The Book of Creation: An Introduction to Celtic Spirituality [BK OF CREATION]

by Anonymous

The Book of Creation( An Introduction to Celtic Spirituality) <> Paperback <> J.PhilipNewell <> PaulistPress

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction, Religion, Ireland, Christianity, Christian, Theology

160 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1999

About the author

Books can be attributed to "Anonymous" for several reasons:

* They are officially published under that name
* They are traditional stories not attributed to a specific author
* They are religious texts not generally attributed to a specific author

Books whose authorship is merely uncertain should be attributed to Unknown.

See also: Anonymous

Reviews

[Philip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing earth shatteringly new in this from the other Newell books I've read. But, looking at the character of God through the 7 days of creation in the Celtic perspective is well done and thought provoking. Makes for a great meditative book.

[Vainvt · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Book of Creation" showed me a new way of looking at the seven days of creation that is relevant to life today. As Newell says, "The seven days of Genesis...are not a chronological account of the emergence of the universe in the past but a meditation on the ever-present mystery of creation". The concept of creation is central to the book because Celtic Christianity holds all living things are a manifestation of God: each of us has God within and grace is the way we return to our true and original relationship with God.
Newell describes each of the days in a chapter, and each chapter has a meditation. The days (chapters) are: light, wildness, fecundidty, harmony, creaturliness, the image of God, and the stillness of God. To give you an idea of Newell's approach, the stillness of God is how to rest and restore ourselves for taking our work into the world. It includes sleep, meditation, renewal, holy times, respecting nature's patterns of night/day and winter/summer, and being aware of God in our daily activities. Newell quotes Eriugena, an Irish theologian from the 9th century, Kenneth White, a contemporary Scottish poet, St. John, and Pelagius, an English monk of the 4th century.
I took my time reading this short book in order to do the meditations at the ends of the chapters. It was well worth the time, and both the experience and information deepened my understanding of Celtic Christianity.

[Brad Dell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, the excitement of stumbling upon a not-too-popular but excellent book in a dusty store. “The Book of Creation” restored in me a romantic lens through which to experience nature anew, and then see God through that lens, and how we are then reflected as his image bearers. Much of the theology would make most ministers in my circles blush, but I admit I quite like that. I’m a fan of the new-to-me theologians he quoted, the practical meditation exercises capping each chapter, and writing’s simple eloquence. I’m intrigued by the high-level stories of Celtic spirituality in full clash with Roman Catholicism and Calvinism, as well as the low-level stories depicting the common (wo)man encountering God’s character in fresh ways.

Warning: This book’ll make ya want to dance in the moonlight, barefoot.

[Blake Paine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed learning more about the heart of a Celtic Christian ethos. Because of the Celt's location geographically, they can be a bridge of understanding between East & West, between ancient science and modern science. I also love using Genesis as a frame of exploration into the heart of the Celts and their connection to natural phenomenon.

[Cory Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes you know what you think/feel/believe but just don’t quite have the words to express it until a book comes along and does it for you. That’s me and this book.

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for exploring Celtic Spirituality with a small group.

[Kate Belt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great introduction to Celtic Christianity!

[Tayllor Henczel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poetic, deeply moving, while aligning with how the world works. Everything he shares speaks to the soul while remaining deeply practical and logical.

[Graham Luethe]

REVISIT THIS PLEASE

[Carter West · Rating 4 out of 5]

(A review of "The Book of Creation: An Introduction to Celtic Spirituality" by J. Philip Newell: Paulist Press, 1999.) "The Wildness of God" ... "The Fecundity of God" ... "The Creatureliness of God": just from the table of contents alone, it's clear that you've left the front-facing pews of conventional Christianity behind and set out into the territory of an untamed faith. Gently but insistently, Newell's brief book (122 pp.) contrasts the cosmos-centered Celtic tradition with Western Christianity as we've inherited it from more morality-centered thinkers such as Augustine. "The word of God in creation," "the Love that utters all things into being" serves alongside the word of Scripture as authoritative in Celtic spirituality. This makes all the difference in religion, whether in adapting poems and practices from pagan sources gone before or in celebrating "the wildness that is at the heart of creativity." I came to Newell's book in search of a more body-, imagination-, and life-affirming spirit, and largely found it. Christian readers yearning for liberation from old dramas of sin and sanctification will discover it here, in this paean to the God-given beauty and holiness of life, blessed just as we find it, stretching endlessly throughout creation.

As an introduction to this refreshment, Newell's book is more than adequate, less than good. I had confidence throughout that I was being initiated into the heart of a great tradition. Yet his reliance upon only three partners in dialogue (the classic theologian Pelagius, the ninth-century John Scotus Eriugena, and the contemporary poet Kenneth White) made me wonder if I wasn't missing out on this tradition's breadth. Newell's organizing the book around the seven days of the Genesis 1 account of creation struck me as a coup. At the end of each chapter, he provides an exercise in meditation as a means of appropriating what's been presented: also a coup. Yet the exercises repeat themselves in structure and even in wording: not an effective testimony to the work of a Creator "making all things new." His initial outline distinguishing Celtic Christianity from the Roman mission to the British Isles was one of the strongest parts of the book. It cries out, though, for a bookend chapter carrying the Celtic tradition forward through, say, the Iona community. Instead, the book peters out without a conclusion, stopping with the end of the seventh day's exercise. Reservations aside, I found this a wholly worthwhile excursion through a Christianity few of us know and most of us could drink in passionately, slaking a thirst we didn't know we had.

[Susie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though there are parts of the book that are a little unorthodox, overall it has an alternative perspective on Christian spiritual life and practice that is enriching. Has a holistic emphasis, describing how recognition of the goodness God placed in creation allows us to experience and respond to him. Invites the reader to put into practice Celtic prayer and reflection practices, using lectio divina also. I felt uncomfortable with the possibility of praying to the sun and moon, so I would leave out that practice.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of many unread books on my bookshelf. Recommended by a great friend and classmate. I am drawn to the Celtic Spirituality and the frankness of J. Philip Newell. My favorite and challenging chapters is Image of God. Newell remins us that The extent to which we fail to reflect the image of God in our lives is the extent to which we become less human. (84) We are challenged to live our lives as though we were in the constant presence of God like being in the Garden.

[Joseph Gough · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an introduction to Celtic Spirituality, the book is quite dense, conveying a heart-opening sense of the spiritual perspective to be found in modern treatments of this ancient tradition. Don't expect a history, or a step by step guide, this is much more of a small but significant immersion into the ethos of Celtic Christianity. Expect to catch a glimpse of the Divine at a deeper level than one ordinarily does in more traditional theological settings. The book is a thin place, and a treat.

[Keith Macdonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

An important read for anyone who wants to appreciate the evolution of Celtic Rite Christianity and its modern form. Historically, connected to the “free church” of Brittany, the Celtic Rite (and quite distinct from Roman Christianity) reached Britain between the 9th and 11th century. Especially in Wales and Scotland.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know, it just wasn't great. I wanted it to be great. It used some interesting material, but it wasn't great. He needed an editor to show him where he was repeating himself and where he needed to use some other sources. Ah well.

[Chip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great introduction to the relationship of creation in Celtic spirituality. The goal of Celtic spirituality is always to look deeper into the things of life. Newell helps make that happen, especially with the application at the end if each chapter.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Probably one of the most beautiful, simple books I have ever read about God.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I have grown chrysanthemums in the dung of God."