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Author Topic: Not sure about this book  (Read 2737 times)

Faeblvr

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Not sure about this book
« on: January 27, 2012, 09:35:53 am »
I'm currently reading a book called "Celtic Myth and Legends" by T.W. Rolleston
and I'm not sure I like it, it seems to have some Christian overtones and I was
wondering if anyone here has read it and what they thought of it?

Thanks,
Tracie

Smokebender

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Re: Not sure about this book
« Reply #1 on: January 27, 2012, 12:56:56 pm »
Quote from: Faeblvr;40415
I'm currently reading a book called "Celtic Myth and Legends" by T.W. Rolleston
and I'm not sure I like it, it seems to have some Christian overtones and I was
wondering if anyone here has read it and what they thought of it?

Thanks,
Tracie


I haven't read it myself. I prefer to steer away from anything Christian due to not being a Christian believer. I feel if I were to try and practice something I have doubts about, the practice would offer no results or possibly backfire.
For human folly is without limit though society does much to
disguise its darker side. Cynicism, sadness or laughter is the
magician\'s privilege. -  Peter Carrol / Liber Null

Faeblvr

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Re: Not sure about this book
« Reply #2 on: January 27, 2012, 03:53:55 pm »
Quote from: Smokebender;40440
I haven't read it myself. I prefer to steer away from anything Christian due to not being a Christian believer. I feel if I were to try and practice something I have doubts about, the practice would offer no results or possibly backfire.

 
I'm not sure you could call it Christian per se, i just am seeing some overtones.

Celtag

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Re: Not sure about this book
« Reply #3 on: January 27, 2012, 04:12:52 pm »
Quote from: Faeblvr;40455
I'm not sure you could call it Christian per se, i just am seeing some overtones.
I've never read it, it seems to get some good reviews though. It was written a long time ago in 1911, so some of the information could be outdated. I would say give it shot and see what ya get out of it.
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cigfran

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Re: Not sure about this book
« Reply #4 on: January 27, 2012, 04:49:37 pm »
Quote from: Faeblvr;40455
I'm not sure you could call it Christian per se, i just am seeing some overtones.

 
My understanding is that for most people born or living in Ireland, 'Celticness' is essentially inseparable from Christianity. So much of what we think of as Insular Celtic cultural form and content is a product of Christian thought and production. You're sort of going to have to get used to it, especially when you start digging into Arthuriana.

Faeblvr

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Re: Not sure about this book
« Reply #5 on: January 27, 2012, 10:18:22 pm »
Quote from: cigfran;40462
My understanding is that for most people born or living in Ireland, 'Celticness' is essentially inseparable from Christianity. So much of what we think of as Insular Celtic cultural form and content is a product of Christian thought and production. You're sort of going to have to get used to it, especially when you start digging into Arthuriana.

 
Ok, I'll keep that in mind, since this is my first book, I have a long way to go. :)

Melamphoros

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Re: Not sure about this book
« Reply #6 on: January 27, 2012, 10:39:22 pm »
Quote from: Celtag;40458
I've never read it, it seems to get some good reviews though. It was written a long time ago in 1911, so some of the information could be outdated. I would say give it shot and see what ya get out of it.

 
It is best to stay away from books that old for precisely this reason.  That and the scholarly methods used back then tend to make modern day scholars cringe.t

To the OP: If you are interested in Celtic Mythology, you could try some of the books on our suggested reading list.


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cigfran

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Re: Not sure about this book
« Reply #7 on: January 27, 2012, 10:43:53 pm »
Quote from: Faeblvr;40530
Ok, I'll keep that in mind, since this is my first book, I have a long way to go. :)

First book? Ah...

Please allow me to recommend:

Celtic Mythology, Proinsias MacCana
http://www.amazon.com/Celtic-Mythology-Proinsias-MacCana/dp/0600006476

The Tain, Thomas Kinsella, tr.
http://www.amazon.com/Tain-Thomas-Kinsella/dp/0192803735

These are much closer to the 'purer' sources that I think you may be looking for. And the Tain is just a great story :)



Edit: apologies for crossposting with the staff. The reading list is a great starting place, and of course includes Kinsella's Tain.
« Last Edit: January 27, 2012, 10:48:20 pm by cigfran »

Faeblvr

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Re: Not sure about this book
« Reply #8 on: January 27, 2012, 10:58:01 pm »
Quote from: cigfran;40543
First book? Ah...

