Abstract
In early medieval Ireland, the process of the interaction between indigenous society and incoming Roman Christianity was saliently characterised by the forging of a more or less symbiotic relationship, one of continuity rather than radical discontinuity between the old ways and the incoming new. Aspects included the use of Irish language, rituals, and symbols within the new religion, as the major concern during this early period was how to create a composite religion that was authentically Irish and Christian. The outcome was slow, becoming fully realised over several centuries, in contrast with societies such as the Jukun, caught at the cusp of rapid change in the 19th and 20th centuries.
‘[I]n Ireland scholars and bishops were also busy with the old traditions, seeking to create a hybrid, composite culture which would be both wholly Irish and wholly Christian.’ – (Carey 2011, 11)
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Elawa, N.I. (2020). The Past in the Present: Evidence from Early Christian Ireland. In: Understanding Religious Change in Africa and Europe: Crossing Latitudes. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-42180-9_7
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