The Cèilidh Honors Seminar for Céli Dé: Stephen Lawhead

HONORS COURSE SYLLABUS

North Central Bible College

Fall, 1997
2 - 9 p.m., Thursdays plus retreat
Sept. 11,18-20, Oct. 23, Nov. 6 and 20

Carolyn Tennant, Ph.D.
(612) 343-4456

GNST 475: 3 credits
Interdisciplinary

Course Description:

This Honors Course focuses upon Celtic studies and Celtic Christian spirituality which is the basis for the major writings of Stephen Lawhead, author of Christian historical fiction. Utilizing an interdisciplinary approach including the processes of critical thought, historical review, and theological analysis, this course provides for seminar-level discussion and research. Celtic and other clan-related history and culture, including art, music, spiritual lifestyle and leadership, and early Celtic Christian evangelization and monasticism are covered. Themes to be studied include the epic genre as spiritual journey, the roles of prophet and king, the Celtic philosophical view of a holistic world, characteristics of God including Sovereignty, Celtic values, and biblical themes of light vs. darkness, spiritual warfare, community, and life/death.

Objectives:

At the end of the course each student should be able to:

Discuss geographical, historical, artistic, literary and cultural bases for the Lawhead series. This will include Celtic philosophy, values, and lifestyle and the role of Celtic monastic and evangelistic activity. It will also involve the Byzantine influence and the role of the Anglo-Saxon and other conquests upon Britain.
Utilize critical thought to study and apply the roles and philosophies of Lawhead's main characters to the students' lives, to consider Celtic Christian influence upon European life and thought, and to determine ways that Celtic Christian sensibilities could have a positive impact upon our present-day culture in the same way that it did upon the failing Roman and the barbarian cultures.
Appreciate Celtic art, music, and bardic traditions.
Understand and be able to apply Celtic Christian spirituality including lessons to be learned from the early Christian leaders and their chosen lifestyles.
Appreciate the writings and genres (science fiction, fantasy and historical fiction) of Stephen Lawhead, especially the epic perspective as it relates to the Christian's battle with evil and their spiritual journey. Describe the growth in the author's literary style.
Summarize the major Christian themes of Lawhead's works and the Celtic life and apply these to their personal lives and ministry callings.
Be involved in seminar-level study and discussion with in-depth analysis of Lawhead's presentation of biblical truths and theological insight, especially the characteristics of God.

Requirements:

Regular attendance and participation in class sessions. This includes participation in the course's overnight retreat at the Benedictine Center with opportunity for Celtic monastic-style Pentecostal experiences that will also include lecture, discussion, prayers and fasting, and study in the center's library.
Read the following nine books by Stephen Lawhead, preferably in the following order, by the beginning of the course:
Dream Thief
The Pendragon Cycle:
- Taliesen
- Merlin
- Arthur
The Song of Albion:
- The Paradise Wars
- Silver Hand
- The Endless Knot
The Pendragon Cycle continued:
- Pendragon
Byzantium
Optional:
Highly recommended:
Cahill, Thomas. How The Irish Saved Civilization: The Untold Story of Ireland's Heroic Role from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of Medieval Europe. New York: Anchor Books, Doubleday, 1995.
Also suggested:
Lawhead's The Empyrion Saga:

Empyrion
The Siege of Dome
Lawhead's The Dragon King Trilogy:

In The Hall of the Dragon King
The Warlords of Nin
The Sword and the Flame.
A 12-15 page (or longer) project-paper, typewritten, on a research topic related to the seminar. Topics could include Atlantis, Celtic history, the bards and Druids, Celtic art including the high crosses, Celtic music, folklore and tales, the Gaelic language, philosophical underpinnings of Celtic Christianity, King Arthur and Camelot, the Book of Kells and other illuminated manuscripts, monasteries of the time period with focus upon monastic rules and asceticism, the vast Celtic evangelistic movement, the saints of Ireland and Britain, values of Celtic Christians such as anamcara, the role of women in Celtic Christianity, the conquering Roman influence in Europe, the fall of the Roman empire, early Christianity in Constantinople and the Byzantine Empire, clan-life, and so forth. This project will be presented orally to the rest of the seminar class during one of the last three class periods. Multi-media presentations are highly recommended.
A personal journal with on-going recording of seminar reflections and application to personal life and ministry. Also, write a lorica, a carmina poem, and a Celtic style-prayer or blessing. Draw one Celtic design and one high cross of your making with meaning to you.

