Celtic Christianity, God and the environment
9 Mar 2007
‘God is Green’ was recently aired on Channel 4. Presenter Mark Dowd put forward the premise that maybe the answer to our problems with the environment lay in the hands of the 4.5 billion followers of the main world faiths, that is Christianity, Islam and Sikhism.
I felt rather inspired by the Bishop of London and it inspired me to think quite deeply about God and the environment.
In this post I’d like to ask you your views on whether you think there a convergence of both the physical and spiritual ecological Christianity, particualry embodied in the growing popularity of the celtic christian tradition?
There has been a resurgence of all things Celtic since the early 1980’s, none more so than that of Celtic Christianity.
This, I believe is an awakening call to the Christian in the street, to an environmental ethic and through this a recognition of the problems that our own planet faces.
The Celtic Church had a deep connection to the world around it. As farmers and labourers they would’ve understood the seasons, how to work the land which they tended and cared for. They could see the goodness of the creator in his creation; some early writings show a deep and vibrant love of the environment, an understanding of God at work in their surroundings and in their everyday life.
So taking those principles from Celtic Christianity how can we apply then to the twenty first century?
We need to start in our own neighbourhood and extend outwards to the wider world at home and abroad.
As a congregation, as part of the body of Christ we need to accept responsibility for our environment, that is too say God creation. If we can do this we are more than likely to put renewed effort into caring and tending for our local surroundings
We can start in small ways, for example by revising shopping habits, recycling glass, paper and plastics, the use of cars, and management of the our locality and the countryside; and then seeking to increase awareness of the many environmental problems that urgently need attention throughout the world.
Alongside this must run a spiritual element, a way to reconnect with those elements of our faith which teach and practice ways of thinking and acting that recognize our inherent connections with the natural world?
The historian Leslie Hardinge writes: “By far the most influential book in the development of the Celtic church was the Bible. It moulded their theology and guided the worship of the early Christians. It suggested rules of conduct and transformed the ancient laws of Irish and Welsh pagans into Christian statutes.â€
Celtic Christianity is Trinitarian and open to the experience of Christ and to his miracles.
Its theology and liturgy are biblically based which leads to a prayerfully reflective part of the Body of Christ with a deep creation affirming spirituality; especially in their prayers, creativity and their attitude to their environment.
Another element that has drawn many people to the Celtic Christian World is its holistic approach to worship, seeing all of life as worship and God’s presence seeping it every corner of our lives and our world.
Some see Celtic Christianity as a fad (one I add that has been popular for the last 30 years) or as a romantic view of a different time but I believe God is using this to bring people back to his creation (and if it is a little romantic…well so what!), to encourage us to tend and care for the world around before it’s too late.
Resources:
David Adam has written many books, I would certainly start off with ‘The Rhythm of Life’ as a guide into Celtic Liturgy.
Aiden, Bede and Cuthbert: Three Inspirational Saints for an understanding of who and what the Celtic Fathers were.
Celtic Daily Prayer from the Northumbria Community
Celtic way of Prayer by Esther De Waal
Ebb and Flow – my new Christian ecology blog
14 comments
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Comment by steven hamilton
1.45 pm on 9 Mar 2007
mmm, tis true…that deep connection with God and His Creation. i utterly agree with leslie hardinge that the celtic christians really felt themselves joining in their journey with God in the (his)story of redemption that is unfolding in such an encompassing way that it touches all – people, the earth, indeed all the creation/cosmos. I still feel it myself:
My mouth waters in delicious anticipation…
persuaded…devoted
with my senses stirring, I take hold of the dainty fruit of delight…
the earth delivering its crop
I determine to squeeze the harvest…and the lovely liquid flows forth…
exploding with flavour divine, I drain it all…
the taste dances on my tongue…and I wring out the last dwindling, delicate drops
…drenched with joy… dripping from my chin…
O, taste and see that YHWH is good
_______________________________
also, check out the American PBS special ‘Is God Green’ with Bill Moyers, which features friends of ours from the Vineyard Fellowship in Boise, Idaho:
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/moyersonamerica/green/index.html
Comment by marc
1.49 pm on 9 Mar 2007
Indeed, get the David Adam suggested reading and then keep going.
Comment by marc
9.45 am on 13 Mar 2007
msg 2. I hope you find the depth within Mr adams writing as I have. Enjoy.
