Podcasts about pagan

End? No, the journey doesn't end here. An end is just another path, one that we all must take. -GandalfHere we are, and while we are allowed to be A LITTLE sappy, this is a totally  normal episode with nothing going on in it at all.In all seriousness, today marks an end of an era. A weird, fun, exciting, stressful, incredibly rewarding era. So here's to you Macy Frazier - Don't be a stranger.Support the showSimply CaptivatingCheck it out on Patreon.com/wbahpodcast for only $5 wbahpodcast.com_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_Want to help support the Podcast? Consider becoming a Patron!www.patreon.com/wbahpodcastAdvertise with us!Just shoot us an email over to wbahpodcast@gmail.comSnag yourself some WBAH Merch!teespring.com/stores/wbah-podcast-store_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-Come Do Yoga With Macy:patreon.com/macyaniseyogaCharm by Charlye MichelleAncestor Oil and Fire Scrying Sessionscharmbycharlye.comPlay The Sims With Charlyetwitch.tv/charlye_withawhyTwitter @charlyewithawhyOur Video EditorEldrich Kitchenm.youtube.com/channel/UC_CwBrVMhqezVz_fog716Ow_-_-_-_-_-...

Fr. Nathan's guest today is Carol McColman, a spiritual director, author, and contemplative. They discuss his work and his latest book, "Read the Bible Like a Mystic." Carl McColman a spiritual director, author, retreat leader, and speaker on mystical spirituality and contemplative living. His books include Read the Bible Like a Mystic, The New Big Book of Christian Mysticism, Eternal Heart, and Unteachable Lessons. He is one of the co-hosts of the Encountering Silencepodcast, and maintains a Substack newsletter (www.anamchara.net) and a blog (www.anamchara.com). Carl's approach to contemplation and mysticism is joyful, inclusive, and expansive; with a dedication to exploring the common ground between faith traditions, with a particular interest in the connecting points between Christian, Buddhist and Pagan wisdom. Carl lives with his wife, artist Fran McColman, in Clarkston, Georgia, near Atlanta.  Connect with Carl:https://www.anamchara.comClick this link and let us know what you love about The Joyful Friar Podcast! Support the show​Connect with Father Nathan Castle, O.P.: http://www.nathan-castle.com https://www.facebook.com/fathernathancastlehttps://www.instagram.com/father_nathan_castle/?hl=enhttps://www.youtube.com/c/FatherNathanGCastleOPListen to the podcast: https://apple.co/3ssA9b5Purchase books: https://tinyurl.com/34bhp2t4 Donate: https://nathan-castle.com/donate . My Dominican brothers and I live a vow of poverty. That means we hold our goods in common. If you enjoy this podcast, please donate. 501©3 of the Western Dominican Province. Father Nathan Castle, O.P., is a Dominican Friar, author, podcast host, and retreat leader. Over the past 27 years, his unique ministry rooted in the Catholic Church's mystical tradition has helped more than 600 souls transition from one afterlife plane to a more joyful one. Father Nathan believes that providing such help is something the Holy Spirit has given him and his prayer partners to do. Theme music: Derek Gust

Send us a textSatan doesn't have a deep playbook – sadly, he doesn't need one. Just as he did with Adam and Eve, he only needs to get people to question the sovereign authority of God, believe that God is holding something back from them, and not believe that God means what He says in Scripture. In this episode, we look at how the strategy and goals of the pagan gods of the Old Testament are no different than they are today. There's nothing new under the sun. They're the same demon forces as they've always been, they've just modernized their labels and re-branded. Thanks for tuning in! Be sure to check out everything Proverbs 9:10 on our website, www.proverbs910ministries.com! You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Rumble, YouTube, Twitter, Truth Social, and Gettr!

The Winter Solstice is sacred in many of the cultures that inspire modern Pagans.  Join your host for a brief journey through the significance of this time of year, the importance of sacred time, and more!Want to support this podcast and my other work?  Sign up for my Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/c/wayw... or contribute to my KoFi here: https://ko-fi.com/ryansmithwfiI am teaching classes on Inclusive Nordic Spirituality!  You can find out more and sign up at this link: http://www.onblackwings.com/classes

En el capítulo 1017 de este lunes, 29 de diciembre, Francisco Aldaya te comenta la aprobación de la primera “ley de leyes” de la era Milei, los papeles recomendados por expertos que también pagan dividendos y la entrevista a Juan José Retamero de Aisa Group. Además, Juan Pablo Álvarez con todo sobre los bonos en #LaFija, hoy con Francisco Mattig del broker ONE618.

This week, Pagan begins a releationship with Prince Abdullah, and Kate's lovelife continues to deteriorate.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/passages-with-robbie-and-amanda--6153882/support.Website:https://www.passagespod.comPatreon:https://www.patreon.com/PassagesBookClubMerch:https://tee.pub/lic/h1auFQsMUVk

Mantener la Devoción en la Adversidad | Maintaining Devotion in the Face of Adversity | Jose Pagan

Christmas Is Not Pagan • Fire Power!

Did the Sodder children survive the fire? Is the government tracking UFOs during Christmas? And did Coca-Cola accidentally turn Santa into a pagan god? In this episode of Ninjas Are Butterflies, we dive into one of America's strangest unsolved mysteries, uncover bizarre holiday-season government activity, and trace how modern Santa may owe more to Odin than the North Pole. Cancel your unwanted subscriptions and reach your financial goals faster with Rocket Money. Go to https://www.rocketmoney.com/ninjas #ad Take advantage of Ridge's Biggest Sale of the Year & GET UP TO 47% Off by going to https://www.Ridge.com/ninjas #Ridgepod #ad Head to https://www.drinkag1.com/NINJAS and you'll get the welcome kit, a Morning Person hat, a bottle of Vitamin D3+K2, a AG1 Flavor Sampler and you'll get to try their new sleep supplement AGZ for free. #ad Get MORE Exclusive Ninjas Are Butterflies Content by joining our Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/NinjasAreButterflies NEW EPISODES EVERY FRIDAY @ 6AM EST! Ninja Merch: https://www.sundaycoolswag.com/ Start Your Custom Apparel Order Here: https://bit.ly/NinjasYT-SundayCool Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Leilani and Kimberlyn share the ways one can find a circle with which a witch can practice—both the old tried and true (“kickin' it old skool”) and digital-age methods—as well as evaluating what a circle can provide.Their check-ins:  Kimberlyn has learned that you can't make a bulldog do what a bulldog don't want to do; Leilani creates a personalized medical care spreadsheet and implements the insights she's gained through its data.Mentioned in the episode:  Kate Baer's poem, “Second Coming.”http://www.patreon.com/WitchyWit Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/WitchyWitPodcast Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/Witchy_Wit  Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/3azUkFVlECTlTZQVX5jl1X?si=8WufnXueQrugGDIYWbgc3A  Apple Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/witchy-wit/id1533482466 Pandora:https://pandora.app.link/nNsuNrSKneb  Google Podcast:Witchy Wit (google.com)

