Shortly before and during our trip to the UK, I read The Naked Hermit: A Journey to the Heart of Celtic Britain by Nick Mayhew-Smith. I do not recommend this book to anyone. It is not because it is bad book. It is because of the type of book it is and I know no one who might like this type of book.
It is a Celtic Christianity historical travelogue and that is the reason I read it. He is trying to tell of current places you can visit and their historical significance. But, its organization is non-linear. I like linear.
He organizes it by creation features (trees, mountains, water, etc.). He tries to dispel the myth that Celtic Christianity was a syncretism of paganism. He actually shows how Celtic Christianity redeemed pagan beliefs by showing God’s power over creation while respecting creation because of the first command in Genesis.
I have found it hard to define Celtic Christianity to others and I like his definition. ‘Celtic’ in this book simply refers to the expressions of Christian faith that developed in Britain when it was somewhat isolated from the continental church.
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