Grading Criteria:

Seminar Reading and Participation: 30% Project-Paper: 40% Personal Journal: 30%

Course Outline:

September 11:

     Stephen Lawhead, the author
     Stylistic changes and growth
     Changes in genre: Science fiction to fantasy to historical fiction
     The epic perspective and its theological underpinnings
     The use of themes with epic proportions: Light vs. darkness; God's
        view and His interaction with man; God in history and space.

Sept. 18:

     Celtic and other related history
     Celtic folklore, myths, and tales
     Celtic religion: the Druids, bards and seers
     Celtic art and music
     The oral cultural tradition
     The role of the Roman Empire and of early Christianity
     Monastic life
     The Book of Kells

Sept. 19-20:

     Monastic retreat experience at the Benedictine Center, leaving
       after classes on Fri. and returning on Sat. evening.   This will
       include prayer, teaching and discussion, fasting (if desired),
       study time in the library, and  appropriate literary and musical
       components related to the lectures of Sept. 18.

Oct. 23:

     Project presentations by class members
     The roles of prophet and king
     Spiritual warfare themes in the battle scenarios
     The place of the individual and his/her choices in the grand scheme
     Guest speaker: Killian McDonnell, O.S.B., the president of the
       Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research, Collegeville,
       MN and co-chair of the international classical Pentecostal/Roman
       Catholic dialogue.  Father McDonnell will address the class on
       the Baptism in the Holy Spirit as rooted in sacramental theology,
       addressing the evidence of the charismata in the early Christian
       church.  He will also be discussing monastic lifestyle over dinner
       with the class.

Nov. 6:

     Project presentations by class members
     Characteristics of God as seen in Lawhead's books: Sovereignty, etc.
     Characteristics of men through the ages: Power; self-understanding;
       relationships; survival; the meaning of life Death and life
       themes; the quest; the Celtic knot---God's plan in the twists of
       life Personal development in Lawhead:  suffering; perseverance;
       loyalty; service

Nov. 20:

     Project presentations by class members
     Clans and community: People caring for people
     God caring for man
     Personal application and reflection: the journals