Información al día de EL COMERCIO, Platinum y Radio Quito este viernes 26 de diciembre de 2025Hay 10 cantones de Ecuador en donde la violencia se volvió forma de vida; María José Pinto prevé resolver la crisis de medicamentos en el primer trimestre de 2026; Costo de las obras municipales será asumido por todos los vecinos beneficiados; Gonzalo Plata se ‘vistió' de Papá Noel y llevó alegría a su barrio en Guayaquil; Jombriel tuvo una Navidad con un gran regaloGracias por escuchar este podcast, un producto de Grupo EL COMERCIO

The Magi weren't reading Daniel. They weren't studying the prophets. They were reading the sky.In our Members-Only Part 2 of our Christmas deep dive into the Star of Bethlehem, Caleb Jones returns to answer the question everyone's been asking: Why did the Magi know to come? What did they actually see in that chart that made them pack up and travel for months?Using ancient sources—Ptolemy, Manilius, Vettius Valens—Caleb reconstructs what an astrological reading of August 12, 3 BC would have looked like. The verdict? A heaven-blessed birth in Palestine. Incredible fortune. Warfare and a sword in his future. Someone who would overcome great danger through Jupiter and Venus.But this episode goes deeper than astronomy. Caleb traces how the Bible itself addresses astrology—not as fake, but as a rival way of knowing that God told Israel not to pursue because He would speak to them directly. When Israel rebelled and looked to the stars anyway, God wove their disobedience into His plan: He would use pagan astrologers to announce His Son and shame His people who should have known better.From Deuteronomy to Isaiah to Romans, the threads converge. The Magi weren't reading Daniel. They were reading the sky. And God met them there.The Christmas story is stranger than you thought. Not a member yet? Right now, we are running our biggest sale of the year with 20% OFF all memberships until the end of the year. Head over to https://blurrycreatures.com/pages/members to check it out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are shaking things up in 2026--Make sure to JOIN US for ALL the content coming - https://join.unrefinedpodcast.comEvery December, it feels like the internet dusts off the same “Christmas is pagan” memes and lobs them into everyone's feeds, and honestly… I'm over it. In this conversation, I sit down with Lindsy and our guest co-navigator Jennifer to ask where these claims actually came from and whether they hold up to real history. We talk about early church evidence for celebrating Jesus' birth in December, why conception dates mattered in the ancient world, and how sacred time belongs to God—not Saturn, Mithras, or Yuletide spirits. We also unravel Alexander Hislop's The Two Babylons, Nimrod conspiracies, green man imagery, and the fear that you might be “accidentally” worshiping other gods by putting up a tree. Along the way, we hit on mission, sacred space, and why intent matters more than internet paranoia. If you've ever wondered whether you're allowed to enjoy Christmas without guilt, this one's for you with Dr. Judd Burton.https://www.burtonbeyond.net/https://drjuddburton.com/https://join.unrefinedpodcast.com

Speaker: Rob BerrethScripture: Matthew 2:1-12Episode Overview:In Matthew's telling of the Magi's journey, we are invited to behold something both shocking and glorious: unlikely seekers traveling far to worship an unlikely King. Pagan astrologers arrive at a humble home, drawn by divine guidance and overwhelming joy, to bow before the child born King of the Jews—and Savior of the world. Their presence reveals the wide reach of God's grace and confronts our tendency to narrow who we believe can come to Jesus.This passage also unveils the gospel through the gifts the Magi present. Gold, frankincense, and myrrh together proclaim who Jesus truly is: King, God, and Sacrifice. Before Jesus speaks a word or performs a miracle, His mission is already foreshadowed—He reigns, He is worthy of worship, and He has come to give His life for sinners. In the most humble setting, God gives His greatest gift.Key Highlights:• The surprising arrival of the Magi shows that God's invitation to worship extends to the least likely and the outsider• Matthew's repeated call to “behold” awakens us to the wonder and scandal of grace• The three gifts proclaim the heart of the gospel: Jesus is King, God, and Savior• True wisdom is not merely seeing Jesus, but falling down in worship• The greatest gift is given in the most humble wrapping—God the Father giving God the Son Call to Action:This passage invites us to examine what we expect from God—and whether we are willing to recognize His work when it comes in humility rather than splendor. Like the Magi, we are called to seek Jesus faithfully, rejoice deeply when we find Him, and respond with surrendered worship. Come to Christ not with what you think He needs, but with empty hands and a bowed heart, trusting that He Himself is the treasure.Redeemer Church211 Northshore Dr. Bellingham, WA 98226www.redeemernw.org

This episode confronts one of the most controversial questions in modern Christianity: should believers celebrate Christmas at all? We examine historical records, ancient pagan traditions, and biblical silence surrounding December 25 to uncover whether Christmas aligns with Christian doctrine or pagan ritual. This is not satire, tradition, or opinion—it is a serious, evidence-based discussion meant to challenge assumptions many have never questioned.

Join us for this year's Christmas investigative episode as we sit down with R.L. Solberg to examine one of the most persistent and controversial claims surrounding the holiday: Is Christmas truly rooted in paganism, or is that narrative built on selective history and modern mythmaking? In an age where viral videos and sensational headlines confidently declare Christmas to be nothing more than a repackaged pagan festival, we slow the conversation down and follow the evidence. Together, we trace the historical claims back to their original sources, evaluate what the early church actually believed and practiced, and expose where popular talking points often rely more on assumption than documented fact. But this conversation doesn't stop at history alone. We also confront the modern tension many believers feel each December—caught between sincere faith and an overwhelming culture of excess, marketing, and consumerism. Is there a meaningful way to celebrate Christmas that resists commercialization while remaining grounded in Christian conviction? This episode isn't about defending tradition for tradition's sake—it's about truth. If you've ever questioned the origins of Christmas, felt conflicted about how it's celebrated today, or wanted a historically informed, biblically grounded perspective, this is a conversation you won't want to miss. Tune in and discover what the evidence really says. P.S. Please consider partnering with us as we head into the new year. https://donorbox.org/cultish

It's Listener Story Time!Happy Yule Yall! We got lots of stories, and more than a few ghost cats, for you on this Christmas Eve. Merry YULEMAS, ONE AND ALL!Support the showSimply CaptivatingCheck it out on Patreon.com/wbahpodcast for only $5 wbahpodcast.com_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_Want to help support the Podcast? Consider becoming a Patron!www.patreon.com/wbahpodcastAdvertise with us!Just shoot us an email over to wbahpodcast@gmail.comSnag yourself some WBAH Merch!teespring.com/stores/wbah-podcast-store_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-Come Do Yoga With Macy:patreon.com/macyaniseyogaCharm by Charlye MichelleAncestor Oil and Fire Scrying Sessionscharmbycharlye.comPlay The Sims With Charlyetwitch.tv/charlye_withawhyTwitter @charlyewithawhyOur Video EditorEldrich Kitchenm.youtube.com/channel/UC_CwBrVMhqezVz_fog716Ow_-_-_-_-_-...

