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The Original Columban Church up to the Abbotship of Adamnan and ----
The
Spirituality and Politics of Present Day Europe .
(
There is a link to a dedicated reference page at the foot
of this Witness)
In
Christ's Name, and therefore in the Gift of Grace alone
- Amen.
(Amen
throughout having the meaning - The Lord's Will Be.)
None
of what follows is stated emotively or in judgement. Facts
are stated and what cannot be confirmed as fact is thus
described.
The
saying "history repeats itself" personifies history and
causes us to reflect upon the influence of humankind therein.
We are then presented with the question -- and what
of God?
In
the context of the Spiritual and hence political struggle
in Columba's time and subsequently between Iona and Rome
it is essential to reflect upon the imperative therein for
today. Let us as a Community learn from hindsight as a Blessing
for the future as God intends through the hand of humankind.
The
purpose of this particular Witness is to enable those of
us as so choose to briefly research these matters for ourselves
in order that we may discern, and thus understand when the
changes come. In other words to enable us as "the people
in common-unity to decide" and thus regain our Sovereignty
of Scotia as servants to the wider community of humanity
. With this in mind this second "Current Issue" sets
out some facts; gives some associated references two of
which are fully available on the Web; and poses some related
questions to The Iona Community. A manifesto in the form
of a retrospective, yet still current personal statement
is given after the Witness of which it is not therefore
a part.
Ecumenism
- what did it mean to Columba, what does it mean today?
All denominations of the Christian religion (as distinct
from faith) in Britain presumably hold the Columban Church
in high regard and find no fault with it. Yet today we cannot
agree amongst ourselves as to how to be "one". One reason
for this is surely that the regard expressed by one
or more of the present day denominations for the Columban
Church has to be examined in an historical context. In other
words, do all denominations express a regard for the same
Columban Church, bearing in mind that its Spirituality
is reported in some accounts to have changed markedlyfrom
the time of Adamnan up to its dis-establishment by The Synod
of Whitby in 644.AD. In this regard the present day Roman
Catholic Church sets itself apart by introducing firstly
a dichotomy and secondly, a European wide context in the
wording of the papal encyclical on ecumenism Ut unum sint
"So THEY may be one", as distinct
from so WE may be one. Some questions
therefore arise :-
- Is there a Celtic
Church Spiritual today. Could there be, should there be, need there
be?
- To what extent
has the doctrine of the Roman Church changed since Columba's
time?
- In the context
of a Federal Europe, what is the likelihood of a European
Federal Church in Britain?
- What would its
relationship be to the Vatican (political) State, and
thus its politics?
- In relation to
the three previous questions what is the relevance of
"the sovereignty of the people" in The Iona Community;Scotia;
and this dis-united Kingdom?
- What is
the sovereignty of the people, is it of
the head or Heart? Is it presently voiced in the Iona
Community; Council Chambers; Church temporal, and either
Parliament?
- If so,to what
extent is it heard? If it is not heard, then by definition
it is not sovereignty.
Let
us consider firstly The Church of Columba, and then Columba's
politics. Having done so we can reflect upon the Spiritual
Unitybetween each in Columba's time. From the considerable
literature on Columba; St.Ninian; the Scots; the
Picts and Britons it can be readily established that a large
part of Caledonia was already Christian well before Columba's
time. What then of Columba's mission? Firstly to convert
the Picts west of Drum Alban, the mountainous barrier between
east and west Caledonia. Secondly to plant a Monarchy in
the Dalriada of the Scots in Caledonia.
This
Monarchy was the Blessing of the entire U.K. through Kenneth
MacAlpin and ultimately James the Sixth of Scotland and
First of England. MacAlpin united the Scots and Pictish
nations, he did not however unite the two very different
churches. Long before MacAlpins time the original Columban
Church had all but ceased to exist having been dis-established
at The Synod of Whitby in 644 with the assent of the Pictish
King Nectan in favour of the Church of Rome from which it
had always been Spiritually if not politically independent.
It was however the true Catholic Church. Its Spiritual and
political "lineage" was that of Martin of Tours, St. Ninian,
andSt. Patrick to Columba.
The
Monarchy planted by Columba is of great antiquity going
back through the annals of the Irish Dalriadian Court to
Scythia, thence to very ancient times. In this regard
we also note the reference to Scythia in our own Declaration
of Arbroath which also confirms the Sovereignty of the people,
and the Monarch as King or Queen of Scots as distinct from
Scotland. The full details of these historical facts
can be read in the references given in the attached "References
Page", two of which are accessible on line with the given
hypertext link. The chapter summaries alone, listed as one
page in one of the references make compelling reading.