BIBLIOGRAPHY

The Cèilidh Honors Seminar for Céli Dé Stephen Lawhead
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Ailred and Jocelyn. The Lives of St. Ninian and St. Kentigern. Llanerch, 1989.
Allchin, A.M. and Esther DeWaal. Threshold of Light: Prayers and Praises from the Celtic Tradition. Springfield: Templegate, 1988..
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Daphne, D.C. and Pochin Mould, The Irish Saints, Dublin, 1964.
Davies, Oliver and Fiona Bowie. Celtic Christian Spirituality: An Anthology of Medieval and Modern Sources. NY: The Continuum Publishing Co., 1995.
Davies, Oliver. Celtic Christianity in Early Medieval Wales: The Origins of the Welsh Spiritual Tradition. Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 1996.
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DePaor, Liam. Saint Patrick's World. Notre Dame: Four Courts Press, 1993.
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Fuhrmann, Joseph. Irish Medieval Monasteries on the Continent. Washington, D.C.: Catholic Univeristy, 1927.
Note: This is the only treatment of this topic exclusively and needs more research by someone! Consider it.
Gallico, Paul. The Steadfast Man: Biography of St. Patrick. NY: Doubleday, 1958.
Gibbon, Edward. The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. 1776
--- There are so many editions, simply have your pick!
Goldey, Peter B. Celtic Sovereignty: The Development and Impact of the Tradition in Wales and Ireland. Thesis, Harvard University, 1993.
Graham, Hugh. Early Irish Monastic Schools. Dublin: Talbot Press Limited, 1923.
Green, Miranda. Symbol and Image in Celtic Religious Art. London: Routledge, 1989.
Greene, D. and F. O'Connor (eds. and trans.). A Golden Treasure of Irish Poetry. London: Macmillan, 1967.
Hanson, W.G. The Early Monastic Schools of Ireland: Their Missionaries, Saints and Scholars. Cambridge, England: W. Heffer and Sons, Lmtd., 1927.
Hanson, R.P.C. The Life and Writings of the Historical St. Patrick. NY: Seabury Press, 1983.
Hardinge, Leslie. The Celtic Church in Britain. SPCK, 1973.
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Henken, Ellisa R. Traditions of the Welsh Saints. Woodbridge: Boydell Press, 1987.
Henry, Françoise. Irish Art in the Early Christian Period (To A.D. 800). Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1965.
. Irish Art During the Viking Invasions (A.D. 800 to 1020). Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1967.
. Irish High Crosses. Dublin: 1964. (Published for the Cultural Relations Committee of Dublin)
. The Book of Kells with a Study of the Manuscript. London, 1974.
. and Geneviève Marsh-Micheli. Studies in Early Christian and Medieval Irish Art. London: 1985.
Herbert, M. Iona, Kells, and Derry: The History and Hagiography of the Monastic Familia of Columba. Oxford, 1988.
Homer. The Iliad. Have your choice of editions.
Horn, Walter. The Forgotten Hermitage of Skellig Michael. Berkeley, 1990.
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Hughes, Kathleen and Ann Hamlin. Celtic Monasticism: The Modern Traveller to the Early Irish Church. New York: Seabury Press, 1981.
. The Church in Early Irish Society. London, 1966.
. Early Christian Ireland: Introduction to the Sources. London, 1972.
Hyde, Douglas, ed. and tr. Religious Songs of Connacht. Dublin: Irish University Press, 1972.
Kendrick, T.D. The Druids. London: Senate, Random House UK, 1994.
Kenney, James F. The Sources for the Early History of Ireland: Ecclesiastical. Dublin: Irish University Press, 1929.
Koch, John T. ed. The Celtic Heroic Age: Literary Sources for Ancient Celtic Europe and Early Ireland and Wales. Malden: Celtic Studies Publications, 1996.
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Jonas. Life of St. Columban. Bobbio, Italy. c. 543-659 A.D.
Laing, Lloyd and Jennifer. Art of the Celts. London: Thames and Hudson, Ltd., 1992.
Lawhead, Stephen. See books listed above in this syllabus.
Leask, Harold G. Irish Churches and Monastic Buildings. 3 vols. Dundalk, 1955-60.
Loomis, Roger Sherman. The Magic Horn and Cup in Celtic and Grail Tradition. Erlangen: Verlag von Junge & Sohn, 1931.
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Manning, Conleth. Early Irish Monasteries. Dublin: Country House (in association with the National Museum of Ireland), 1995.