Please allow me to recommend:

Celtic Mythology, Proinsias MacCana
http://www.amazon.com/Celtic-Mythology-Proinsias-MacCana/dp/0600006476

The Tain, Thomas Kinsella, tr.
http://www.amazon.com/Tain-Thomas-Kinsella/dp/0192803735

These are much closer to the 'purer' sources that I think you may be looking for. And the Tain is just a great story :)



Edit: apologies for crossposting with the staff. The reading list is a great starting place, and of course includes Kinsella's Tain.

 
I already have alot of the books on my wishlist at amazon, going to have to get them as I go but to answer why I'm reading this one.  I found it in a used book store for 5 bucks and grabbed it.  Thanks for the input

Tracie

Smokebender

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Re: Not sure about this book
« Reply #9 on: January 27, 2012, 11:47:45 pm »
Quote from: Faeblvr;40455
I'm not sure you could call it Christian per se, i just am seeing some overtones.

 
Many belief systems have Christian overtones to some degree or another.

The Bible had Noah and the great flood. Traditional cherokee beliefs have The People living in the sky vault because the world was covered with water. Beetle was sent down to bring a mud ball up to form the first bit of land. Buzzard flew around and dried the ground with his wings. Where his wings touched the ground formed the Mountains and Valley's.
 
 The Navajo lived on a Mountain top in the beginning because the world was flooded. I don't recall the rest of the story so I won't try and repeat any of it.

Geronimo foretold his own death and was correct. So did Jesus.

These aren't the only stories I've read where other cultures have stories with similarites to Christian beliefs.
One wonders if there isn't a bit of truth in all things.
For human folly is without limit though society does much to
disguise its darker side. Cynicism, sadness or laughter is the
magician\'s privilege. -  Peter Carrol / Liber Null

spoOk

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Re: Not sure about this book
« Reply #10 on: January 28, 2012, 01:26:29 am »
Quote from: Smokebender;40558
Many belief systems have Christian overtones to some degree or another.

The Bible had Noah and the great flood. Traditional cherokee beliefs have The People living in the sky vault because the world was covered with water. Beetle was sent down to bring a mud ball up to form the first bit of land. Buzzard flew around and dried the ground with his wings. Where his wings touched the ground formed the Mountains and Valley's.
 
 The Navajo lived on a Mountain top in the beginning because the world was flooded. I don't recall the rest of the story so I won't try and repeat any of it.

Geronimo foretold his own death and was correct. So did Jesus.

These aren't the only stories I've read where other cultures have stories with similarites to Christian beliefs.
One wonders if there isn't a bit of truth in all things.

 
being similar to is not the same as having overtones of.
overtones speak to being influenced by....being similar to just means its either coincidental or as you sed 'a bit of truth in all things'.
Ize bel zafen.
Ize bel daleen.

Fagan_the_Pagan

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Re: Not sure about this book
« Reply #11 on: January 29, 2012, 05:51:38 am »
Quote from: Faeblvr;40415
I'm currently reading a book called "Celtic Myth and Legends" by T.W. Rolleston and I'm not sure I like it, it seems to have some Christian overtones and I was wondering if anyone here has read it and what they thought of it?

NOTE: I have not read this particular book, so these comments are on Celtic Myths and Legends in my general experience.
 
One needs to remember that the Pagan Celts never wrote any of their myths and legends down.  Theirs was a strictly oral tradition.  They weren't written down until the catholic monks copied them down, so any of the myths are going to have a Christian filter applied to them.  It's just one of the frustrations with Celtic source material.

Sometimes it is overt, sometimes it is subtle, and sometimes the Christian references seem haphazardly shoved in, like the Children of Lir suddenly being baptized as Christians at the end of the tale by the same name.
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