Quakers and Celtic Christianity ~ Ray Lovegrove

For many years I have been convinced that Quakerism and Celtic Christianity have much in common, not least that both are concerned with looking for that of God, not only in others, but also in the whole of creation. Below are a list of identifiable strands of character that can be found in the writings of early Celtic Christians. While many Quakers will find some aspects of Celtic Christianity slightly alien to them, Friends will, I trust find great areas of common ground.

• Hope - looks first for good rather than for evil in all things.

• Equality -regards all persons as equal and erases the separation between men and women, clergy and laity, etc.

• Mystery - speaks to the mystical awe of God that arises from understanding the limitations of human knowledge. Much of the Christian subculture is bureaucratic, programmatic, and political.

• Environment -encourages earth-keeping as a way to honor God in stewardship of His Creation.

• Holism - refuses to separate life into the spiritual and material, the heart and head, the sacred days and workdays, etc. (instead has an awareness of the sacred in all times and places). Most Christians tend to compartmentalize life.

• Immanence -teaches that God is present with His creation.

• Simplicity - lacks the emphasis on complicated rationalistic doctrine found in most of Western Christianity.

This list comes from http://prayerfoundation.org/celtic_pages_index.htm 


More at    http://stringofbedes.blogspot.com/2010/10/creation-centred-spirituality.html

 Artwork from the outstanding artist Kristen Fox at  http://foxvox.imagekind.com/