Patrick

Rating:
Summary: Heresy be any other name...
Review: (Is it not interesting that the review that mentions my name is a review of my review and not a review of the book? As for the comments of the reviewer, he obviously didn't read my entire review and obviously believes that his opinion of the book is the only correct analysis. I will refrain from returning that reviewer's personal attacks.)

You can wash a pig, dress him up for dinner, and set him a place at the table, but at the end of the dinner, you've still got a pig. Same goes for dressing up heresy, especially heresy that seems to pop up over and over again in the disguise of "new revelation" or "lost knowledge" or "surpressed ideas."

It's a shame that such a talented writer as Stephen Lawhead is championing Pelagius because, at the end of 1500 years, Pelagianism is still heresy. It's dashing and romantic to pull for the underdog, but when it comes to theology, you have to put more weight on truth over personality.

Simply put, Pelagius asserts that man is basically good (not born in sin) and can obtain a sinless state through good works as modeled by Jesus. Pelagius does not leave much room for grace or propitiation though, and so in the Pelagius model, God is basically a brutal bully who sent his son into the world as a bloody, violent object lesson.

This flies in the face of Jesus' own words in John 3:14-21. In fact, in verse 21, Jesus said that "anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God." In other words, no good thing is accomplished except through God.

Jesus says that man must be born again (John 3:3) and that you do not pour new wine into old wineskins (Luke 5:37). Pelagius contends that there is no need for a new birth since all you have to do is work really hard to be good.

Pelagius is seen as having influence on the Protestant church. As far as his views on the ability to have a personal relationship with God sans clergy and the disdain for excess, this is true, but Pelagius did not stop there, and it's the castration of propitiation that earns Pelagian theology the heresy tag.

Now, how does this all relate to Patrick? The theory put forth by Lawhead is that Patrick received his theology at the hands of the Pelagian influenced early Celtic Christians. This flies in the face of centuries of scholarship conerning Patrick. Church history tells us that Patrick was appointed bishop of Ireland by Pope Celestine I, friend of Augustine (who was an theological advesary of Pelagius) after living the monastic life in Tours and Lérins. His first missionary work was with St. Germain in Britain where they primarily worked to battle Pelagian thought.

Of course, this is not popular with neo-Celtic Christians who want to make Patrick more "Celtic" and less "Roman." While early Celtic Christians, the Christians that Patrick was sent by Celestine to be bishop over, were probably heavily influenced by Pelagianism (and continue to be according to people like Karl Barth who described British Christianity as "incurably Pelagian"), Patrick would have been exposed to the theology of Augustine in his monastic life, long before setting foot in Ireland.

Don't even get me started on Lawhead's revision of Patrick's conversion experience.

Here's where the rubber hits the road for me though when it comes to Patrick: did he become more pagan in his theology after going to Ireland or did he use familiar imagery and philosophy native to Ireland in order to communicate truth to the Irish (as Paul did with other cultures on his missionary journeys).

Well, let's look to Paul who writes that God reveals himself to his creation (Romans 1:20, "From the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people[ are without excuse."). God had certainly revealed himself to the Celts. It is not suprising that the Irish embraced Christiainity so quickly since many of their beliefs and archetypal imagery meshed with the gospel preached by Patrick (let's not forget, God had already worked through Jonah to see another quick mass conversion). There are also accounts of missionaries in the US who have preached Jesus' gospel to native tribes and seen mass conversion because their archetypal imagery surrounding God matched the gospel of Christ so perfectly (and then there are the accounts of forced conversion which is evil, but that's another story entirely).

It makes more sense by far that Patrick was educated in orthodox theology, was perfectly equipped by God to be a missionary to the Irish, was given power by God to do miracles and signs, and was able to help the Irish understand that Jesus is the completion of the revelation of God to them. Far easier than the magic and heresy that Lawhead offers.

Rating:
Summary: It is supposed to be Historical Fiction
Review: Against the review below, I would caution anyone on judging someone's personal faith. Stephen Lawhead is not a new-age Christian, and he does not write evangelical tracts, or autobiographical books that tell his reader about his faith. Moreover, you can't say that you loved the book, but disagreed with the author's personal faith, so only 3 stars!

Stephen Lawhead is a professional novelist who writes historical fiction, not biographies, and not autobiographies. There is much in the book that traces St. Patrick's life, and a lot of it is accurate, certainly the 'universe' the book is set in, and all its details are authentic, but if you're looking for a footnoted, cross-referenced piece of non-fiction, this is not it. This is a great book, lively, gritty, thoughtful, and deep. I thoroughly recommend it. 5 stars.

