In early medieval Europe, Roman Christianity worked to become a global religion. It put structures in place that have become standard for all global corporations. The Pope became the CEO of a global church producing uniform products for world consumption. In the process of its growth, it rode into new territories on the back of colonial forces, happy to see violence used to eradicate indigenous expressions of spirituality and put an end to spiritual diversity. Its insistence on uniformity throughout its global reach necessitated intolerance for all other expressions of Christianity. Any Christianity that was not Roman was heretical. Celtic Christianity developed on the fringes of Europe outside of the Roman Empire. it was a unique form of Christianity, less authoritarian, less patriarchal, and more attuned to nature. It came under attack almost immediately from the Roman church. However, before Rome could subdue it, it had spread throughout Ireland, Britain and Western Europe. Celtic monks are credited with bringing Europe out of its Dark Ages after the collapse of the Roman Empire. Over the course of centuries, Celtic Christianity was coerced to align itself with the beliefs and practices of Rome. In mainland Europe, Celtic monasteries were forced to become Benedictine. However, in Britain and Ireland, the Roman church needed the help of the Viking invasions from the 9th century onwards, and then from the Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12th century, to finally eradicate Celtic Christianity.This book tells the story.
