has been increasingly romanticized, this extremely readable book will prove a useful resource for anyone seeking an environmentally friendly theology of nature. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Good Historical Book
So many books in this subject desend to bad neo-pagan drivel.This book however examines primary source works to give a factual and interesting glimpse into pagan influences in the early Christian Church. ... Read more

Product Description
In 5th-century pagan-dominated Ireland, Brigid is born a slave to her own father and is separated from her mother. Desperately seeking love and acceptance, Brigid becomes a believer in Christ. Knowing how the Irish people cling to superstitions and fears, can Brigid overcome them? Will her hatred for her father and a scheming evil sorcerer destroy her faith? Set in the era of St. Patrick, this fantasy-filled novel will captivate readers as Brigid must choose between God’s will and the desire to save her family. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Spell binding
This was an well written book.It was difficult to put down from the very beginning until the very end. Recommended reading

Brigid of Ireland
A nice escape.The ending was kind of quick and unbelievable.It seemed like the author was needing to finish the story to meet a deadline or something, so it all came together rather quickly.

Enjoyed the trip...
For years, I've dreamed of visiting Ireland. Thanks to Cindy's rich description and historical detail, I got to journey to 5th century Ireland, meet a few unforgettable characters, and learn some history along the way. And what a trip it was--I was sorry to have it end.

Brigid Shines
I knew little about Brigid but her nationality, but I found her story fascinating, and strangely believable, for the life of a saint. She seems like someone you might actually meet. A triumph for a first novel. I would recommend this book to a friend, in fact, I have!

Great Book!
I've known all the stories about Brigid my whole life long.Cindy Thompson has taken every bit of research and woven it a credible, exciting story in a way I never would have thought!The old 'legends' come alive again in the life of a young woman struggling with her own past as well as preparing for a future in serving her God.It was a fascinating read! ... Read more

Book Description
To revive the lost nature wisdom of the ancient Celts, Michael Poynder examines the fundamentals of Celtic history and culture:
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How the first of the Essene Christians came to Britain in AD 36
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How they found common ground with the Celtic Druids.
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How that commonality goes back to the neolithic seers who amplified natural forces by positioning stones in sacred geometric relationships.
Ancient Celtic metaphysics, with its roots in both East and West, encompassed knowledge of
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How natural energy flows, as perserved in Celtic knotwork
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How chakras can be used for pendulum dowsing
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How crystal geometry influenced early Irish architecture and astronomyThis sophisticated tuning into nature, so basic to the Druids and Celtic Christians, was eventually debased by the patriarchal priesthood of the Church of Rome. The magical traditions went underground, the memories relegated to folklore and deep within the spirit of a suppressed people. But the magic is not all lost! Poynder guides individual readers to discover these truths for themselves, in the tradition of the shamans and wise elders. His fresh look at our ancient heritage suggests more pieces of the puzzle that we can put in place: He discusses our pre-Christian ancestors, vibrant seers, healers, and magicians; and he unlocks the secrets of Stone Age and Bronze Age metaphysics that influenced the Gnostic practices of early priesthood. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

What a crock!
This book is amazing, if only for the writer's audacity in combining all the elements of buddhism, new age philosophy, egyptology, ley lines, tantric sex, astronomy, the Arthurian legend, the Holy Grail, geometry, ghosts, DNA, dowsing and Masons. All this is done without any documentation other than the author's say-so.It is obviously one man's tirade against organized Christian religion and his attempt to create The Theory of Everything.

I had hoped for a rational and scholarly presentation of ancient celtic beliefs, but got a sophomoric, sensationalist term paper that was 170 pages too long and would have failed for lack of intellectual support.

Now that I have read the information about the author, I discover he's a landscape painter and poet, and is a Healer Member of the UK National Federation of Spiritual Healers.Ah, NOW I understand.My advice if you're considering this book: don't bother.

This is one of the most exciting books that I have ever read
Christianity has suddenly become an open book to me, and I realise that a lot of the dogma forced on me through my education is a myth and lacks any substance from the gospels. I now see the historical Jesus from a totally different perspective and realise that he was actually human in every respect. I no longer feel guilty and I recommend this challenging book thoroughly.

Odd, challenging, interesting.
I bought it.I read it.I'm still not certain what to think.This book will appeal most strongly to people who enjoy "conspiracy" logic, Bible Code, and Book of Revelations theories.It doesn't address any of those topics, per se, but it's along the same challenging line of thought. This book shows (coincidental?) ties between Celtic beliefs, early Christianity, chakras, aromatherapy, mystical practices from India and the East, Golden Triangles, early architecture of temples, Masonic and Egyptian symbols, and more.Whether you take this seriously or chuckle through the concepts, you'll find some intriguing material in these pages. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

All-Inclusive Approach to Celtic Christianity
This book is an admirable, if somewhat diffuse, introduction to the subject of Celtic Christianity.However, the reader has to realize that when Mr. Mackey refers to "Celtic Christianity" he means the term in a generic sense, i.e., Christianity as it has been, and currently is, practiced in areas inhabited by people of Celtic ancestry.

As a result, this is not a book about subliminal Druidic influences, nor is it a book about prayer and praise in the tradition of Patrick, Brigid and Columba.What it is is a collection of essays on a variety of topics, which gives the book a rather scattered approach that some readers (including readers like myself) may find undesirable.However, the information contained in the book is on the whole quite interesting and illuminating.St. Patrick does, of course, figure in the book, most prominently in the first two essays on his autobiography and the lorica.There is also a very complete treatment of the Culdee communities in a later essay.

The rest of the essays tend to take us far away from what is usually associated with "Celtic Christianity" nowadays.There are essays on the Reformation in Scotland, and the Methodist movement in Wales.There is an essay on James Joyce and the whole modernist movement in Irish literature from the religious viewpoint, material on modern poetry in Irish, and a particularly interesting essay comparing the work of Douglas Hyde and Alexander Carmichael in collecting religious poetry in Ireland and Scotland in the nineteenth century.

In general, the book is an interesting read, and I recommend it for the serious historian of Celtic culture in the varieties it has evolved over the last 1500 years.Particularly recommended to those who prefer the reasoned academic approach over the murky Celtic twilight mists found in so much literature in this genre. ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from Presbyterian Record, published by Presbyterian Record on May 1, 1999. The length of the article is 566 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Celtic Christianity: a sacred tradition, a vision of hope.
Publication: Presbyterian Record (Magazine/Journal)
Date: May 1, 1999
Publisher: Presbyterian Record
Volume: 123Issue: 5Page: 45-6

Article Type: Book Review

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Book Description
This digital document is an article from Church History, published by American Society of Church History on June 1, 2001. The length of the article is 997 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Celtic Christianity: Making Myths and Chasing Dreams.
Author: Garry J. Crites
Publication: Church History (Refereed)
Date: June 1, 2001
Publisher: American Society of Church History
Volume: 70Issue: 2Page: 351

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