Good Insights

Rediscovering the Celts - The true witness from the Western Shores by Martin Robinson. Fount £7.99

DR Robinson is the Director of Mission and Theology for the British and Foreign Bible Society, and this book reflects his deep interest in mission and outreach.

The beginning of the book lays down the historical foundations of the Celtic peoples and the Church in Celtic lands. In looking at the hallmarks of the Celtic Christian missionary success, Dr Robinson deals mainly with the very early times
of the Church and does not often reach past the 10th century. I feel it is a pity he does not look at many Celtic communities beyond the first millennium. The rich resources of the 'Carmina Gadelica' from the Hebrides are almost written off as "romantic" and not seen as rich prayers of the home and work.

I found the sub-title of the book a little strange - to have the word 'true' in its title seems to suggest that the Celts or Doctor Robinson knew something that others did not, or of a selective process that was wanting to prove a point.

However there are a lot of good insights and comments in this book. 'Spirituality and Mission', had some good comments on the Celtic worldview. 'Winning hearts and winning minds' contained interesting sections on biblical theology, preaching the word, and cleansing the mind.

'The Cathedral of Creation' looks at mission and our relationship with the cosmos. It also looks at God who is immanent and to be found in his world and how creation speaks of him. 'Mission at the Margins' is concerned with attitudes towards the poor and towards women. Fortunately this is done with some caveats as too many are reading into the Celtic peoples what they really desire as their own ideals now.

Much of what Dr Robinson writes is done that it may make us react and see how the Celtic vision could have some
influence on our present times and upon the Church of today.

• Canon David Adam is vicar of Holy Island and an author

 

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