Brigid's Mantle: A Celtic Dialogue Between Pagan and Christian - Softcover

Pagan and Christian Join Hands within Celtic Spirituality Long ago, the story goes, Brigid flung out her mantle over the world. Beneath its shelter, the Earth and its people could find healing, insight, and growth. This legend, shared by both Celtic Pagans and Celtic Christians, makes the point that a mantle is not a box, a small rigid container meant to keep some things inside while excluding others. Instead, a mantle is wide, flexible, inclusive. Using this as their central metaphor, the authors―one a Pagan healer and the other a Christian minister―engage in a dialogue that is ultimately about what it means to be spiritual, to be a person of faith. While the authors agree that very real differences separate Paganism and Christianity, they affirm that shared points of understanding can be found under "Brigid's Mantle." They build on a concept of Celtic spirituality that embraces the arts, Nature, the supernatural world, compassion for those in need, and gender equality. Their dialogue with one another allows us to see the ways in which this rich cultural heritage has deepened the authors' personal spiritual beliefs and practices in ways that are surprisingly similar. Readers―Christian, Pagan, and neither―will find here not only a fascinating example of comparative religion but also a rich source of personal inspiration and insight. With its emphasis on the natural environment, justice, and creativity, Celtic spirituality has much to say to the modern world.