Rating:
Summary: Lawhead reveals the mystery of God
Review: I agree wholeheartedly with the "review of the reviewers." This story was amazing. More than anything else it renewed a passion inside of me. It reminded me that our God, our Creator is full of love and mystery. That in our 'churches' and 'religions' we have forgotten the mystery of God. Maybe it didn't use the lingo that those of you who are so immersed in the current Christian culture are use to (thus the reviews that the 'religious' part was missing and the 'real christianity' was missing), but instead revealed a deeper spirituality - something I think God longs for us to search for - His mystery, His love, His creation. What I love about Lawhead's writing is that it is stripped of what we as people have created modern christianity to be, and presents a much purer depiction of who God is. I agree again with the review that asks us to open our hearts and minds to what God wants to reveal, instead of deciding for ourselves what "religion" and "real christianity" are. This book definitely opened my heart and mind and got me excited about God again... I had to laugh at the review that asked where the religion/spirituality was.

Rating:
Summary: Where was the religious part?
Review: I am a historian. I have read Patricks "Confessions" and I am fond of him. I noticed the poor ratings here but wanted to read it anyway. Lawhead+Patrick would be pretty good, right?
What an adventure! Its such an excellent story! But its like Lawhead took just bits and aspects of Patricks life and used them to make a story---with nothing about the spiritual side of Patricks experience at all. Puzzling indeed. Patrick was a nobleman, whose grandfather was a "presbyter." Yes. Patrick was captured and sold into slavery, yes. BUT he became a saint!
He prayed everyday on that lonely mountainside. Prayed and prayed. He escaped from Ireland and performed a "miracle" of sorts providing food for the sailors and he when there was none. THATS not in the book either. Its like Lawhead fleshed out Patricks story, but skipped some of the real parts. What puzzles me and saddens me is that he apparently skipped out Patricks spirituality and touch with God. Patrick seemed such a human; able to admit his faults and failings. Lawhead captures this.
Makes sense that Patrick could have experience with druids. I know about Patrick, but I don't know anything about the Ceili Dei.
You've been warned: there is NO saint to this Patrick. Even if there is a sequel, Lawhead will have to address spirituality and Patricks dealing with God and the church eventually---besides just the prologue and epilogue. Strange.
The story is adventurous and good; but its truly lacking the christianity and heart of Saint Patrick.

Rating:
Summary: A book of epic proportions
Review: I am a steady fan of Stephen Lawhead; his writing is compelling. interesting, yet often contains several consistent themes (particularly cultural and spiritual) that make him predictable in a GOOD way.
Most of the Lawhead books I have read are of the Pengragon persuasion - several parts, and require an investment of significant time, again, a GOOD thing. So, I was questioning reading this book about St. Patrick - significant saint -who Lawhead thinks he can write about in only ONE tome!
Well, Lawhead can do it. He ably and remarkably covers the major part of this man's life, engrossing the reader and telling a fascinating and mystical tale. Is it historically accurate? I highly doubt it - but this is why it is under the FICTION section! Is it theologically orthodox? Not really....but Lawhead never makes claims to be a theologian.
This is a fun story that is involving and interesting.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful story, wonderfully told
Review: I didn't have much of any opinion about St. Patrick before I read this book. Truthfully, I wasn't too interested. But this book has changed forever the way I will look at this saint - and possibly a lot of other things as well. Lawhead presents such a beguiling world, I was immediately drawn in and wanted to live there.

Heck, I did live there while I was reading. I shivered with cold on the mountain with the mad shepherd Madog, and ached with pain when the king's champion beat me ... I mean, Succat. (Hint: he wasn't always called Patrick. In fact, he had four names. I'm not giving anything away, it says so right in the front of the book.)

Not being a historian, I don't know how much of what happened in the book really happened in real life. But it is Lawhead's special talent to make you believe it could have happened just this way, and probably did. At least, he convinced me. I'm going back for more - I think Byzantium will be next on my list.

