Christianity and the Celts

Lion Histories

by Ted Olsen

J. R. R. Tolkien observed that the word Celtic "is a magic bag, into which anything may be put, and out of which almost anything may come . . . Anything is possible in the fabulous Celtic twilight, which is not so much a twilight of the gods as of the reason." But in this enjoyable and lucid IVP Histories volume, Ted Olsen digs beneath the layers of romanticization to introduce you to the world of the Celts. Focusing on their interaction with the Christian faith, Olsen tells the stories of principal characters from Ireland and beyond. As he illuminates the missionary fervor and monastic ideals of saints such as Patrick and Columbanus, Olsen brings a distant period of history to vivid life. Here is an engaging portrait of men and women whose ability to intrigue and fascinate is as strong as it ever was.

Genres: Church History, History, Religion, Christianity, Christian

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Ted Olsen is associate publisher and editorial director for media and trade books at IVP. He is also the former executive editor of Christianity Today and author of Christianity and the Celts.

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Reviews

[Larry Farlow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Early in this book Olson quotes J.R.R. Tolkien saying the term "Celtic" is a "magic bag, into which anything may be put, and out of which almost anything may come." This book goes a long way towards debunking much of the modern views of the Celts that seem to have come from Tolkien's magic bag.

This book is well researched and logically presented. Part of the IVP Histories series,it will be interesting to anyone who loves medieval church history or the history of the British Isles. It's also has many beautiful,glossy pictures and maps to as well as helpful 'side bars' that add even more to what's covered in the text.

All in all, a great little introduction to this period of history.

[Stan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Olsen has given us a readable and enjoyable introduction to Celtic Christianity. He covers the known history, and the unknown pre-history, well. We glimpse the lives of several Celtic saints (Patrick, Columba, Columbanus, and others). He includes the Viking and Danish raiders who did much damage to the Celtic monastic missionaries. He concludes the book with an overview of research on Celtic Christianity from the Church historian Bede to the present day. A good read for a foundational understanding.