Markale, Jean. King of the Celts: Arthurian Legends and the Celtic Tradition. Rochester, VT: Inner Traditions, 1994.
Matthews, Caitl�n. Arthur and the Sovereignty of Britain. London: Arkana, Penguin Group, 1989.
. The Elements of the Celtic Tradition. Shaftesbury, Dorset UK: Element Books, 1989. (Note: The Matthews do not treat their material from a Christian but rather from a New Age perspective. There is, however, original ancient Celtic material cited which may be useful by itself for your study.)
. and John Matthews. The Encyclopedia of Celtic Wisdom. Shaftesbury, Dorset: Element Books, 1994.
McDonnell, Killian ed. Toward a New Pentecost For a New Evangelization. Malines Document l. 2nd. Ed. Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1993.
. and George T. Montague. Christian Initiation and Baptism in the Holy Spirit: Evidence from the First Eight Centuries. 2nd ed. Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1994.
McKenna, Catherine A. The Medieval Welsh Religious Lyric. Belmont, Mass: 1991.
Mcleod, Fiona. The Divine Adventure: Iona. New York: Duffield, 1910.
McNeill, John T. The Celtic Churches. A History A.D. 200 - 1200. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1974.
. History of the Cure of Souls. NY: Columbia, 1938.
Meyer, Kuno tr. Ancient Irish Poetry. London: Constable, 1913.
Mitton, Michael. Restoring the Woven Chord. DLT, Templegate, 1995.
Moran, Cardinal. Irish Saints in Great Britain. Dublin: Brown, and Nolan, 1879.
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Murphy, G.V. Early Irish Lyrics. Oxford, 1956.
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Newell, J. Philip. Each Day and Each Night: A Weekly Cycle of Prayers from Iona in the Celtic Tradition. Glasgow: Wild Goose, 1994.
O'Donoghue, Noel Dermot. The Mountain Behind the Mountain: Aspects of the Celtic Tradition. Edinbrugh: T & T Clark, 1993.
O'Dwyer, Peter. Céli Dé Spiritual Reform in Ireland, 750-900. Dublin: Editions Tailliura, 1981.
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Patterson, Nerys. Cattle Lords and Clansmen: The Social Structure of Early Ireland. Notre Dame, 1994.
Piggott, Stuart. The Druids. London: Thames and Hudson, 1974.
Plummer, C. Lives of the Irish Saints. Oxford, 1922.
Pryce, Huw. "The Church of Trefeglwys and the End of the Celtic Charter Tradition in Twelfth-Century Wales" Cambridge Medieval Celtic Studies no.25, Summer, 1993.
Rees, Alwyn and Brinley. Celtic Heritage: Ancient Tradition in Ireland and Wales. New York:Thames and Hudson, 1989 and 1961.
Reith, Martin. God in Our Midst: Prayers and Devotions from the Celtic Tradition. 2nd edition. S.P.C.K., 1989.
Rhys, J. Lectures on the Origins and Growth of Religion as Illustrated by Celtic Heathendom. London: Williams and Norgate, 1888.
Richter, Michael. Medieval Ireland. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1988.
Roberts, W. John. Medieval Welsh Monasteries. Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 1987.
Ross, Anne. The Folklore of the Scottish Highlands. New York: Barnes and Noble, 1976.
Ryan, John. Irish Monasticism, Origins and Early Development. Dublin: Talbot Press Limited, 1931. (This remains the classic study on the subject.)
Ryan, M., ed. Ireland and Insular Art A.D. 500-1200. Dublin, 1987.
Saltain, . Prayers from the Irish Tradition. Dublin: Columba Press, 1988.
Sellner, Edward C. Wisdom of the Celtic Saints. Notre Dame, IN: Ave Maria Press, 1993.
. "A Common Dwelling: Soul Friendship in Early Celtic Monasticism" Cistercian Studies Quarterly. Vol. 29, no. 1, 1994.
Simpson, Ray. Exploring Celtic Spirituality. London: Hodder and Stoughton Ltd., 1995.
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. Confessions. (401) This is also available in numerous editions. Try Frank Sheed's translation (London and New York, 1943) or Henry Chadwick's (Oxford, 1991).
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Toulson, Shirley. The Celtic Year. Shaftesbury, Dorset: Element, 1993.
Van der Weyer, Robert. Celtic Fire. Templegate, 1990.
Virgil. The Aeneid. Have your choice of editions.
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Warren, F.E. Liturgy and Ritual of the Celtic Church, 2nd ed.. Woodbridge: Boydell Press, 1987.
Williams, Glanmor. The Welsh Church from Conquest to Reformation. Cardiff: U. of Wales Press, 1976.