Watch Full Wes Huff Pod w/ Nick here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UUZtcyp-dkLast few days of our Christmas sale https://blessgod.co/Get Tickets For Tour Here https://blessgod.co/pages/live0:00 - Philip Anthony Mitchell & Wes Huff Confront This Pagan Claim... 17:18 - Earliest Evidence For Jesus Discovered? 22:50 - A Feel Good Christmas Story 31:39 - A Personal Update

Every year, people who know nothing about theology or church history—as well as good-faith Christians seeking to follow their conscience—share their concerns that Christmas traditions are pagan in origin. This year I'm going to set the record straight. I'll tell you where these traditions come from and what they mean to my family and me. Men, get real accountability and knowledge to help you become the worldview leader your family and church need. Try out the Hammer & Anvil Society FREE. Learn more ➡️ https://hammerandanvil.circle.so/c/join/join-the-hammer-anvil-society

Many Christians around the world celebrate the birth of Christ on December 25th, but some see all of the traditions and superstitions associated with Christmas as pagan rituals that were absorbed into Christianity. So, is Christmas pagan and should you celebrate it? Today we will do a deep dive into history and scripture to separate truth from error. * 00:00 - Introduction* 06:59 - My Own Experience* 14:12 - Jesus' Real Birthday* 36:00 - The History of Christmas* 2:47:51 - Christmas Trees* 3:02:58 - Yule & Norse Mythology* 3:27:50 - Santa Claus* 3:56:58 - Christmas Music* 4:04:57 - Final Thoughts This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.danceoflife.com/subscribe

Consumir contenido se siente productivo, pero no paga cuentas ni genera resultados. En este episodio te explico por qué aprender sin ejecutar es una de las formas más comunes de fracasar, cómo convertirte en espectador de tu propio negocio y por qué mirar desde afuera nunca reemplaza hacer.Y si necesitás ayuda pasate por carlosmalfatti.com

One must have their peculiar Holiday traditions. For me, being involved in the stranger side of life and culture, I always take note of a particular happenstance that occurs around this time of year. Every December without fail, you will hear the statement that Christmas is in fact Pagan, and that its symbols and customs have an origin that isn't Christian at all. Grab the Yule log, put up some mistletoe, we're going to go through all that such a statement entails!

December 23rd, 2025 - We welcome back Michael Hichborn of the Lepanto Institute to discuss the alleged "pagan origins" of Christmas. Plus: Christmas letters from the World War I trenches. TheStationOfTheCross.com/ACT

In this Christmas special, JT and A.A. Ron explore the multifaceted themes surrounding the holiday season, including its pagan origins, the balance of personal convictions with family traditions, and the deeper spiritual meanings behind Christmas celebrations. They discuss the significance of heart posture during the holidays, the implications of scripture on modern celebrations, and the darker mythologies associated with Christmas figures like Santa Claus and Krampus. The conversation emphasizes the importance of love, community, and understanding in navigating the complexities of Christmas. In this conversation, the hosts explore various themes surrounding geographical theories, the cultural significance of Santa Claus, the materialism associated with Christmas, and the importance of giving in faith. They delve into theological questions, the implications of the little season, and the significance of Christmas celebrations, all while providing cultural commentary on societal norms and values.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jt-s-mix-tape--6579902/support.Please support our sponsor Modern Roots Life: https://modernrootslife.com/?bg_ref=rVWsBoOfcFJESUS SAID THERE WOULD BE HATERS Shirts: https://jtfollowsjc.com/product-category/mens-shirts/WOMEN'S SHIRTS: https://jtfollowsjc.com/product-category/womens-shirts/

Think Christmas has always been wholesome and holy? Think again.In A Very Pagan Christmas, we rip the halo off the holiday and dive headfirst into its messier origins — from the boozy chaos of Saturnalia, to bonfires, goat symbolism, and the general “let's survive winter” vibes of Yule. We even take a detour into the nightmare fuel that is Perchtenlauf — because nothing says seasonal cheer like demon masks and public terror.We unpack how Christianity quietly rebranded all of this into Christmas, why the joy-killing Puritans literally banned the holiday, and how the Victorian era dragged it back from the dead, added mistletoe, and told us all to behave.It's festive. It's forbidden. It's historically unhinged — and it'll make you question everything you were taught about Christmas.EXCLUSIVE FEED Spotify subscribers get ad free content, early access and exclusive bonus episodes .Paid supporters on Patreon, Join us for Macabre Movie Nights and Game Nights :⁠⁠ Macabre Patreon⁠⁠Send in your stories for a future listener episode!Email us at thatssomacabre@gmail.comJoin our private Facebook Group at :⁠⁠ MacabrePodcast⁠⁠Get Macabre Exclusive Merch @ www.gothiccthreads.comSOURCES:

Jesus is the reason for the season...right? Eh, not really. I'll break down the Roman festivals, Pagan rituals, and Victorian branding that turned sex-drenched slave parties, serial killers and a vengeful saint into the Christmas we know today—from Christmas trees to Santa Claus.Plus, why exactly Jesus' message made such an impression on the blood-loving Romans!Thank you for listening to the first season of Crowned & Cancelled! If you need some holiday help, join me in our exclusive community for high value women looking for support and sisterhood, The Shallontourage! Try us free for a week you'll know if it's for you ;) Special thank you to our researcher for this episode, Barbara, who you can find at https://docenshistoria.com/ definitely look her up if you're heading to Rome! And another major thank you to our editor/producer/composer, drop her a line at mahatopd@gmail.com if you need anything audio/video production!

Tonight we have a reading of the Pagan version of The Night Before Christmas by Mia of the LFTN Community. Join us each night at 5pm leading up to Christmas.