The
significance of one group of the Scythian peoples lies in
their antiquity and identity and hence their association
with Monarchy which brings us up to the moment in these
isles with the Fabian Society which is closely linked to
New Labour. This would have us,the people, dis-establish
temporal Monarchy. In these times we must reflect upon what
temporal monarchy represents and therefore to whom it is
accountable. Within the framework of the repetition of history
and in the context of the politics of present day Europe
the following summary is our focal issue as individual and
collective stewards of The Community intended to represent
The Church of Scotia, that is of Columba, Ninian, and Moluag.
It describes the past / present, and Spiritual / temporal
predicament of Scotia relative to Europe. Some writers contradict
each other, some points cannot be proven. We must however
through individual prayer come to a conclusion as a basis
for action, as to do nothing of substance -- is to
act! It is confirmed however that "Current Issue
No.1" remains extant, and therefore requires to be addressed
in the first instance.
In
common-unity, are we to apprehend the Spirituality of The
Columban Church as distinct from seeking (at all) to rediscover;
comprehend; possess, or otherwise attempt to dictate or
manipulate Holy Spirit? If so, we must first ask the question
of ourselvesindividually and collectively - Is Spirituality
lost, or are we? If the latter, are we to re-discover ourselves
by saying individually or collectively "I'm going this
way" (consciously or otherwise) and expect Spirituality
to follow in our wake?
This
paragraph is written in friendship. The response to this
entire Witness to all members and associates of The
Iona Community individually and collectively to date
has been silence. The exceptions being four or five brief
"complaints" which made no specific or substantive
points, some requesting anonymity This silence if of the
graveyard. There is no hiding place in The Garden. To hide
in silence is to give cognizance to a battle. As Peace is
within, so also are all battles - any other perception is
the illusion of Maya. Yet-- still; in the midst of silence
- Silence reigns. Amen.
Many
are the perspectives in the literature on Columba and his
Church. Few, enter into a detailed discussion of the relationship
if anybetween Columba and the King. Columba's role as a
King maker and his own royal blood are referred to. What
however was his Spiritual relationship to Kingship? To answer
this we must consider the nature of Monarchy from Melchizedek
to Prince Charles - from Columba to the pope! If indeed
history does repeat itself as was stated at the start of
this Witness, then we must conclude for the moment by asking:-
What of the once and future King?
Summary
Points .
The
Past
Spiritual
- Doctrine and organization
of Columban Church separate from Rome. No Marioloty or
Popery. Neither of these terms are used emotively. They
refer to the error of acknowledging the supremacy of both
over The Christ. Abbot or Presbyter independent of Rome./
Different date for Easter/ Sabbath was Saturday, the seventh
day of the week/ no transubstantiation 12 th century introduction
by French monk/ no Roman tonsure.
- Said to have practised
absolution by the priest. This, together with salvation
by good works (penance) is not Scriptural.
- Dis-establishment
of the Columban Church by The Synod of Whitby in 644
- Declaration of
Arbroath (1320) as Spiritual declaration by the people
of the sovereignty of the people represented by the Monarch
who could be discharged by the people's Sovereignty.
Temporal
- Scythians root
race of Scots and Picts. (please see reference page for
C.I. No2, - hyperlink at foot of this present page)
- Roman invasion
of Britain.
- 200 years subsequent
to MacAlpin to unite the two very different Caledonian
Christian churches.
- Queen Margaret
attempts to finally rid Scotland of the Culdees of the
Pictish (or Columban?) Church.
- First crusades
reported to have been waged against Culdees in Alpine
Europe.
- Culdees in St.
Andrews up to the time of The Reformation.
The
Present
Spiritual
- Unless the Roman
doctrine of claimed papal infallibility is specifically
and publically retracted it remains the basis of the lie
of claimed human Divinity. Divinity has no need to claim,
indeed The Prodigal cannot claim his / her inheritance
- its return is a gift. Amen. The very act of claiming
establishes the absence of Divinity.
- Salvation by good
works (penance) and absolution of one human being by another
even by association; and especially in a direct lineage
of claimed authority to a human being claiming Divinity.
