Christ of the Celts: The Healing of Creation

J. Phillip Newell is a prolific writer on Celtic Christianity and spirituality. The title “Christ Of The Celts” (2008) suggests a work on Christology however the book covers many current theological themes. This book follows the successful pattern of Newell’s other books such as “Listening to the Heartbeat of God” (1997). Newell addresses a different topic in each chapter, and then introduces comments from Celtic writers to offer fresh perspectives to current questions. This straightforward structure make Newell’s books easy to read and also pleasing to the reader because they widen theological perspectives. For example, when was the last time you read a book that quoted Pelagius?The opening chapter explores the theme that Christ is the memory of what we of have forgotten.The writings of the ninth century theologian John Scotus Eriugena are cited to remind us that “We suffer from the “soul’s forgetfulness” (pg.44). Christ come to show us the face of both God and man, and to reveal our deepest identity. He came to wake us up and to call us back to relationship with Him.In Chapter Two, Newell argues that the doctrine of original sin has wrongly given us that the sense that our deepest essence is opposed to God. Here the thought of the Celtic theologian Pelagius is introduced to remind us that God is at the center of our lives. In addition, Pelagius opposed the doctrine of original sin because he believed that if the soul was defined as evil and sinful, this would undermine the essential goodness that God created in each person.Chapter Three points to the goodness of nature and that nature itself comes from the goodness of God. Here Irenaeus of Lyons is cited to demonstrate the close links between the sacred and the natural. These are also themes of the great Celtic thinker Eriugena who linked the deepest energies in our bodies and souls to the deepest patterns and rhythms of the earth as expressions of God.Chapter Four explores the doctrine of creation out of nothing. The Celtic writers did not believe creation came from nothing. Eriugena’s writings by contrast stressed two “books” of God which we need to listen to together: the word of revelation, and the book of creation.In Chapter Five, “The Sound of Love”, Newell discusses the importance of listening. Here Newell cites the work Dame Julian Norwich, one of the greatest of English mystics, who was raised in Northumbria, an ancient foothold of the Celtic church. According to Newell, Julian taught that the more we listen, the more we come in touch with ourselves and with God. Julian’s famous phrase that “all shall be well an all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well” (72) is rooted in the knowledge that God’s love will never cease or disappear from the longings of each soul.Chapter Six discusses the doctrine of the substitutionary atonement. Newell argues that this understanding of the substitutionary atonement is directly opposed to our deepest experiences of forgiveness and that we need to find a “new language to speak about the way in which Christ leads us into the experience of forgiveness” (80). Newell suggest we look at the “Cross” to find this new perspective. The cross displays love and also discloses the cost of that love. “To offer the heart is to offer the self. And so the cross, in addition to being a revelation of the nature of God, is a revelation of our true nature, made in the image of God. It reveals that we come closest to our true self when we pour ourselves out in love for one another, when we give our hear and thus the whole of our being” 85). This is the master theme of the book; a turning away from a focus on individual salvation, to a salvation for the whole world.Chapter Seven, “The Hymn of the Universe” describes how God’s presence is everywhere, and at the very center of creation itself. This is shown in the life of two great church figures from the last century. One is George MacLeod the founder of the Iona Community. Another is Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, the French mystic and priest.A final Final chapter questions a view of salvation which is limited to the individual and champions the need for a whole salvation.Newell’s books are easy to read-they are extremely well written and crafted. That is not to say they don’t raise difficult questions because they do This book is clearly controversial because it questions many “traditional” doctrines such as creation out of nothing, the Fall, and the substitutionary view of the atonement. However on reflection, these are theological themes upon which there have always been great debate and discussion. What is most laudable about Newell’s books is that he is trying to address the issues and questions of modern Christians (for lack of a better term) with the writings of many great Celtic writers. In addition, these themes made the reader question and think about how many of these theological doctrines were made in the first place and how they can be crafted again.

This book serves as a note of encouragement for our times. The Celticview of the meaning of "Christ" delivers a message based on experienceover the beliefs that have so long muddied the lives of many people. JPNbrings the experience of Christ to a universal audience. He says that "theimage of God is at the core of our being. And like the Garden, it has notbeen destroyed. It may have become covered over or lost sight of, butit is at the beginning of who we are." Modern non-dual teachings, bothinside and outside of religions, involve this direct approach to theexperience of recognizing ourselves, or the identity of "I." We are notthe identity which our cultures and religions and science keep sayingwe are. And the amazing thing is that our own experience, if we carefullyrefer to it, will tell us that we are indeed that which JPN says we havecovered over or lost sight of. Paul Cezanne, the painter, said muchthe same thing: "The time will come when a single carrot, freshlyobserved, will set off a revolution." John Philip Newell is an igniterof this revolution in each of us!

This book will be read in a book group. I got it used for half price and it looks brand new.

Opened my eyes to the Celtic Way of Christianity. Its so refreshing and seeing things as a whole instead of compartmentalized. I like the writers insights and stories of his own personal revelations about Christianity.

Christ of the Celts: The Healing of Creationby J. Philip NewellThose who have heard J. Philip Newell in person--in theTwin Cities or at Ghost Ranch or elsewhere--and thosewho have read his earlier books will recognize his gentle,clear and the sometimes "eyes twinkling" lilt to his voiceand his down-to-earth yet subtle mind in his just releasedChrist of the Celts. Drawing upon his ongoing research,he shares his understanding of the deeply lived faith of theCeltic Christians, the unceasing wish among many ofthem to be open and responsive to God's presence inevery element of creation and of their daily lives.And in this book, subtitled The Healing of Creation,Philip particularly explores the theological and daily livingimplications--for the Celtic Christians and for us--of therepeated refrain in the creation story, "And God saw thatit was good. . . ."...Christ of the Celts is at the same time both an "easy read"and movingly powerful. Lessons to be learned from theCeltic Christians seem not just historically interesting butseem to offer understandings that may be crucial forChristians in this time and this place.Marilyn & Alan Youel, for Thin Places[...] Click 52 for whole review

This short, thoughtful, lyrical text, manages to address most of the Christian faith's most problematic doctrines. The inspiration for this re-imagining are the "church fathers" of the Celtic world, rooting Newell's vision in a solid lineage and historical precedent. If you need extensive footnotes and Biblical chapter and verse, it will not be convincing. But if you read with an engaged heart, as a Christian who knows Christ as Love Embodied, you will be cheering on every page. Seriously one of the best books I've ever read.

Beautiful

Bought for a gift

Excellent. Service quick. Book condition very good. I'm happy with this purchase.

inspired!

A difficult read. Catchy title.