My Celtic(ish) Spirituality
What the Celtic Christian Perspective Has Taught Me, Part 1
Back in my twenties, I remember telling someone that St Patrick's Day was my favorite holiday. My reason: my favorite color was Green. Given that, how could it not be?
Of course, add drinking to the equation and it will top any college student’s list.
But the real reason was because of its Celtic roots. I loved all things Celtic. Celtic music. Celtic knots. Celtic imagery. Celtic…you name it.
Once I had joined the Presbyterian Church in my very late 20s, my interest in Celtic things went to new levels. St Patrick was known for evangelizing the Celts. My personal interest was to make Christianity meaningful to postmoderns. Is it any surprise that he became one of my heroes?
Just before I entered seminary, I'd read a book by Thomas Cahill entitled How the Irish Saved Civilization. In short, when barbarians ransacked Europe and destroyed centers of learning, the Irish monasteries were remote enough that they were able to survive and maintain their libraries. Once the dust settled, they were in a position to share that knowledge once again with Europe. Thanks to the Irish monasteries, “civilization” was not lost forever.
I loved that book. It led me to read other titles such as Esther du Waal’s The Celtic Way of Prayer and George Hunter’s The Celtic Way of Evangelism.
These titles helped me to discover that Celtic Christianity was a bit different than “normal” Christianity. And something in this Celtic way, with its wisdom and feel, called to me.
Heritage, lineage, an anchor to the past
Back in college, I developed a few very close friendships. One of those was a fellow history major who was in the same graduating class as me. As a result, we ended up in many of the same history classes together.
He was very interested in the German-American historical experience. If he had a choice, any paper he wrote would somehow touch on that.
Why this focus? Generations ago, his family immigrated to the United States from Germany. He described his interest as one of wanting to learn about where he came from.
I found the answer intriguing. While he focused on German-American history, my focus was on British history. McGuffee is a Scottish name. Could it be, that somewhere deep down, I was embarking upon the same project he was? Was I, too, trying to understand where I came from?
I can't explain it, but I admit there is a certain pride in having this Celtic blood run through my veins. When I celebrate St Patrick's Day, I secretly have a sense that this holiday is about my people, my ancestors, and celebrates my lineage.
The fact that my feet have never touched Celtic soil makes no difference. The connection feels real to me.
Spiritual transition
In many respects, a Celtic approach to Christianity was exactly what I needed while I was leaving the biblical-literalist approach behind. My former framework demanded precision and rigid adherence to divine commands. It required living in a theological box.
Celtic Christianity seemed the opposite. It was poetic and highly imaginative. Statements about God weren't meant to limit us to a single understanding, but rather they were an invitation to open up to divine inspiration.
Overall, Celtic Christian spirituality helped me to…
Come to terms with not having the answer all the time
Come to terms with imperfection
Come to terms with my past history
Embrace curiosity and an ever-expanding sense of self
Feel at home in my own skin
It's not just me
Something that I discovered in seminary 20 years ago was that Celtic spirituality was popular. It definitely had a certain cool factor to spice it up, and people were buying it.
I think the reason it was so popular, though, was because it could inform more traditional Christian understandings in a way that didn't radically change one's direction, but rather just adjusted it slightly. It didn't require new belief structures. It simply softened the edges of the current ones.
When we look at how people naturally mature in their faith, it is this softening of the edges that is key to growth. In many respects, I think what Celtic Christianity did for many was simply give them permission to mature in a way that they secretly felt they needed to, but the rigid structures of their religious beliefs typically didn't allow it.
Journey into the heart of Celtic Christianity
Now, a confession…
I don’t really consider myself to be a “Celtic Christian”. Even though my last name is McGuffee, I am an American through and through. I was not formed by Celtic culture growing up, and any true Celtic Christian needs to be able to claim that definitive experience for themselves for the label to be authentic.
On top of that, I suspect I have been exposed to a more romanticized vision of what it means to be a Celtic Christian. It may even be “pop Celtic Christianity”, if there is such a thing. I’m okay with that, though. It has helped me to grow, and thus served its purpose.
This month, I want to walk you through some lessons I've learned through interacting with my understanding of what a Celtic approach to Christianity looks like. Perhaps, somewhere along the way, you will get an idea of why I cherish it as much as I do.
I hope you join me for the journey!
Peace, Bo
www.evolvingchristianfaith.net
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