Paper Topic:

Incarnation [Class Celtic Spirituality]

p The Incarnation of Christ and Celtic Symbolism

It 's presence within Celtic Spiritual Media

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Understanding the beauty and the mystery of the symbolism showcased in Celtic Christian works involves tracing a concept present in Celtic spirituality throughout history and connecting it to the traditional beliefs of the culture . Celtic spirituality is very much a product of its past as much as it 's present , and therefore while Christianity was distinctly different from the pagan beliefs of

pre-Christian Ireland many of its concepts have roots in pagan spirituality (Among Druids and High Kings 31 . For the Celts , Christianity was not forced on them by conquest and therefore they could create a distinct form of Christianity that could suit their needs while maintaining their cultural vitality Many theological concepts that relate to Celtic spirituality can be seen in the artwork , writings and symbols most commonly associated with the Christianity that evolved in Celtic culture . Among these is incarnation a concept that is well-known in Christianity , as it refers to the doctrine that the second person of the Trinity assumed human form in the person of Jesus Christ and is completely both God and man (Dictionary .com . The idea of incarnation was not alien to the Celts in pre-Christian times and was ever-present in their mythologies and traditions , but with the appearance of Christianity , Celtic religion blended the ideas of both their own pagan religion and the newfound Christian faith to create a unique form of Christianity . It is no wonder , then , that theological concepts such as incarnation can be found in even the smallest symbol in Celtic beliefs : the Celtic cross , the artwork of The Book of Kells , and the poetry of the Carmina Gadelica . In a world full of traditions and symbolism , Celtic Christianity absorbed important religious concepts into every aspect of their culture , and the incarnation was included in these important symbols of Celtic faith and beliefs

To understand the symbolism of Celtic Christianity , one must first understand its beginnings . It was believed to have spread among the people of the British Isles during the Middle Ages and it was during this time that the theologian Pelagius and his religious ideals came into competition with that of St . Augustine , who was considered the father of Latin Christianity . Palagius had controversial views about the nature of human sin and evil , believing that man could overcome evil by his own strength and his own will , while St . Augustine believed that temptation could not be overcome simply by the will of man , but only through a man 's dedication to the Church (Herm 259 Despite St . Augustine 's theological victory over the Palagians the Celtic traditions were able to survive for generations (Squire 402 Despite the introduction of Roman Christianity , Celtic beliefs and traditions would remain in the Celtic British Isles and merge with the newly found faith , creating new beliefs along with the old , with many remnants of Palagius ' theology found...

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