Castor and Pollux were twin half-brothers in Greek and Roman mythology, known together as the Dioskouroi. They were sons of Leda by two different fathers. Castor was the mortal son of Tyndareus, the king of Sparta, while Pollux was the divine son of Zeus. When Castor was killed, Pollux asked Zeus to let him share … Continue reading The Gemini twins in the Bible
The parable of the Good Witch
A reimagining of the parable of the Good Samaritan by the Naked Pastor
Poseidon in the Bible
A curious verse grabbed my attention yesterday: Ezekiel 28:2. In it God commands the prophet Ezekiel to declare to the prince of Tyre, “‘In the pride of your heart you say, ‘I am a god; I sit on the throne of a god in the heart of the seas.’ But you are a mere mortal … Continue reading Poseidon in the Bible
Is YHWH just a Hebrew version of Zeus?
Is YHWH equivalent to other gods? Just a Hebrew version of Zeus for instance? With a wife even? No, YHWH’s domain is not limited to the sky. Nor did YHWH come into being at some point like Zeus did. Granted there is some evidence to suggest early Hebrews had a more limited conception of YHWH, … Continue reading Is YHWH just a Hebrew version of Zeus?
Fertility and Divinity
With the grass being so lush and green this Beltane, with all the heat and rain, I’ve been meditating on YHWH as the source of life and fertility. In the process I’ve stumbled across a critique of Karl Barth by Walter Brueggemann, where he suggests Barth overplayed his hand in depicting YHWH as god of … Continue reading Fertility and Divinity
Christian Druid Resources
Since this Christian Druid path I’m on sparked some interest for some I thought I’d compile a list of resources I have found useful on my journey so far. It’s strictly a personal take on it and far from comprehensive but hopefully it will give you a taste of it. As you’ll see it involves … Continue reading Christian Druid Resources
Christian monotheism and Pagan polytheism: Can they be reconciled?
In case any of you are wondering how I reconcile Christian monotheism with Pagan polytheism, here's a brief if somewhat incomplete explanation of how I understand deity. In essence, I differentiate between an uncreated One, who is the source of all life, and many created ones, who influence life in all its many aspects. Whether these created … Continue reading Christian monotheism and Pagan polytheism: Can they be reconciled?
The unacknowledged gods and goddesses of America
A problem I have with Neil Gaiman's "American God's" is that the book and TV series do not give nearly enough credit to the staying power of the old gods. Mars, the god of war, is still worshipped by many Americans, as is Hermes, the god of commerce and communication, and Vulcan, the god of … Continue reading The unacknowledged gods and goddesses of America
What is a god?
A problem with classifying world views as polytheistic or monotheistic or atheistic is that we're not always using the word theos, that is, god, in the same way. Monotheistic worldviews that emphasise the oneness of God have rarely excluded concurrent belief in angels. Which begs the question: how exactly do we differentiate angels in monotheism … Continue reading What is a god?
The Dryghten and my views on Divinity
I actually find the Dryghten closer to my understanding of YHWH than the various gods of Paganism. I found this Wiccan blessing particularly interesting: "In the name of Dryghtyn, the Ancient Providence, Who was from the beginning and is for eternity, Male and Female, the Original Source of all things; all-knowing, all-pervading, all-powerful; changeless, eternal. … Continue reading The Dryghten and my views on Divinity
Jesus as Dionysus and Demeter
In the western imagination YHWH and his messiah have most often been equated with Zeus, lord of the sky, and Apollo, his light giving son ... or is it sun? And yet, the scriptures again and again speak YHWH as Lord of earth, sky and sea and everything in them. Would it not be just … Continue reading Jesus as Dionysus and Demeter
Greek Mythology in the New Testament
"And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." (Matthew 16:18) And I tell you that interacting with contemporary Pagans has given me greater appreciation for just how often the messianic Jews of the New Testament encountered and … Continue reading Greek Mythology in the New Testament
