From: nkraft@bkhouse.cts.com (Norman Kraft)
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Subject: Re: Celtic Xianity <was: Re: Lithuania>
Date: 23 Jul 92 19:02:56 GMT
 <BrKIL5.6DH@news.cso.uiuc.edu> <1992Jul20.180049.27391@burrhus.harvard.edu>
Organization: Argus Computing, San Diego, CA
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In article <1992Jul20.180049.27391@burrhus.harvard.edu>, Carl E. Anderson writes:

> 	BTW, this may seem a strange request to many on alt.pagan, but I'm
> looking for more sources on Celtic Christianity and figure some people on
> here might know something about it.  I've found a couple of reputable books
> on the subject, but am sure there must be more.  Any help would be
> appreciated!

This really isn't a strange request, when you think about it. One of the
hallmarks of Celtic Christianity was/is its earthy, nature-centered feel. 
Celtic Christianity grew from the very earthy pagan Celtic religions as 
early Christianity was assimilated into local culture. It remains the 
(IMHO) the single most beautiful form of Christianity that made it into 
the big time.

Anyway, a few things to read. First note that these are all academic works
not popular press. If you really want to know something about any spiritual
movement, the popular press is not very reliable. I have all these books,
and can give you more information if you drop me some email.

1. Anything by or based on the writings of Scotus Erigenus (John the Scot
810-877 AD, various editions) especially his _On the Division of Nature_. 
Erigenus may not have invented Celtic Christianity, but he became the 
primary representative of it and spokesman for it.

2. Anything by or based on the writions of St. Francis of Assisi (1181-
1225, various editions). Among the great saints of the Christian tradition, 
St. Francis is the most Celtic of them all, in influence. Avoid the works 
by Bonaventure, however, as he and Celano cast St. Francis in a very 
"proper" Roman light. Try _Saint Francis: Nature Mystic_ (Edward Armstrong, 
UC Press, 1973). It gives a pretty good look at Celtic Christianity as 
background to showing its influence on the Franciscan movement (and St. 
Francis of Assisi himself).

3. Meister Eckhart was also quite influenced by Celtic Christianity, and 
it shows in his writings and sermons. Avoid the Blakney translation that 
you find so often in newage bookstores: it is a horrible edition. Use
rather the editions by Ancelet-Hustach (_Master Eckhart and the Rhineland
Mystics_, Harper, 1957), Clark (_Meister Eckhart: An Introduction to the
Study of his Works_, Thomas Nelson & Sons, 1957) or Schurmann (_Meister
Eckhart: Mystic and Philosopher_, U of Indiana, 1978). These are the
standard reference works on Eckhart.

If you are comfortable with German, the best editions are Quint (_Meister 
Eckhart: Die deutschen Werke_, Stuttgart, 1958-1976 and _Meister Eckhart: 
Deutsche Predigten und Traktate_, Munich, 1963) and Koch (_Meister Eckhart: 
Die lateinischen Werke_, Stuttgart, 1938-1975). 

Most libraries have the English editions, as does any serious student of 
Eckhart, and the German editions are generally available from the UC 
library system. A popular edition that is pretty good as well, and 
definitely highlights the Celtic aspects of Meister Eckhart is the 
translation by Matthew Fox (Breakthrough: Meister Eckhart's Creation 
Spirituality in New Translation, Image Books, 1980).

There are other writers from this tradition, but they get increasingly
farther from Celtic Christianity and are decreasingly influenced by
its thought as we go through time. There really aren't many surviving
documents from the Celtic era of early Christianity, and fewer that
have been translated to English. If anyone out there knows of authoritative
references other than these, I would appreciate a note with the data.

Hope this helps!

Norm.

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