MUSIC:

An�na. An�na. Dublin: Celtic Heartbeat, 1993.
An�na. Invocation. Dublin: Celtic Heartbeat, 1995.
Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo De Silos. Chant. Madrid, Spain: Angel Records, 1993.
EMI Classics. Gateway to Classical Music: Early Music. New York, NY: EMI Records, 1994.
Enya. Watermark. Burbank, CA: Reprise Productions, 1988.
. The Memory of Trees. Burbank, CA: Reprise Productions, 1996.
Hart, Don (pro.) International Hymns: Ireland. Nashville, TN: Benson Music Group, 1993.
Iona. The Book of Kells. UK: Starstruck Music, 1992.
. Journey Into the Morn. Otley, West Yorkshire, UK: Alliance Music, 1995.
Johnson, Jeff and Brian Dunning. Music From Stephen Lawhead's "Song of Albion," 1,2, and 3. Brentwood, TN: Sola Scriptura Songs (BMI), Ark Records, 1993.
. "Celtic Legends" with two stories accompanying written by Stephen Lawhead. Windham Hill Records, 1997.
LeMee, Katharine. Chant: The Origins, Forms, Practice and Healing Power of Gregorian Chant. Pharoah Audiobooks, 1994.
Millar, Will. Celtic Reverie: Women of Ireland. Quebec, Canada: Chacra Alternative Music, 1996.
Minogue, ine. The Mysts of Time: Chants and Melodies of the Ageless Celtic Lands. London: North Star Music, 1996.
Narada Collection Series. Celtic Legacy. Milwaukee, WI: Narada Production, 1995.
. Celtic Odyssey. Milwaukee, WI: Narada Production, 1993.
. Celtic Twilight. San Francisco, CA: Hearts of Space, 1994.
Pipes and Drums of the 48th Highlanders. Abide with Me. Roswell, GA: Fanfare Records, 1995.
Riverdance. Riverdance: The Show. Dublin, Ireland: A Tyrone/RTE Video, 1995.
Rykodisc. Puirt a beul (Mouth Music). Salem, MA: Triple Earth Records, 1991.

INTERESTING RELATED INTERNET SITES:

LAWHEAD SITES:

http://www.aracnet.com/~petercj/srl/ (Lawhead Mailing List)
...............same............/srl/FAQ.html (Lawhead FACT sheet)
http://www.usa.net/firebird/celt03v.htm (Lawhead music and celtic t-shirts)
http://uncg.edu/%7Emrshephe/lawhead (The unofficial Lawhead Home Page)

CELTIC SITES:

http://www,the-wire.com/culture/mythology/bi/a (Provides a reading list for basic Celtic studies including Nora Chadwick, King Arthur tales, etc.)
http://celtic.stanford.edu/pmurphy/irish.html (Provides other Celtic links)
http://celtic.stanford.edu/ceolas.html
http://sunsite.unc.edu/gaelic/gaelic.html
http://www.mountain.net:80/hp/unicorn
http://www.shsu.edu/%7Elib_maa/celt_christ.html (Lots of other links for Celtic Christianity including retreats and prilgrimages in Europe and the U.S. on the topic. There's even info. on a summer retreat in Kansas with Esther deWaal!!)
http://open.org/curtis/celtxian.html (Celtic Christian Music)
http://celticheartbeat.com/anuna.html (The homepage for my personal favorite Celtic music artists: An�na)

IRISH HISTORY AND LITERATURE:

http://wwwvms.utexas.edu/%7ejdana/irehist.html (Irish history site)
http://www.globalnet.net/elore/el-ire01.html (Irish Cultural Explorations)
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/sbook.html (Medieval Studies)
http://ccel/wheaton.edu/ (Christian Classics Ethereal Library)
http://ireland.iol.ie/kennys/ (A famous Irish bookstore in Dublin from which you can order on-line.)