Comment by Marcia
4.05 pm on 9 Mar 2007
Thanks for this post. I’m intrigued, and plan to do some of the reading suggested.
Comment by marc
9.46 am on 13 Mar 2007
msg 3. I hope you find the depth within Mr adams writing as I have. Enjoy the journey
Comment by Paul
9.16 pm on 9 Mar 2007
Ah Marc you old romantic you, thanks for your post :)
It is is certainly timely given the continued conversations about climate change and the encouragement of christians to use their voice as well as their lifestyles to promote alternative ways of caring for our planet.
We may not all be farmers but as voters and consumers we have a lot of political and economic influence, maybe we need to bring our worship into our voting and shopping lives…
How would you see celtic christianity expressing itself in the 21st century?
Comment by marc
9.48 am on 13 Mar 2007
msg 4. Paul, Celtic Christi9anity is starting to express itself already, the growth of CC points to that and the awareness of nature does not make us ‘tree huggin hippies’ but ‘creation huggin Christians’…and that can only be a good thing.
Comment by Paul
2.59 pm on 13 Mar 2007
thanks bro, so practically how can i be a creation helping christian, what would you suggest from a celtic perspective?
Comment by marc
3.52 pm on 13 Mar 2007
Start off in the best place, Start off at home, find out if what your council does in the way of the environment.
Link Text
See what you can do in the way of practical recycling.
From a Celtic perspective try to seek Gods guidance on your surroundings, part of what I do is to stop and look at Gods creation; we have a tednancy to rush past everything in this life but just take a couple of seconds to see the real beauty of a flower or an insect and to take time to thank God for his diversity and beauty.
Allow Gods creation to sink into your soul.
Comment by Rick Cruse
11.08 am on 12 Mar 2007
While I appreciate your many thoughts regarding the green issues and Celtic spirituality, I was struck this morning by a comment from my wife. As she watched BBC, she noted the juxtaposition of the “green” issues with the report that the typical wait for soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan to receive much-needed mental health treatments is 18 months.
First, we do not have to deal with one issue to the exclusion of the other. We need not live in an either/or world.
Second, we have only so much emotional energy and available time.
Third, humanity is the height or centre of creation. The world was good, humanity was seen as very good.
Fourth, where are the Christian voices calling for better care of these returning wounded? Where are the followers of Jesus that are seeking out such men and women to provide needed support? Where are the communities of believers that support the beleagured NHS?
Fifth, perhaps it is easier to talk about and take action on carbon footprints than to care for those who make the footprints?
Comment by marc
9.51 am on 13 Mar 2007
Hi Rick
I too am not impressed with the care that the soldiers are getting.
All injured peoples should be treated with care and compassion. The army has a responsibility to look after it men as does the government all its people.
There are many Christian Charities who serve in hospitals across the world, they are volunteers giving there time, energy and money to help.
You are asking where are the believers to help those who are wounded soldiers. It needs someone to start the ball rolling, to contact the agencies, to contact the army chaplaincy…maybe it is something you can do, gather some believers together and make a difference.
Comment by Paul
3.02 pm on 13 Mar 2007
It’s a good Q Rick – how do we define creation – is it just plants and animals or is it people and place as well? How do we care for all creation? How do we live sustainable lives where we promote economic, social, political and environmental justice? I presume from Marc’s comments that christians need to reconnect with the environment and to care for each other as well as for the world and the God that sustains us…
what do you think? Marc is their examples of this sort of harmony, this wider shalom if you like, in terms of celtic prayers, liturguies etc?
Comment by Tim
2.21 pm on 12 Mar 2007
There’s been a lot of ‘documentary’ debate on TV at the moment. Another programe that put the other side was on Wednesday night on C4 (perhaps available on http://www.4od.com). The environment is indeed important (oil and coal will run out, and we can’t keep putting plastic waste in a big hole) – but there’s a lot more to the debate than what floats to the top of the media (for example – that there is near complete scientific consensus for the case of man made global warming – or even that it’s caused by CO2). There are big asks being made of society by the environmental lobby – perhaps Christians should get out there and try and live from a balanced view point?
That’s a little off topic, but I thought kinda worth raising the point.
Comment by marc
9.52 am on 13 Mar 2007
Hi Time
Thanks for that, its a good point.
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