The message starts with Matthew 1:18 "This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit."  Pastor explores today's question: "What about the Virgin Birth?" by tackling these 5 questions:     ⁃    Is the "Virgin Birth" really that important?     ⁃    Why do only Matthew and Luke mention it?     ⁃    Couldn't this have been a later development?     ⁃    This seems impossible to the modern mind!     ⁃    Isn't it based on pagan mythology? Importance of the Virgin Birth     ⁃    It is taught by clear Scripture throughout the Bible. Note: Matthew 1:18 (above) and Matthew 1:22-23 "…an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."     ⁃    It is foreshadowed in Genesis 3:15 - a Messiah from the seed of a woman.     ⁃    It is announced by angelic authority     ⁃    It explains the sinlessness of Christ     ⁃    It confirms Christ's two natures - that Jesus is both fully human - but also fully divine. He is God incarnate, became flesh. His nature shows the Good News, because God loved this world so much He offered up His only Son for each one of us. This is the Good News. Only in Matthew and Luke?     ⁃    Only 2 Gospels (Matthew and Luke) mention the Nativity     ⁃    John (from the Gospel of John) goes back to the beginning, "In the beginning was the Word and the word was made flesh and dwelt among us…"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning…"     ⁃    Mark repeatedly asserts Jesus' deity     ⁃    See Philippians 2:5 & Colossians 1:15-16 - these verse tell us Jesus was in the very form and nature of God and took on human flesh, died and rose. Makes it clear that God has come down to earth in the flesh and that the universe was created by the pre-incarnate Christ. A later development?     ⁃    Early dating of the New Testament - always been a part of the testimony from eye-witnesses     ⁃    Clearly taught by early authors (examples: writings by Ignatius of Antioch, Justin Martyr, and the great scholar Irenaeus,)     ⁃    Testimony of the early Christian Creeds - the virgin birth was from the early teaching of followers. Impossible for modern people to accept this?     ⁃    The ancients weren't gullible! Even Joseph didn't accept it until the angelic visit.      ⁃    The real issue is the miraculous. "If I haven't seen a miracle, then they don't happen!"     ⁃    God is supernatural! He does supernatural things. Pastor shares some miraculous stories.  When we, in our own wisdom, seek to remove and erase the miraculous, we are not proving our brilliance, we are showing, for all the world to see, our folly. Pagan mythology?     ⁃    Note the differences!  Example the "birth" of Athena from Zeus' head Pastor closes with a graphic showing: incarnation, virgin birth and deity of Christ stating that if these are true then that changes everything. And it changes each one of us because God loves us and wants us back.  He calls us to accept Him for who He really is: The Almighty Creator of the Universe who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for each on of us that we might live forever with Him! And THAT is the Good News! Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE. Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/whats-the-answer Join us Sundays  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

Dive deep into the fascinating true history of Christmas in this engaging podcast. Uncover how ancient pagan festivals like Saturnalia and Yule influenced today's celebrations, explore the Christian adoption of December 25th, and trace the evolution of beloved traditions such as Christmas trees, Santa Claus, gift-giving, and more. Separating myth from fact, we reveal the surprising origins behind the holiday we know today.▶️ *[WORK WITH ME]* https://RobbJarrett.net▶️ *FREE* Personal Brand Starter Kit :: https://www.medialabb.net/brandkit*[SUBSCRIPTIONS I RECOMMEND]*ABOBE CREATIVE SOFTWARE - VIDIQ (AI Creation and SEO) - https://vidiq.com/robbjarrett Motion Array (Assets) - Envato (Assets) - OPENART (AI Creation Tools)BEACONS: https://beacons.ai/signup?c=robbjarrett*[PRODUCTS I RECOMMEND]*SM7B Microphone - https://amzn.to/47AuKREMV7+ Microphone - https://amzn.to/3V7LRmABLUE YETI Microphone - https://amzn.to/3V7LRmAOBSBOT Webcam - https://amzn.to/4mcWhMFDJI Action Cam - https://amzn.to/3V44gk7DJI OSMO Gimbal - https://amzn.to/3V44gk7NEEWER Lights - https://amzn.to/4pfvMJe

