
Christian History Home > Issue 60 > Patrick and Celtic Christianity: From the Editor

Patrick and Celtic Christianity: From the Editor
A Tradition for Neo-Pagan Times
Mark Galli | posted 10/01/1998 12:00AM
Celtic Christianity seems archaic, a Christian tradition exiled to an obscure past, when druids and magicians roamed the green hills of Ireland. Spiritual nostalgia hypnotizes us with the fabled heroics of Patrick and Brigit, of Aidan and Hilda, among others. But that very nostalgia, even if celebrated in the spirit of an Irish wake, seems to signal that Celtic Christianity is dead and buried.
And yet it lives—not simply in the New Age mysticism that reaches back to Celtic paganism for inspiriation. An increasing number of Christians rooted in historic, orthodox Christianity are rediscovering the faith of the ancient Irish.
Take the Community of Aidan and Hilda, which recently started in the British Isles. These people describe themselves as "a body of Christians who wish to live wholeheartedly as disciples of Jesus Christ, and to express this in a way that draws inspiration from the lives of Aidan and other Celtic saints." They don't live together, but they do make common vows to live in ... To view this item, you must be a member of ChristianHistory.net.
|
If you ARE a member of ChristianHistory.net…
Please login:
| |
If you are NOT a member of ChristianHistory.net…
Please click here to see our membership options. As a member, you will be able to have access to all of the content on ChristianHistory.net.
|
|
Browse More ChristianHistory.net Home | Browse by Topic | Browse by Period | The Past in the Present | Books & Resources
|  |
 |