Liriodendron wrote:

To David and John about following CC without a church:

I'm certainly not insisting that people go to church, but it seems like you would be missing out on the human connection. 

I rarely get much benefit out of my churches service or preaching (though oddly I did last Sunday); however I am so fond of the people that I would feel that I had abandoned them if I quit going.  I do get exasperated in my Sunday school at some who are so into fundimentalism (politics, end times and creationism), but I appreciate them as people -plus not all my class feels that way. 

The important thing to me is having people to share your loads with, help, be helped by, get together and help others, pray for and with. 

I suppose it would not have to be in a formal church setting.  If you just got to know and help your neighbors the same thing would happen and you may also discover some spiritual kindship.

I understand what you are saying, and i thank you for your concern. I rarely get to go to church because of my disability and lack of transportation, so for me, my spiritual connection has had to be online in many cases. i do have a group of close friends with whom I share my struggles. Some are Christian, others are not. Some are close by and we occasionally get together for face to face time, others have moved away. I think that if i could find the right place and had transportation, I would go more often, especially for my son's sake. For now, though, i have found that a spiritual walk can be done without formal church. It is hard sometimes and requires discipline, but it can be done. Thank you so much for being a part of my extended spiritual family. Thank you also for caring enough to state your concerns.

Much love and peace,
David

Dia annseo isteach!

God to all here!

Greetings Julie and Welcome,

Regarding the Bible, of course we hold it as a revelation of God!  We study it and use it in our daily lives as well as you.  We also believe that God revealed Himself in His Creation and everything that has life reflects the Light of His presence.  You may have heard us refer to 'thin places', they are places in nature were we 'feel' close to God, to the 'Other'.  We hold God as the Source (present time) of all that has life and strive to see Him within Nature and all Mankind.

Regarding 'original sin', that was hotly debated in the Early Church and rejected by the Eastern Christians as well as the Celts.  With it, Rome became the vehicle for salvation rather than a relationship with Christ.  Later, in the Reformation, the Protestants continued that unscriptural belief right down to this present day.  I really know how difficult it is to stop thinking in the Roman way!  Many stumble over this issue and fight fiercely for mankind's corruption.  We are flawed, granted that, but not corrupt!  We look for the Light within all souls and strive to bring them into harmony with Christ.

J.Philip Newell is one of the leading scholars of CC and has an excellent reputation for his prayers and understandings of the Early Celtic Christians.  John O'Donohue's book, 'Anam Cara', although difficult at first reading, is another excellent way of understanding the Celtic Way.  If you grasp the dynamism of their words, your life will be changed.

As for your 'leading'/'pulling', I think you know the scriptures as well as I, God is moving in you!  The Celtic Way is a journey, not a destination.  It is a way of life in service to the Holy Spirit, not to be good in our own strength, but to BE Him to others.  The only way to accomplish that task is to die to our 'self' and become in harmony with the true self empowered by His presence in our life.

In the meantime, we are here to assist your journey, your leading.  May God grant you the eyes to see and the ears to hear His plan for your life...

Slan,

Marty