It must be silly season, because strange stories about the church are in the press. Especially about the Church of England's plans to pinch pagans. It has to be said the not much in modern life is more counter-cultural than being committed to ancient spiritual paths, gathering for dawn rites, and doing it all in fancy dress - and I am sure some pagans get up to fun stuff too.

The best place to start is to read the explanation that +Steve Hollinghurst has given himself but I do have some positive thoughts about what I am going to call the 'Earth Traditions' and the Christian Faith.



Contemporary Christianity and Modern Earth Traditions share some common roots. Before the Reformation, between the 7th and 17th centuries there was a different religious settlement, bringing together a range of rites and traditions. From pre-Augustinian Christianity's pattern of the year through to the herbalists of the reign of Elizabeth I there was an evolving tradition that in many ways respected Christ and creation.  The interface was not always easy, as anyone who was accused of murder by witchcraft could contest, but celebrating  lunar, solar and earth festivals was very much part of the Christian year.

Depending on your point of view these rites and traditions were either appropriated by the Christian Church to convert poor pagans, or were deviations from true Christian faith. I am sure Steve has a mailbag full of people of both persuasions regarding his work with Fresh Expressions. Both views however are deeply wrong.