A Sermon for the Fourth Sunday in Advent Philippians 4:4-7 & St. John 1:19-28 by William Klock For the last few months I've been reading Tom Holland's book Dominion.  (That's Tom Holland the historian, not the actor.  Until recently I didn't even know there was an actor because, I guess, I'm a history nerd.)  Anyway, I've been reading a chapter here and a chapter there in between reading other more important things and it's been worthwhile.  Holland isn't a Christian, but this rather large book is nevertheless about the influence that the Gospel, the good news about Jesus, has had in shaping Western Civilisation.  One of the points he stresses is just how brutal and barbaric the ancient world was.  Greeks and Romans knew little of mercy and grace.  Theirs was a dog-eat-dog world.  It was cruel.  The weak were something to be exploited and if they couldn't be exploited, they were a liability and left to fend for themselves.  Nearly a third of the people of the Roman empire were slaves.  Infants were routinely left to die of exposure.  Sexual immorality was everywhere and was a central part of the worship of many gods.  Marital fidelity, especially amongst the wealthy and powerful was uncommon.  Think of the pagan gods of Greece and Rome we learned about in school: petty, capricious, fickle, unloyal, angry, and constantly fighting amongst themselves.  These were the gods the Greeks and the Romans created in their own image.  Whatever problems we see in our world—and it's getting worse the deeper we drift from the Gospel and return to paganism—but however bad you think our world is, theirs was worse.  Brother and Sisters, the gospel has had a profound impact on our world.  And even as gospel virtues go to seed in the secular world and we have distorted and perverted version of love and mercy and justice thrown at us, the very fact that anyone at all in our society cares about things like justice, is because of the powerful impact of the gospel. It's appropriate that Advent comes to us at the darkest time of the year, because it reminds us of the darkness of the world into which Jesus was born.  Surrounded by those pagans, Israel had the light of God's law, but even then, Israel lived in darkness.  They'd returned from their Babylonian exile five hundred years before, but the Lord had never returned to his temple.  The priests kept the lamp lit in the temple—the lamp symbolic of the Lord's presence with his people, but behind the great and heavy curtain, the holy of holies was empty.  And Israel was ruled by a series of pagan empires: the Persians, the Greeks, and then the Romans.  But Israel had her story.  They were the people whom the Lord had delivered from slavery in Egypt.  They knew his character and they knew his faithfulness.  And they knew his promises.  They had faith.  And so they lived in hope and expectant longing.  One day the words of Isaiah—the ones we read in our Old Testament lesson—“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins.”  One day those words would be fulfilled.  And, most people were pretty sure, that day was coming soon.  That's the setting for today's Gospel, which begins at John 1:19. This is the testimony John [the Baptist] gave when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”  He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.”  “What then?” they asked him, “Are you Elijah?” “I am not,” he replied.  “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”  “Well, then who are you?” they said.  “We've got to take an answer back to those who sent us.  Who do you claim to be?”  He said, “I am ‘a voice calling in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord,' just as the prophet Isaiah said.”  (John 1:19-28) So the priests were the spiritual gatekeepers of Israel and when they heard of this prophet, John, preaching and baptising, they sent their people to ask him what he was about—to see if he was legit.  People were talking about John like he was the Messiah—as if he were the one come to fulfil the prophecies of deliverance and salvation.  Was John the one? So they ask, “Who are you?  Who do you claim to be? Elijah?”  Remember that the Prophet Elijah had never died; he was swept up into have by a fiery chariot.  And Malachi had prophesied that “before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes” the Lord would send Elijah back.  Like King Arthur returning to Britain in its hour of greatest need. But John says, “No.  I'm not Elijah.”  He hadn't come to earth in a fiery chariot.  He was the son of Zechariah the priest and his wife, Elizabeth. “Are you the prophet?” they asked.  In Deuteronomy 18 the Lord had promised that he would one day raise up a prophet like Moses, who would declare his words.  Many people thought this prophet would be the Messiah.  But again John answers, “Nope, I'm not the prophet either.”  We get a sense of just how great the longing of these people was.  Like a kid getting up every morning of December and asking his parents if it's Christmas yet, the people of Israel longed for the Messiah to come and set the world to rights, to end the darkness, to once again fill the temple with the glory of the Lord. John was as eager as anyone, but he tells them “No, I'm not the Prophet.”  In fact, John was fulfilling those prophecies—Matthew and Mark tell us as much.   But I think John denied it because he knew people associated the prophecies of Elijah and the Prophet with the Messiah.  John knew he wasn't the Messiah; he was the Messiah's herald.  And so when the priests finally let him speak for himself, he quotes Isaiah 40:3, and says, “I am ‘a voice calling in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord.'”  In other words, John was indeed fulfilling prophecy—not as the Messiah, but as the one sent to prepare Israel to receive the Messiah. And that surprised those priests.  People in the past had claimed to be the Messiah.  No one claimed to be his herald.  That was weird.  So they dig deeper.  Look at verses 25-27: They continued to question him, “So why are you baptising, if you aren't the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet?” John answered them, “I'm baptising with water, but there is one standing among you whom you do not know—someone who is to come after me.  I'm not worthy to untie his sandal straps.” For the Jews, baptism was a symbol of cleansing and of ritual purity.  It was a ritual washing.  At this point the other gospel-writers are helpful as they expand on John's answer.  Mark tells us that John's baptism was a baptism of repentance—it was a preparatory act in light of the coming judgement the Messiah would bring.  And Matthew and Luke also report John going on about this one who will come, this one greater than him: “He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and with fire” (Matthew 3:11, Luke 3:16).  In other words, John is calling Israel to repentance in anticipation of the Messiah, who will fulfil the Lord's promises to set Israel to rights by filling his people with his own Spirit.  The law written on stone tablets would be inscribed on the hearts of God's people so that they could finally fulfil his law of love.  But the Messiah was also coming in judgement.  He would baptise the repentant with God's own Spirit, but he would baptise unrepentant Israel with fire. These are the two sides of the gospel coin.  You can't have one without the other.  Jesus' advent, on the one hand, brought mercy to the repentant, but on the other it also brought judgement on the unrepentant of Israel.  What's important for us here, Brothers and Sisters, is that this exchange between John and the priests reminds us of the Messiah's place in Israel's story and of the faithfulness of God to his promises.  It is this manifestation of the Lord's faithfulness (and of his goodness, mercy, grace, and wisdom) to Israel—something we see brought to its climax in the birth, the death, the resurrection, and the ascension of Jesus, that has drawn us—you and I—to the God of Israel and that, by faith, has incorporated us into the people of God.  Through our union with Jesus, through our incorporation into this people, through our being made adopted sons and daughters of Abraham, you and I have come to know God's mercy and the life of the Spirit, too.  Because of the faithfulness of God, revealed in Jesus and in the power of the gospel, the darkness that Israel knew; that deep, deep darkness full of false gods and wicked kings and evil principalities and powers has been driven away by the light.  The light has come into the darkness, his gospel has thrown those powers down and lit up the world.  And you and I have seen—we live in—the glory of that light.  And knowing that takes us from our Gospel passage today into our Epistle.  Paul writes those wonderful and challenging words in Philippians 4:4: Rejoice in the Lord always; I say again, rejoice. Paul spoke these words to a people surrounded by the dark.  “Rejoice in the Lord always!”  Because being surrounded by the dark, it's awfully easy to forget the light of the gospel.  Just before he wrote this, Paul exhorted two women in the Philippian church, Euodia and Syntyche, to “agree in the Lord”.  These two sisters in the Messiah, once close, once working together in gospel life had some kind of falling out.  We don't know the details, but it was something important enough to prompt Paul to address them publicly.  They'd let the darkness extinguish their light.  Instead of standing as a witness to the victory of Jesus over the principalities and powers of the present wicked age, the local church was letting those powers have their way in their midst.  Brothers and Sisters, don't let that happen.  Paul exhorts them (and us) instead: Let everyone know how gentle and gracious you are.  (Philippians 4:5a) Gentle and gracious.  Paul uses the same description in 2 Corinthians 10 to describe the meekness of Jesus as a model for Christians.  This is gospel light lived out.  What Paul's getting at is that Jesus is the King, but in him we see this amazing display of gracious gentleness.  This is the gentleness we see revealed as Jesus, the one to whom heaven and earth belong, humbled himself to be born one of us, to die on the cross, and to show mercy to his enemies.  And in that, Jesus defeated the powers that held the world in darkness and sin and now, we his people, are called to live that victory out amongst ourselves as witnesses to Jesus' victory and the inauguration of God's kingdom.  This is our Advent stewardship. So consider, Brothers and Sisters, when we demand our rights, when we grasp for power, when we nurse grudges, we undermine our gospel witness—we put on display the very darkness from which we've been delivered by the one who is light.  In contrast Paul calls us to rejoice in the Lord and to manifest Jesus-like gentleness in our relationships.  Jesus' gracious gentleness has forgiven and restored us and that same gracious gentleness ought to shine through us and through the life of the church.  Consider that every time we hold a grudge, allow a relationship to break down, or follow the world's advice to cut those problem or negative people out of our lives, we undermine the Church's witness to the world.  But that's not all. Paul goes on: The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything.  Rather in everything let your requests be made known to God, by prayer, supplication, and with thanksgiving.   There's our Advent theme again: Jesus has given us a job to do.  He's given us a gospel treasure to steward in his absence.  In the meantime, rather than being anxious—and anxiousness is so often the thing that evil uses to manipulate us—instead of being anxious we should take our needs to God.  Jesus made the same point in the Sermon on the Mount.  The pagans worry about what they'll eat, what they'll wear, and where they'll sleep.  God's people should know better than to worry unduly about these things.  The God who fed Israel with manna in the wilderness will provide.  He is faithful to his promises.  The story of his dealings with Israel is the proof and even more so, so is his gift of Jesus, who died and rose again to set us free from sin and death.  So go to the Lord with your needs and ask.  And while you're at it, give thanks, because you know his faithfulness and his love. This is part of the witness of the people of God—it's how we are light in the darkness—and it ties back into rejoicing.  When Paul talks about rejoicing, at least part of what he's got in mind is a public display or a public witness.  The pagan Greeks in Philippi regularly held public celebrations to honour their gods.  And yet the pagans, as Jesus said, were always anxious.  Because their gods never delivered.  Pagan religion was a non-stop game of trial and error, trying to guess what the gods wanted, trying to guess what you may have done wrong to offend them, and then guessing at what you might offer to appease their anger or to ingratiate them to you in order to get what you needed or wanted.  The pagan gods were silent and they were notoriously capricious and unreliable.  And in this context Paul exhorts the Philippian Christians: Rejoice yourselves.  Let the pagans see you celebrating the fact that the Creator of the universe has, through Jesus, made you his own and lives in your midst by his own Holy Spirit.  Let the pagans, who know only mean and capricious gods and who live in a dog-eat-dog world, let them see the gracious gentleness of God in you.  Live in such a way that they see in you the God who humbles himself to die for the sake of his enemies.  And let the pagans see you living in faith, praying in confident thankfulness to the God whose story reveals an unfailing pattern of promise and fulfilment.  Shine the light of Jesus into the darkness of the world.  And if you'll do that, he says in verse 7: The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in King Jesus.   I think we tend to look at Paul's exhortation here as something we should do in order to experience the peace of God ourselves, but given the context in Philippians, I think Paul's point is actually more about our witness.  If we truly live as stewards of the good news about Jesus, if we truly live as people who know the faithfulness of God revealed in Jesus and particularly in his death and resurrection, if we truly know the life of the Spirit, the peace of God—instead of the strife and anxiety of the world—will guard our hearts and minds in a way that will astound the unbelievers around us. I like to say that Jesus calls us—his church—to be a pocket of new creation in the middle of the old—to be heaven-on-earth people, living Gods' future in the hic et nunc, in the here and now.  Brothers and Sisters, this is how we do that.  And this makes us the John the Baptists of our own place and age as we proclaim the good news about Jesus—how we proclaim and show the world that Jesus has triumphed over the principalities and powers just as he has over sin and death.  And as the world took notice of those tiny and seemingly insignificant Christian communities popping up around the Roman empire, so it will take not of us.  And some will give glory to God as they see his faithfulness, they will come in faith to Jesus and his cross.  But it will also threaten those who are invested in the present age, its pagan gods and sinful systems.  And they will fight back. So we need to ask: Does the world see our joy?  Are we the voice crying in the wilderness?  Are we the royal heralds the Lord has called us to be, summoning the word to let go of its false gods and to come to the Lord Jesus, calling the world away from sin and self and to come to the cross?  And we need to ask how the world is responding to us.  If we're faithfully proclaiming the good news about Jesus, if we're faithfully calling people to repent and to believe, if we're faithfully proclaiming that Jesus is Lord and that his kingdom has come—well—people will respond in one of two ways.  Either they'll believe or they'll get angry—as Herod got angry with John.  There's some of both out there in the world, but overwhelmingly, when I look at how people respond to or think of the church these days in our part of the world, it's often just indifference.  Why? Because we have not been the witnesses God calls us to be.  We are afraid to confront the world with the good news about Jesus and we are half-hearted in our allegiance to his kingdom.  Like old Israel, we pray to God, but we've failed to tear down the old altars to Baal and Asherah—or money, sex, and power.  We name Jesus, but we deal dishonestly in business, we sell our souls to the commercialism that surrounds us, we look to politics or to science as our saviours, and we dabble in the sexual immorality of the age.  We've failed to proclaim the gospel and we justify it, saying that we'll preach it with our lives.  But if we stop to ask what the world sees in our lives, is it really very different?  Does the world see us rejoicing in the Lord?  Does the world see us manifesting the gracious gentleness of Jesus?  Does the world see us living in faithful prayer and trusting in God, or does it see people just as anxious as everyone else?  Does it see enmity and strife and broken relationships or does it see a gospel people living out the healing and reconciling love of Jesus in loving unity?  Does the world see the peace of God ruling our hearts and minds?  Does the world see us, holding high the gospel, as a challenge to its gods and its kings and its sins?  It should.  But sadly, I think that for the Western Church at large, the answer is often “no”. And, all too often, when we do proclaim the gospel, we do so without power or authority.  Think of John boldly declaring the coming judgement and calling Israel to repentance.  It was urgent and powerful.  In contrast we tend to hold the gospel out as good advice, rather than as the good news that it is.  Friends, the gospel is the royal summons to come in faith to Jesus, the world's true Lord—the Lord who has come with mercy so that the repentant will escape when he comes one day in judgement.  This was the power behind John the Baptist' preaching.  But all too often we present the gospel as just another option on the religious smorgasbord—something you might want to try. See if you like it.  See if it works for you.  If not…oh well.  Brothers and Sisters, that's not the gospel.  The gospel is life! The gospel is good news to the people living in the midst of darkness and death: the king who will set the world to rights has come.  And that means the gospel, when preached as it should be, will challenge and upset the Herods and Caesars of our age and all those invested in the false gods of the world. The Advent message is to be prepared.  Jesus has given us a gospel mission to take the good news of his death, his resurrection, and his lordship into the world.  Brothers and Sisters, pray that we will be faithful to our mission—faithful enough to provoke opposition, because that's the kind of faithfulness that also reaps a harvest for the kingdom.  Pray for the holy boldness of John the Baptist and the gracious gentleness of Jesus.  Pray that we will be the salt of the earth and the light of the world.  Pray that the joy of the Lord will overcome us.  Brothers and Sisters, Rejoice!  Rejoice in the Lord always.  Again, I say rejoice. Let's pray: O Lord, come among us, we pray, with your power and strengthen us with your great might; that whereas, through our sins and wickedness we are grievously hindered in running the race that is set before us, your bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, to whom with you and the Holy Spirit, be honour and glory, now and for ever.  Amen.

