capthowdy said:
I've read the history, the irish were there before 600 ad, though they were called gaels, they've been on that island since before the picts landed in britainia. I also know that when they couldn't be converted peacfully force was used........but this is getting way off topic and I'm not here to start some kind of crusade, forgive me for almost ranting there, I've got enough enemies I don't need more........*shuts up*
No sweat.
The Celts (or Irish Gaelics) arrived circa 400-350 BC. After the fall of Rome, and St. Patrick's time on Ireland (he was a British born citizen of Rome), circa 562 AD, the Irish took to heart (among other things), the love of writing. They not only wrote, they transcribed from one language to many others, all they could find in print. They also had an interesting sense of wit, in that they would pen annecdotes in the margines of the pages they wrote.
More important is the fact that for 150 or so years, their works literally kept the world from sociologically going back to the stone age. And they became monks, Abbots and "Abbesses" (female priests of the catholic order). Besides being teachers to all who would come to the island (most children of European feudal lords were sent there for education), they also preached the Christian doctrine (ala Irish style), traveling throughout Europe to do so.
When the Vatican sent an emmisary troop to Ireland to commend them for their good works for the church, the Bishops of Rome were shocked to find that a great many of the priests of Ireland were women. They promptly ordered their "guard" to dispatch these heathen heretics. However much to their shock and dismay, the guards and Bishops found their own throats threatened by the business end of double edged swords, held by the very women they were about to teach a lesson to.
(Irish monks were also warriors of significant stature).
The Abbesses got to remain ordained priests, needless to say, and the scribes continued to translate everything they could get their hands on...including the Bible. They left out no part, however there was no shortage of comments in the margines about things they found non logical, ludicrious, or hypocritical.
Ireland was never converted forcefully, thanks to Patricus (St. Patrick). See the Irish warriors were not afraid of dying, before Patrick, they were afraid of living. When Patrick came along (the second time), they were ready and ripe for the message of living hope. They ate the word up and were hungry for more.
Some argue that Christianity is what killed the blood lust in the Irish soul, and hence what caused them to become subjugated by the Norsemen after 750 AD.
For more on the subject, I suggest "How the Irish saved Civilization" by Thomas Cahill. Here is a link for further commentary:
http://www.allaboutirish.com/library/bookrev/rev-saved.shtm
Once you pick up the book, it is hard to put down.
I can tell you, you'll find that the Irish never removed a period from any books they transcribed, especially not the Bible. Though they had no problems making fun of parts of it...
v/r
Q