Devotions

The question that comes up almost every year:  Is Easter pagan? Yes, a little bit.  But before you either panic or gloat about that, sit down — because Easter is actually the least interesting part of this story. The word Easter almost certainly derives from Eostre, an Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring and fertility. The eggs and the bunny were her symbols long before they were in any chocolate shop. The date floats around the spring equinox, tied to the first full moon after it — a calculation that would have felt very familiar to any ancient nature-worshipper. So yes, there's pagan DNA in Easter. A little bit. But here's the thing. If Easter's pagan borrowings bother you, you have a much bigger problem. Because the rabbit hole goes a great deal deeper than one spring holiday. The calendar on your wall is entirely pagan. Every day of the week is named after a pagan deity. Sunday honours the Sun. Monday the Moon. Tuesday is Tyr, the Norse god of war. Wednesday is Woden — the An...

​“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son...” — Hebrews 1:1-2 ​The "True Myth": How Ancient Whispers Found Their Voice in the Forest ​In the quiet corners of the proverbial Forest Parish, where the wind through the pines feels like an old conversation, we often find ourselves standing between two worlds. On one hand, we have the earthy, rugged wisdom of our Pictish and Norse ancestors. On the other, we have the radical, transformative message of the "Red Letter" Gospel—the direct words and life of Jesus. ​At first glance, these might seem like opposites: one rooted in pagan myth, the other in sacred scripture. However, there is a robust theological tradition that suggests they are actually part of the same story. This is the theology of Fulfillment , or Praeparatio Evangelica —the "Preparation for the Gospel." ​1. The Greek Connec...