It literally means the stopping of the sun … 

In today's episode we discuss the pagan people and why they have SO many activations!

Send us a textWishing you a very blessed winter solstice!Join me for a message about this festival of returning light, hope and renewal folllowed by a shared solstice flame meditation.   In this meditation we will work together with a candle flame to represent the spark of life that is returning to the earth at this time. You don't need anything apart from a few minutes of undisturbed space to share in this meditation, but do bring your own candle to light if you feel drawn to. We will send this light out to our planet that is going through so much chaos at this time.  You can also choose to send this light out to any places, situtations or people that you know are in need of it.I hope you will join me and the light of others in our community to share some peace, healing and blessing at this special time of year.[Please note that this meditation is without music]We hope you enjoy this episode! If so then please consider leaving us a review or maybe share it with someone you think would benefit.Find the Pagan Creative Podcast online at:Pagan Creative Facebook GroupPagan Creative Facebook PagePagan Creative InstagramYou can also support the podcast at Buy Me A Coffee!This podcast is brought to you by Rowansong, a small UK creative business that specialises in handcrafted pagan, spiritual and nature themed arts and crafts:Rowan Song Etsy StoreRowan Song Facebook PageThis podcast is not intended as a substitute for professional medical or counselling advice. If you suffer from a physical or mental illness, please always seek professional help. 

