Description:
A Passion for Justice explores the early Irish or Celtic Story of people and personalities, their stories part history, part myth; in Celtic perspective both powerful means of recognising truthful ethics. It is important to recognise the context for early Irish social ethics so the text explores the lives of some Celtic saints and their socio-ethical praxis. From this Johnston McMaster identifies key Celtic socio-ethical themes and connects these with the contemporary challenge to build an ethical community, inclusive of human and environmental relationships.

The chapters on social ethics, in characteristic Celtic style, have a triune structure. Each chapter begins with an overview of a contemporary ethical issue, followed by an exploration of biblical perspectives. The chapters then develop insights from the early Irish and Celtic tradition using early poetry and writings. The focus on the Irish Celtic experience is not intended to exclude other Celtic regions, but to show within an Irish context, and in the contemporary context of an Irish peace process, that there is a rich Irish Celtic ethical tradition with contemporary resonance. The final chapter explores the spirituality of Celtic ethics, the spiritual resources that inspired, motivated and shaped ethical praxis. The early Celtic Christian heritage echoes across the centuries and fires our imagination and commitment at a key moment in Irish history. McMaster suggests that, as explorers of history, we can become history makers. Out of a shared past a just peace and a shared future can be built. In connecting to the social ethics of the Irish Celtic tradition, we are, in the words of the medieval mystic Eckhart, ‘Back in the house you never left.’

Written to meet the requirements of the new AS/A2 curriculum in Religious Studies for Northern Ireland this book will appeal to all with an interest in Celtic Christianity.

Dr Johnston McMaster is Lecturer and Programme Co-ordinator of Education for Reconciliation Programme in Northern Ireland, Irish School of Ecumenics, Trinity College Dublin, Belfast.