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64 reviews for:
Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul: The Celtic Art of Reawakening to the Sacred
John Philip Newell
4.38 AVERAGE
64 reviews for:
Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul: The Celtic Art of Reawakening to the Sacred
John Philip Newell
4.38 AVERAGE
Newell is unusually humble and open for a Christian minister, but everything here is ultimately refracted through a Christian lense. It's a book written by a Christian for Christians. Most of the fresh insights offered here are anything but new to Indig folks. Actually, they come from our world view, which has actively been suppressed by the Church for centuries. It's nice that some in the Church are finally catching up to reality.
For one example, the discussion of "Saint Brigid" here largely focuses on how understanding her origins can bring fresh understanding and perspective to contemporary Christians. My interest in Brigid is as a Celtic goddess and how she survived being appropriated by the Church and transformed into "Saint Brigid".
Early Celtic Christianity (before the interference of Rome, the Anglicans and, worst of all, the Calvinists) seems to have been developing as a syncretic religion incorporating both Indigenous and Christian elements, not unlike Native American Church or Rastafarianism. There is often an element of resistance in syncretic religions, an insistence on preserving Indigenous ways and world view beneath the veneer of the invaders' Church. If you are a "recovering" Christian, you may well enjoy this book. As an Indig person, I will look elsewhere.
For one example, the discussion of "Saint Brigid" here largely focuses on how understanding her origins can bring fresh understanding and perspective to contemporary Christians. My interest in Brigid is as a Celtic goddess and how she survived being appropriated by the Church and transformed into "Saint Brigid".
Early Celtic Christianity (before the interference of Rome, the Anglicans and, worst of all, the Calvinists) seems to have been developing as a syncretic religion incorporating both Indigenous and Christian elements, not unlike Native American Church or Rastafarianism. There is often an element of resistance in syncretic religions, an insistence on preserving Indigenous ways and world view beneath the veneer of the invaders' Church. If you are a "recovering" Christian, you may well enjoy this book. As an Indig person, I will look elsewhere.
challenging
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
‘In Celtic wisdom we remember the earth as sacred. Every tree and bush, every flower and creature, every hill and mountain is on fire with the divine. … What we do to the body of the earth is what we do to the divine.’
Newell invites readers to revisit the legacies of Celtic wisdom as it relates to Christian practices and beliefs in the modern world. By following the lives of historical and modern prophets, Newell points out opportunities for our communities to reconnect to the sacredness in ourselves, in our relationships, and in the earth herself.
Newell’s position(s) challenge the status quo of imperial religion in important ways, breathing life back into pre-Calvinist beliefs and returning the sacred flame to our souls and our knowing. I’ll likely be chewing on these chapters and coming back again and again to dig deeper into the knowing and into the implications of these ideas. Definitely recommend.
Newell invites readers to revisit the legacies of Celtic wisdom as it relates to Christian practices and beliefs in the modern world. By following the lives of historical and modern prophets, Newell points out opportunities for our communities to reconnect to the sacredness in ourselves, in our relationships, and in the earth herself.
Newell’s position(s) challenge the status quo of imperial religion in important ways, breathing life back into pre-Calvinist beliefs and returning the sacred flame to our souls and our knowing. I’ll likely be chewing on these chapters and coming back again and again to dig deeper into the knowing and into the implications of these ideas. Definitely recommend.
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
Beautiful, grounding ideas. A book I will return to.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Colonisation
This book was absolutely wonderful in many ways. I have always been curious about Celtic Christianity and this book gives a pretty great overview of how the Irish/Scottish Christians connected with both the Sacred Spirit of God and also appreciated the sacredness of the Earth and all that lives on it. It's a book I have referred to at least 100 times since I've read it and keep telling my friends that once it comes out it is a MUST read. I was honored to read it before print, and I honestly can't wait to have a physical copy in my hands!