Celtic Christianity and Nature

Love of nature is often said to be one of the characteristic features of Celtic Christianity. This book examines how native beliefs about nature were rejected, transformed or re-stated as the peoples of early-medieval Ireland and the Hebrides made Christianity their own. With extensive reference to the poetry and prose of the period - including "The Voyage of Saint Brendan" and Saint Patrick's "Confessions" - the book explores the importance of the land, hills and mountains, water, trees, fire, the sun and the elements in early-Christian and biblical imagery, and shows how medieval writers were aware of parallels between biblical and pagan texts which are often overlooked today. Modern Christian fears of "paganism" in outdoor worship are confronted and the reader is introduced to new ways oof thinking about the relationship between Christianity and the primal religions.