In the House of Memory: Ancient Celtic Wisdom for Everyday Life [Hardcover]

Steve Rabey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1998

At a time when many people are seeking out the comforts of traditional beliefs, but remain wary of overly confining disciplines, Celtic spirituality offers something for almost everyone. A living faith combining the past and the present, Celtic belief brings together the ancient Irish pagan worship of nature and spirits with a vigorous Christianity and celebration in word and song. This handsome and informative volume is an ideal introduction to the world of Celtic belief, tracing its origins from Druidic practices, to the conversion of Ireland by St. Patrick, to the modern interest in Celtic history and mythology. Each chapter traces a particular theme of Celtic life--love of the land, seeing the world as sacred, soul friendship, and the power of silence--and suggests how these traditions can be kept as a vital part of our own lives. Perfect for browsing or personal reflection, In The House Of Memory is a volume of spiritual comfort and lasting wisdom.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Anything Celtic seems all the rage these days, whether it's the kitschy steps of Riverdance or the more spiritual explorations of Thomas Cahill's How the Irish Saved Civilization. Steve Rabey, a veteran religion journalist, briefs the reader on the pre-Christian roots of Celtic spirituality and follows up with an account of the Christianization of pagan beliefs and practices and the full flowering of Celtic spirituality. If this book has a weakness, it may be the author's tendency to pooh-pooh connections between any spiritual tradition and institutional religionAin this case, Roman Catholicism. The assumption seems to be that organized religion had nothing to do with the development of what is best, deepest and most beautiful about Celtic spirituality; therefore, we may ignore it today. In spite of such criticisms, Rabey retells the stories of monks and monasteries, celebrates the Celtic affection for silence, solitude and prayer, and the Celtic love for learning in a manner that is irresistible.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Steve Rabey's articles have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, Christianity Today, and New Age Journal. He is the coauthor, with John Michael Talbot, of The Lessons of Saint Francis and lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Adult (November 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525944095
• ISBN-13: 978-0525944096
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,384,343 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The title says it all..., May 18, 2000

By 

Scott Berkhimer "www.theopraxis.net" (Jeffersonville, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: In the House of Memory: Ancient Celtic Wisdom for Everyday Life (Paperback)

In the House of Memory was a fantastic read. Well-researched and well-written, it's the kind of book that can't be fully digested in one reading. Steve Rabey does a wonderful job of bringing the reader into the time of the Celts and making him or her feel at home. I found the content to be truly inspiring. Within the pages of this book, one who is weary of modern spirituality and the shallowness of contemporary culture will find an oasis of depth and meaning. The stories of Celtic saints will challenge anyone, and Rabey's practical insights on ways to integrate their spirituality into a modern lifestyle gives the work great practical value. This is one I'll read again and again.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Ambivalent, January 9, 2003

By 

Paul Bramer (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In the House of Memory: Ancient Celtic Wisdom for Everyday Life (Paperback)

I think the 1 to 5 stars spread in the 2 reviews posted at this time says a lot. The book is very good AND very poor. Very good in that it has a wealth of information and one can pick up and start reading almost anywhere and glean something. Very poor in the paper and picture quality and in the organization. It is as if the author has too much to say and so it just tumbles out. However, I did think that the scope of the book was good and the the "sidebars" were well done. The index helps; the table of contents does not. It is a fairly good book as a 2nd or 3rd book on Celtic spirituality. Start with Mitton's "Soul of Celtic Spirituality" or Bradley's "The Celtic Way."

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars DISAPPOINTING, August 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: In the House of Memory: Ancient Celtic Wisdom for Everyday Life (Paperback)

I was disappointed in this book. While it is intended to be an overview of the Celtic tradition, both before and after Christianity, I found it to be annoyingly superficial. His suggestions for applying certain traits of the Celts to our lives reminded me of some really poor "self-help" books I've come across. I realize that this book just wasn't for me; but for anyone desiring an excellent introduction to the Celtic tradition and Celtic Christianity, I would highly recommend "Celtic Christianity" by Timothy Joyce. Another very good recent find was "Listening for the Heartbeat of God" by Newell.