Celtic Christianity

Introduces the different ways Celtic Christianity has been regarded by different groups over the centuries.

Examines three movements of revival of interest in Celtic Christianity in the medieval and reformation periods.

Details how denominational rivalries, rising national consciousness, an emerging scholarly interest in the past, and the rise of the Romantic Movement in the 18th and 19th centuries, combined to keep alive an interest in the Celtic past.

Identifies the common themes that characterized the different Celtic revivals over the centuries.

Traces the origins and development of the Celts as one of the foundation peoples of Europe.

Identifies the key pre-conditions present in Celtic society and culture that allowed for an easy transition from paganism to Christianity.

Continues the examination of those factors that allowed for an easy transition from paganism to Christianity in Ireland, and also identifies some difficulties in that transition.

Become familiar with saints' lives and what they tell us about the purpose of those who compiled them.

Examines one Latin and three vernacular saints' lives of Brigit, Patrick, and Colmcille (Columba).

Lives of the Celtic saints (e.g. Patrick's Confession) written with a spiritual purpose were intended to build up an audience spiritually.

Examines the transformation of Patrick by 7th century authors in the lives they wrote of him.

Details the Interest in Celtic monasticism by three groups who envisioned a monastic past that served their own religious and political agenda.

Outlines the origins of monasticism among the Eastern mystics and hermits of the deserts of Egypt, Syria, and Mesopotamia and its transference to Ireland.

Identifies the importance of the location of monasteries, the composition of the monastic household, and the monastic economy.

Profiles how monasteries filled a wider need in society than the merely religious because, as they were founded by families, monasteries integrated naturally into society providing a range of spiritual and other services.

Identifies the ascetic character of Celtic Christianity, its varying sources, and its manifestations in rules and practices.

Details how prayer was at the heart of Celtic asceticism and how it made its practitioners effective witnesses to God.

Shows how the diversity of practice in and composition of, Irish monastic households and the rules followed therein, is evident also in the practice of soul-friendship and its concomitant, the penitential system.

Examines how Celtic Christians had a humble love of the Bible, and how they placed Scripture above reason and tradition.

Details how the two main schools of biblical exegesis and interpretation (Alexandrian, Antiochene) were adopted, and provides a case study of the Psalms in Celtic Christianity.

Details the Eucharistic and Christological imagery in Celtic art, specifically in the Book of Kells.

Outlines the liturgical development in Celtic Christianity including chant, hymnody, and psalmody.

Examines journeying as an ascetic practice that in part had a cultural mandate and explores the extent to which this practice predisposed Celtic Christians to be evangelists.

Identifies the Celtic approach to evangelism and how it was often an unplanned by-product of godly personal devotion.

Demonstrates how scripture and asceticism made the Celtic Christian church monastic and missionary in focus. Shows how Celtic monks had a major impact on the evangelization of the British Isles, western and northern Europe in the period from the 5th to the 10th centuries through their missionary endeavours.

Examines the general attributes of Pelagianism and the Augustinian responses to them.

Details how most of the Irish use of Pelagius was selective and for the explication of certain passages, and demonstrates that nowhere was Pelagius used to the exclusion of the orthodox church Fathers.

Examines the main dimensions to the view of Christ in Celtic Christianity.

Outlines controversy around the dating of Easter which was to be the single most important schismatic issue from the late 6th century to the late 8th century.

Identifies three questions to pose relating to interest in matters Celtic in our postmodern world and why for some it has a spiritual dimension

Details how the revival of interest at an academic and popular level in Celtic Spirituality has occurred within the larger context of postmodern culture.

Details how Celtic Christianity can act as a resource between postmodern culture and Christianity.