-Merry Christmas, insomniacs! Here's a blast from the past. We hope you're having an amazing holiday season- How is Santa Claus connected to cannibalism? Which Christmastide holiday commemorates the slaughter of children? How should you decode the cryptic numerology message 20+C+M+B+22? And what's with all of those airborne reindeer? Welcome to Ghosts of Christmases Past, in which Shane and Duncan explore how tree-worship and animal sacrifice evolved into the bizarre, festive, highly commercialized holiday we know today. So whether you're feeling the Christmas spirit or just feeling jaded and grinchy, grab a cup of heavily-spiked eggnog, get cozy by the yule-log, and join the boys as they unpack the fascinating pagan history of Christmas. ~ Support the show by becoming a Midnight Minion, Menace, or Maniac, and unlock exclusive bonus content over at PATREON ~ Join the MFFI community and vote on episode topics via DISCORD ~ In this episode:   Christmastide Christmas Eve The Feast of Saint Stephen, Protomartyr Childermas, The Feast of the Holy Innocents Herod the Great The Feast of the Circumcision of Christ, Octave of the Nativity, Solemnity of Mary The Feast of the Holy Family 12th Night, Epiphany Eve Chalking the Door Saturnalia The Holiday of Yule Yule Boar, Yule Goat, Yule Log Anglican Revelers vs. Puritan Grinches The Story of the Nativity December 25th Becomes the Arbitrary DOB Christenmas, Christ Mass, and Xmas Christmas Trees Saint Nicholas of Myra, aka Saint Nick, aka Nicholas the Wonderworker Sinterklaas  Christmases Around the World Reindeer Thomas Nast Haddon Sundblom and Coca-Cola   ~ Join the Midnight Masses! Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas.  And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word!  Midnight Merch  ~ Leave an Audio Message! ~  Instagram ~ Podcast Website

Does Christmas have pagan roots? Do other holidays? Should Christians incorporate modern cultural norms as our own, or be set apart? Did Christianity steal Christmas from Saturnalia? The Winter Solstice? Are Christmas trees actually Druid? And should Christians appropriate cultural ideals/norms/rhythms into our own practices or should be be set apart from the world? Whether it's how we celebrate the holidays, to what media we take in, how we spend our money, how we talk, or our views on sexuality, where is the line between being in the world, and of the world? This is a bonus podcast of a LIVE event. If you're in Houston, we'd love to see you in person! Remember to like and review the show! It really helps us grow our reach.

Send us a textJoin us for the fourth episode in our series on the elements of water, fire, earth, air and spirit.In this episode we explore the element of earth and what we can learn from this element about ourselves, our society and our world.  We look at the unique qualities of earth and how they can help us to build a positive relationship with the earth within our own nature when we understand ourselves as part of the bigger transformational processes of our planet.This  episode also includes a series of journaling prompts to help make this content more personally relevant to you!We hope you enjoy this episode! If so then please consider leaving us a review or maybe share it with someone you think would benefit.Find the Pagan Creative Podcast online at:Pagan Creative Facebook GroupPagan Creative Facebook PagePagan Creative InstagramYou can also support the podcast at Buy Me A Coffee!This podcast is brought to you by Rowansong, a small UK creative business that specialises in handcrafted pagan, spiritual and nature themed arts and crafts:Rowan Song Etsy StoreRowan Song Facebook PageThis podcast is not intended as a substitute for professional medical or counselling advice. If you suffer from a physical or mental illness, please always seek professional help. 

Porpoises, beaver tails, boar's head and puffins are just some of the exquisite dishes on medieval tables during the festive season. In this episode, food historian Annie Gray joins Dan in his kitchen to cook up some delicious Christmas fare from ages past. They make wassail - an ancient alcoholic punch - and mince meat pies as they talk about the Pagan rituals, Medieval feasts and Victorian traditions that dictate what we put on our Christmas dinner tables.You can make these festive delicacies at home as you listen! Find the easy-to-follow traditional recipes Dan and Annie used here: Annie's book is called 'At Christmas We Feast'Produced by Mariana Des Forges and edited by Dougal PatmoreDid you know you can watch this episode on YouTube? Check it out at https://www.youtube.com/@DSHHPodcastSign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.We'd love to hear your feedback - you can take part in our podcast survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on.You can also email the podcast directly at ds.hh@historyhit.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Merry Christmas, insomniacs! Here's a blast from the past. We hope you're having an amazing holiday season.    How is Santa Claus connected to cannibalism? Which Christmastide holiday commemorates the slaughter of children? How should you decode the cryptic numerology message 20+C+M+B+22? And what's with all of those airborne reindeer? Welcome to Ghosts of Christmases Past, in which Shane and Duncan explore how tree-worship and animal sacrifice evolved into the bizarre, festive, highly commercialized holiday we know today. So whether you're feeling the Christmas spirit or just feeling jaded and grinchy, grab a cup of heavily-spiked eggnog, get cozy by the yule-log, and join the boys as they unpack the fascinating pagan history of Christmas. ~ Support the show by becoming a Midnight Minion, Menace, or Maniac, and unlock exclusive bonus content over at PATREON ~ Join the MFFI community and vote on episode topics via DISCORD ~ In this episode:   Christmastide Christmas Eve The Feast of Saint Stephen, Protomartyr Childermas, The Feast of the Holy Innocents Herod the Great The Feast of the Circumcision of Christ, Octave of the Nativity, Solemnity of Mary The Feast of the Holy Family 12th Night, Epiphany Eve Chalking the Door Saturnalia The Holiday of Yule Yule Boar, Yule Goat, Yule Log Anglican Revelers vs. Puritan Grinches The Story of the Nativity December 25th Becomes the Arbitrary DOB Christenmas, Christ Mass, and Xmas Christmas Trees Saint Nicholas of Myra, aka Saint Nick, aka Nicholas the Wonderworker Sinterklaas  Christmases Around the World Reindeer Thomas Nast Haddon Sundblom and Coca-Cola   ~ Join the Midnight Masses! Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas.  And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word!  Midnight Merch  ~ Leave an Audio Message! ~  Instagram ~ Podcast Website

In this seasonal episode, hosts Allison and Mandy explore the deeper meaning of the Winter Solstice, Yule, and the ancient roots beneath modern Christmas. Together, they reflect on this sacred turning point in the Wheel of the Year—a time long honoured as the return of the light after the darkest night.They begin with the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year, symbolizing stillness, death and rebirth, and the quiet trust that light always returns—even when growth isn't yet visible.The conversation then moves into Yule, an ancient Pagan celebration rooted in Norse, Germanic, and Celtic traditions. Through symbols like evergreens, fire, the hearth, sacred animals, and communal feasting, Yule represents humanity's ritual response to the turning of the sun.Allison and Mandy also explore how Christmas came to sit at this time of year, explaining how early Christianity layered itself over existing Solstice festivals—preserving many pre-Christian symbols that still live on today.The episode gently reframes our relationship with darkness, reminding listeners that it was once seen as fertile, womb-like, and sacred—not something to fear.Listeners are offered simple, modern ways to honour the season, including candle rituals, ancestral remembrance, time in nature, storytelling, and allowing rest and stillness.The episode closes with a powerful reminder: you don't have to choose between traditions. Solstice, Yule, and Christmas can coexist—and the season belongs to everyone.“The light was never lost. It was only waiting to be remembered.”⸻Contact & OfferingsFor intuitive readings, mentorship, and spiritual support with Allison at The Luminant Soul, reach out at:

You've probably heard the rumor - maybe you've even spread it yourself - Christmas trees are pagan.This is how it usually goes: when the Christians came to Europe, they wanted to convert pagans to Christianity, so they made a conscious choice to take pagan symbols, like a decorated tree for Yule or Saturnalia or Sol Invictus or Hilaria (it changes on who you ask) and said, “This is Christian now and we will call it the Christmas tree!”But none of this is true.In this episode, your host Zohare Jacobi of Jewitches goes through all the holidays the tree is supposedly stolen from - Yule, Saturnalia, Sol Invictus -- and even the Yule Log -- to dig into the origins of this myth and the true origin of the tree.You can find the citations here.You can follow our work on Instagram @jewitches as well as most social medias!