Rating:
Summary: HISTORICAL FICTION WITH EMPHASIS ON THE "FICTION"
Review: I have to say I really enjoyed this book. Lawhead is definitely a great writer and the book is filled with tense,gripping scenes and vivid characters! That being said,however...the story contained herein bears little resemblance to anything that could be called TRUE historicity. Lawhead was continually trying to break away from the known facts about Patricius, or put his own modern spin on them. I was disappointed to find out he's obviously one of these people who's sympathetic to neo-paganism and its historical revisionism. He seems to think that Patrick was a heavy-handed religious zealot who through force established his way. He's ashamed of that or doesn't like it, and so has changed it into this modern, politically correct order of events.I've never once seen one of these people come out and admit that Patrick or any missionary,for that matter, was a stranger in a strange land and STILL somehow managed to start the conversion of a whole people.Could it be, just maybe, that the people THEMSELVES looked at christianity and decided that it was the way to go? After all,Patrick had only a handful of followers, and even if you discount the miracles that he's said to have worked against his opposition, he still had a whole country full of druids to stand against him.Maybe the people of the time(the world over) decided that they liked the message of love and forgiveness that Patrick and others preached.Lawhead makes his bias known:in real life, Patrick joined the church(maybe because he felt a rapport with god,imagine!!!)and then worked his way up through the ranks, eventually being sent to Ireland as a bishop for the church. But Lawhead can't stand this. He scrapped all of that TRUE history to tell one that he likes alot better. Patrick was a magic-working druid himself, part of a sect within the druid order that worshipped Esu, or Jesus. Lawhead prefers the "celtic christianity" concept to real christianity, and indeed there is very little real christianity in this book. Now, that is just fine, but the REAL Patrick loved God. It's in his very own letters, a couple of which still exist. While I love a good story, which this admittedly is, and I admire creativity and inventivenes, which Mr. Lawhead undoubtedly has in spades, I do crave a little more historical FACT in my historical fiction, if you know what I mean.Mr Lawhead is a very good writer, one that I wouldn't hesitate to read again, but reading this book really struck a nerve with me. Every time I look around my own country I see christianity being stomped into the dirt and reviled while pagan revivals like wicca and druidism are exalted. The modern versions of these religions that people willingly set aside centuries ago are being taken up again by people whose middle name is FAD.It's a sad day when a person can't speak in public of Jesus but can talk about Odin,Thor,Zeus,the Mother Goddess, or any other PAGAN deity. I really expected this book to have a Patrick that was more attuned to real christianity,but that alas, wouldn't be politically correct.

Rating:
Summary: Some Reviewers Still Missing the Point
Review: I just read the so-called review below and it made me so mad, I had to write. Read reviewer Carpenter and you'd think Mr. Lawhead had written the entire life story of Pelagius, when the truth is he's hardly even mentioned! Pelagius appears only briefly in one small scene; he and Patrick meet, and they don't even talk about theology. Mr. Lawhead isn't 'championing' Pelagius, far from it -- he only suggests the two men may have met. What's the big deal about that? Methinks Carpenter protests too much. He reminds me of the kind of loudmouth 'know-it-all' jerk who has all the answers before they even hear the question. (On second thought, if Mr. Lawhead wanted to write a book about Pelagius, I'm sure it would be tremendous; I know I'd want to read it.)

When I finished Patrick and read what some 'reviewers' were writing here, I decided to look into it and guess what? Pelagius was indeed indicted on charges of heresy; he stood trial, all alone; and was acquited! That's right. The pope heard the evidence first hand, he ruled, and Pelagius was found innocent and he walked away a free man! It wasn't until after Pelagius died -- and could no longer defend himself against all the lies -- that his enemies were able to get a corrupt pope to rule against him. That sucks.

Furthermore, despite what some 'know-it-alls' obviously think, nobody really knows what Pelagius taught -- only what his enemies said he taught -- because they burned all his work. Carpenter blindly accepts the lies. And as for Patrick being a member of the Roman church, wrong. He wasn't adopted by the Roman church until hundreds of years after his death. Sure, you'll find plenty of speculation about him, but no hard evidence. In fact, almost everthing supposedly 'known' and taught about Patrick is now in doubt by serious historians -- even the things he wrote about himself. In other words, the more you learn about St. Patrick, the more you know you don't know. During all those 'centuries of scholarship' Carpenter refers to, scholars were mostly barking up the wrong tree. Carpenter is barking with them.

I think Mr. Lawhead has done a tremendous job putting flesh on the bones of a figure who is a real historical enigma. And anyway, the book isn't about Patrick the saint -- it's about a real warts-and-all man who lived a fascinating life and struggled to find his place, and who would one day become a saint. What is more, the more I learn about the history of the Celtic world, the more I'm inclined to think Mr. Lawhead has got it right, and it could have happened just this way.


Rating:
Summary: Just so you know..
Review: I really enjoyed this book. I am writing this review because you should know that it does contain profanity and sexual situations even though it is published by Zondervan. I am not condeming it but, when I bought it at my local Christian bookstore I didn't expect those things. Just so you know.

Rating:
Summary: PATRICIUS - THE EARLY YEARS
Review: It should be noted that this book does not in any substantial way cover the Christian teachings of St.Patrick in Eire. The story is about his incredible journey leading up to his eventual prophecy - those looking for the devote religious aspects of his life should look elsewhere. Additionally, those that believe Saints are born Saints may also not want to read this story - Patrick (Succat) is very much a flawed individual (like us all). The story, as some have suggested, is not a subtle rant against the Catholic Church nor is it a condemnation of the Pagan religion - readers of Lawhead will recognize the style, especially those who've read The Iron Lance & Byzantium (in my opinion his best works).
His journey was incredible and Lawhead keeps the story popping right along - if you're a fan of SL or simply curious as to the events leading up his teaching in Ireland, then read this story. If you're looking for "the Saint" aspect of his life - then this read probably isn't for you. Final thought: a lot of the early details of Patrick's life are not known, such as his actual birthplace - SL had to take a guess on many events and despite what some of the other nitpicker say, I think he succeeds.
Enjoy!