Mary Magdalene is often presented as the repentant prostitute. The one who lived a life of harlotry and sin but was healed by Jesus and so became his devotee. There's all kinds of problems with this. Firstly, it has a very negative view of sexuality in general, and women's sexuality in particular. Secondly, there's no … Continue reading Was Mary Magdalene a Sex Worker? →

Mary Magdalene is one of the most mysterious figures in the bible. In the canonical gospel stories she is clearly presented as being close to Jesus. She is there with him at the crucifixion and she is the first to see him after the resurrection. We can see that she was clearly devoted to Jesus … Continue reading What Do We Know About Mary Magdalene? →

Today is the first Sunday of the month when we share guest posts from people living and teaching the Contemplative and/or Celtic Christian way around the world. One of the beautiful things about the internet is that people doing amazing things in isolated parts of the world can learn from one another and grow together. … Continue reading Monkey Mind: Christian Mindfulness and the Eternal Now →

Celtic cosmology has often been cyclical rather than linear. The pre-Christian myths of the Celtic people do not have an account of the origins of the universe or the end of time. That changed when Christianity came on the scene as there was a clear beginning and clear end to the Biblical narrative. Yet, there … Continue reading Apokatastasis: An Alternative Doctrine to Hell →

When discussing the way in which we are saved by the incarnation, Eriugena adds a striking commentary. Not only, he asserts, were humans saved by the incarnation, but indeed through humanity all of creation was redeemed. Eriugena taught that humanity is the midpoint of all creation, we are the focal point of the universe. This … Continue reading The Universe Inside You: An Advent Reflection →

There is an ancient Celtic belief, taught to us by Eriugena, that salvation happened primarily through the incarnation rather than the crucifixion. It was the bringing together of heaven and earth, spirit and matter, creator and creation, that healed the world. Jesus is the celestial physician, the healer of the material universe, and he came … Continue reading We Are Saved by the Incarnation →

From December 14th to 16th Justin Coutts from New Eden Ministry and myself (David Cole) are leading an online retreat on the subject of Apophatic theology, or the Unknowing of God. We will be looking at four particular people from the Christian tradition who have taught on this subject throughout history. One of those, who … Continue reading The Path to God Leads to Nothing →

Eriugena taught that the Word made flesh is continually being spoken by God in two ways, through the Bible and through creatures. When Eriugena talks about creatures he means anything which has been created, not just little furry critters. Eriugena taught that we come from God and will one day return to God, as it is with all creatures.

Today is the first Sunday of the month when we share guest posts from people living and teaching the Contemplative and/or Celtic Christian way around the world. One of the beautiful things about the internet is that people doing amazing things in isolated parts of the world can learn from one another and grow together. … Continue reading The Full Meaning of the Incarnation →

There are countless religious traditions throughout the world but one practice which seems to be part of all of them (or at least most) is the art of fasting. Religious people on every continent have traditions of fasting. It is part of the Abrahamic religions, the Eastern religions, and indigenous religions around the world. It … Continue reading The Art of Fasting →