#bible #biblia #Jesus #JesusChrist #christmas #podcast #christianholidays Join Ric and Rob as they discuss the biblical roots and worshipful dimensions of Christmas. Rob explained how his book, “Full of Grace and Truth: The Bible Roots of Christmas,” and its study guide were developed to focus on worship and theology. They agreed that Christmas can be understood as thoroughly biblical and addressed common misconceptions about its supposed pagan origins. Ric also highlighted what he sees as an unprecedented level of attack on Christmas.

ORIGINAL AIR DATE: DEC 24, 2024Welcome to the first annual Happy Fools Christmas show. Although we are tired from the grind, we managed to sneak in a chat before Christmas. We talk a bit about the origins of christmas and about 100 other topics. Email us at happyfoolspodcast@gmail.com. Follow us on instagram at realhappyfools. Leave us a review for goodness sake. 

Have you ever lit a candle, whispered an incantation, and watched something uncannily fitting happen days later? Was it magic, or just a well-timed coincidence? In the world of esoteric practice, we are trained to notice patterns, to read signs, to find meaning where others see randomness. But what if some of those connections aren't what they seem? What if we're mistaking correlation for causation, and calling it magic?In this video, we're diving into the most seductive illusion in both magic and conspiracy thinking: the leap from “this happened” to “I caused it.” Drawing on philosophy, psychology, and the history of occult thought, we'll explore why our brains are wired to see patterns, how magical fallacies take root, and how to practise with both conviction and discernment. If you want to refine your craft, sharpen your thinking, and avoid the traps that turn meaningful magic into wishful thinking, stay with me. This might just be the most important spell you ever learn.CONNECT & SUPPORT

By Mario Seiglie - In this message, we explore four biblical proofs that address the pagan heresy brought out in Paul's epistle to the Colossians concerning feast day observances. In his letters, both Colossians and Galatians, Paul warned those Gentiles to not go back to their pagan festival rituals. When did the

Joe debunks common belief that Jesus’s virgin birth was borrowed from pagan sources across the ancient world. Check out the article on the topic by Jon Sorensen here: https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/cleaning-up-the-horus-manure Transcript: Joe: Welcome back to Shameless Popery. I’m Joe Heschmeyer, and as Christians prepare to celebrate the virgin birth of Jesus Christ, many non-Christians are preparing to tell their Christian friends and neighbors that actually the virgin birth is a pagan story that Christianity stole. CLIP: Does it ever bother you that the story of...

Help keep our podcast going by contributing to our Patreon! ⁠ What do you know about Yule? Maybe a lot. The holiday is widely celebrated in Scandinavian countries, and it's an important part of Wiccan and Pagan tradition. But for many of us, the version that's come down through history is strongly associated with Christmas--and heavily sanitized. When we scratched the surface, however, we found that the origins of Yule were older and darker and weirder than we ever imagined. Sponsors and Advertising This podcast is a member of Airwave Media podcast network. Want to advertise on our show? Please direct advertising inquiries to advertising@airwavemedia.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's Thursday, December 11th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark UK Supreme Court: Religious education in Ireland unlawful The U.K. Supreme Court ruled last month that religious education in Northern Ireland is unlawful. State-funded primary schools in Northern Ireland currently include religious education in the curriculum. Schools also have a time of daily worship. However, the U.K. Supreme Court ruled the curriculum was not “objective, critical and pluralistic.” In response, Christian Concern is defending Christian education in schools. Listen to comments from Steve Beegoo, Head of Education at Christian Concern.  BEEGOO: “Parents, don't retreat. There is an authority that is truly higher than even our courts that we must appeal to and that we must obey. We must stand for truth and to obey Jesus Christ.” In Matthew 19:14, Jesus said, “Let the children come to Me, and do not hinder them.” Fewer British Christians, more pagans The Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life released a new survey on adults in Britain who changed religion.  Christianity experienced the most losses with people usually becoming atheist. Islam saw a modest net gain, mostly from Christianity. Also, movements like Paganism, Wicca, and broad spiritualism saw noticeable growth.  The study said, “Media reports over the past decade document a visible revival of Pagan and Wiccan practices in Britain, particularly among women over 30 and those disillusioned with organized religion but seeking ethical and emotional coherence.” Isaiah 8:19-20 says, “And when they say to you, ‘Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter,' should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Spanish court acquits 21 pro-lifers A court in Spain acquitted 21 pro-life activists on Tuesday. Authorities had arrested the pro-lifers back in 2022 for praying outside an abortion mill. They were participating in a 40 Days for Life prayer chain in the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz. The ruling stated, “There is no doubt that the defendants did nothing more than exercise their right to free assembly. … The defendants conducted themselves at all times in an exemplary, peaceful manner.” 71 U.S. abortion mills closed this year In the United States, 23 independent abortion mills closed this year as of October. That's up from 12 closures last year. Since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, 100 locations closed. Independent abortion mills are not affiliated with Planned Parenthood and account for 58% of abortions in the U.S.  Life News reports that Planned Parenthood has closed 48 locations so far this year. Dept. of Justice supports Christian students who spoke truth The U.S. Department of Justice supported two Christian students on Monday in a court case involving transgenderism. Virginia's Loudoun County School Board previously suspended the two male students. They had simply objected to a girl, pretending to be a boy, in their locker room. Harmeet Dhillon is Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the Justice Department. She said, “Loudoun County's decision to advance and promote gender ideology tramples on the rights of religious students who cannot embrace ideas that deny biological reality.” Frustrated homesellers pulling homes off market Realtor.com released their November 2025 Monthly Housing Market Trends Report. The report found that home prices are rising in traditionally affordable metros. Meanwhile, expensive metros are seeing price drops. The market has also seen record de-listings as frustrated sellers pull their homes off the market without a sale. Realtor.com noted, “One home was de-listed for about every 3 to 4 new listings nationally.” Fellowship of Christian Athletes distributed 244,000 Bibles this year And finally, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes distributed over 244,000 Bibles this year across the U.S. and 68 other countries. That's up from 219,000 last year.  The achievement is due to 900 FCA camps worldwide, 23,000 huddle groups, and about 400 FCA sports club teams.  A Fellowship of Christian Athletes spokesman told The Christian Post, “FCA's overarching aim is to reach coaches and athletes with the Gospel, help them grow spiritually and then enable them to help others do the same. We believe this spiritual foundation extends beyond sports, positively influencing teammates, schools, families and entire communities.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Thursday, December 11th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Josh Schwartz and Ken Mikle talk to Alex Newman. Alex recently returned from COP 30 in Brazil. Plans are being strengthened to guide the world toward a worship-centered global future system. A dark agenda is being systematically revealed. How should the Christian respond? To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/407/29?v=20251111