Patrick converting Ireland is a fable

On these points, reputable scholars make some surprising admissions. Irish Catholic historians relate that "traditionally… Saint Patrick has been credited with converting the entire Irish race from paganism in the very short period between 432 and 461… however, we have to admit that there were certainly Christians in Ireland before Patrick arrived… and that the saint worked as an evangelist only in part of the island [the north]" (Walsh and Bradley, p. 1). Irish writer Liam de Paor wrote that "Ireland was not converted by one man [Patrick]… it may be that Christianity reached the west country [of Britain] and the southern Irish sea virtually independent of the Roman system, at a very early date… centuries before Patrick" (Paor, pp. 21, 23). There are traditions that the Apostle James preached the gospel in Ireland before returning to Jerusalem, where he was martyred (see MacManus, The Story of the Irish Race, p. 103). Indeed, many historical sources confirm that the apostles brought true Christianity to Ireland four centuries before Patrick’s visit. The story that Patrick was the first to bring Christianity to Ireland is a fable!

Patrick link

This is a very intresting take on the mis-conversion of Ireland to pagan Catholic doctorine. There is much historical evidence that the catholic church changed the teachings of the original deciples such as james and peter to a paganized version of the church.

The original gospel was lost to the domination of the holy roman church that killed the real bishops of Ireland and replaced them with pagan influenced catholic doctorine............

Patrick was also not Irish. He was English, and he's not as well liked traditionally in Ireland as most think. Also, Ireland was never completely "converted". They shaped the religion to suit themselves keeping more than a few pagan elements.

Originally posted by macha71 They shaped the religion to suit themselves keeping more than a few pagan elements.

Yep, one of my favorite examples being St. Brigid; who shares the same name and some similar attributes with the Celtic goddess Brigid.

reply to post by witnessrevthe


nice fine, interesting read...though not that surprising in the least.

especially since it has that added mythical "no more snakes" deal in the story...

The "snakes" were actually supposed to symbolize the Druids. I don't think there are any real snakes native to Ireland, but I could be wrong.