- Referring to the
first bullet point in the Spiritual section above, no
significant change in the doctrine of the Roman Church
has occurred since Columba's time.
- Sceptre removed
from present day temporal Monarchy of Britain. This may
be seen as opinion. So be it.
Temporal
- European Commission
of unelected bureaucrats. What are Religious affinities
thereof individually and collectively, and the ratios
of each therein? This Commission virtually decides
upon everything from "warfare to welfare, from taxes to
treaties" with the European Parliament mostly as a sounding
board.
- The proposed European
constitution may not be subject to a referendum in Britain.
A last minute additional clause states that future amendments
to this constitution will be made without any consultation
with individual nation states. This is the foundation
of temporal world government which is anathema to the
governance of The Monarchy of The Christ.
- E.U. "dic-tats"
of which there are about ninety per week have already
focused upon the need to monitor the activities of
religious "sects" ie non mainstream churches. The Iona
Community could credibly be so classified. This together
with a European wide policing and the abolition of trial
by jury should cause concern in the Community -- NOW!
- Within Scotland
there are those who "do not believe in referenda in any
circumstances". At least one member of the clergy holds
this view -- and this within The Iona Community.
At a time when our future constitution has been drafted
by a French national!
- Powers and Principalities
operating through the body politic manifesting as:- New
Labour's: Spin ie (lies). Non accountability / unelected
advisors chairing government committees / arrogance /
and leverage on Monarchy. Democracy could be said to be
dis-enfranchised by UK party politics. What then
of Europe!
- Tony Blair's possible
future in Europe on present record of deceit / Likelihood
of European Federal Church?
The
Importance of Sovereignty
Sovereignty
arises from identity and thus ultimately from the Will of
God as The All , in All. Amen. Identity is the determinant
of will in both God and human. The first Divine, the second
temporal. To lose identity is therefore to lose the faculty
of will and thus the Blessing of God's purpose intended
through us all as so choose (having been chosen) individually
or as a community of individuals. To deny our true identity
is to lose it. Is identity an "it"? To lose our identity
is to become part of someone elses identity and thus their
purpose, consciously or otherwise.
This
is what happened to Columba's Church. The leader, be it
Adamnan or a later successor of Columba failed to Witness
as Truthand thus lost the true identity of The Christ. Similarly
the community failed to Witness before the apostate leader
and thus the Columban Church lost its Spiritual
identity and became part of the identity and purpose of
another.
Summative
Statement .
These
Isles of Britain have experienced two Roman invasions. The
first by Rome's military, the second by the Roman Church
headed by St. Augustine. Scotland had long since been led
to the true Catholic Faith as distinct from the Roman
Catholic Religion by Ninian and his predecessors. The fact
of The Synod of Whitby bears witness to this invasion of
stealth as far as Columba's Church was concerned.
Now we are experiencing the invasion of the Roman body politic
in the form of the proposed (act of) Federation of
Europe. Despite the expanse of time between these invasions
and their apparently different forms - THEY are
one! Again this may be seen as opinion.
Regarding
the Romanisation of the Christian Church in Dalriada, and
Caledonia there are contradictory accounts in the copious
medieval and nineteenth century literature. Please
see the detailed references and comments in the references
page associated with this present Current Issue. There
is a link below . Some would have it that the Columban
Church was Romanised in the time of Adamnan, others that
the Pictish Christian Church was first to be Romanised under
King Nectan . Either way it is a fact that it took some
two hundred years after the time of Kenneth MacAlpin to
unite the two churches of Scotland with Dunkeld as
its centre. United they ultimately were as The Roman Catholic
Church in Scotland until The Reformation. Some say a harsh
cure not to avoid or evade an even more harsh alternative
- but an opportunity to learn from our mistakes. The time
to apply this learning has now come upon us.
Perhaps
the clergy of all denominations within The Iona Community
may care to resolve these issues for us, or the Community's
historian? When such an exercise is put in hand it will
be useful to recall that Columba as an indepent Abbot had
no need of ecumenism - the word did not exist there was
no need of it. Neither was there worship of any human
being. Worship being defined as the acknowledgement of supremacy.
Personal
Statement
- I am employed
by The Wind of Change in the resurrection of The Church
Without Walls as an earnest of Christ's Politic of Unity,
as distinct from man's religion of ecumenism. Amen.
Thank
you for reading this Witness.
Click
HERE
for Reference Page Relating to
Current Issue. No2 .
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