A13. Celtic Spirituality, Then and Now

Ireland’s ancient religious practices, often called “Celtic spirituality,” continue to attract people of all faiths and none. The Celtic culture’s mythical imagination, reverence for the natural world, communal identity, and politically powerful women are especially compelling for many today who seek new approaches to the urgent problems of environmental destruction and social division. Through art, mythology, poetry, and religious literature we’ll explore the qualities of Irish Celtic culture that became an enduring set of spiritual practices and beliefs.

Instructor: Kathleen Fisher has studied, written, and taught about early Irish history and religion for over 20 years. She first discovered the Celtic imagination while studying Irish monasticism in graduate school. She recently retired from Assumption University where she taught Theology and WISE courses. Now living in Chapel Hill, NC, she is researching the work of her mentor, Herbert W. Mason, who fostered her love of Irish history. 

Required reading: Celtic Spirituality: An Introduction to the Sacred Wisdom of the Celts, by Philip Freeman, Essentials (2021)

978-1250780201 (Available in several formats from Amazon)