不列颠早期宗教信仰转化问题考略

A Study of Conversion to Christianity in Early Britain

不列颠人在罗马人到来之前信仰异教,罗马不列颠时期基督教在民间缓慢传播,在罗马人撤离后迁移到威尔士和爱尔兰的凯尔特人依旧保有一定程度上的基督教信仰。盎格鲁-萨克逊人占领不列颠时,仍信仰日耳曼原始诸神。罗马教宗格里高利向英格兰派遣主教,在圣奥古斯丁的影响下使得南部英格兰部分王国初次改信了基督教。7世纪初,爱尔兰的基督徒来到英格兰北部诺森伯利亚建立修道院,传播基督教。经历了6-7世纪的传教和数次异教起复的改信过程,不列颠大部分地区都接受了基督教信仰。

Britons believed in paganism before the arrival of Romans.During the period of Roman occupation,Christianity slowly spread among the people and the Celts,who had moved to Wales and Ireland after the evacuation of Romans,still maintained a certain degree of Christian faith.When the Anglo-Saxons occupied Britain,they still believed in their German gods.In consequence,Pope Gregory Goliath sent a bishop to England.Under the influence of St.Augustine,the southern part of the kingdom of England converted to Christianity for the first time.At the beginning of the 7th century,Irish Christians came to the north of England.They built a monastery in Northumberland,and begun to spread Christianity.Following the missionary activities of sixth and seventh century and several resurgences of paganism,most of Britain accepted the Christian faith.