Ben Howes runs the popular Instagram account Oaks and Oaths, and the podcast of the same name. Though born a Christian, his disillusionment with the faith and its faithful led him to abandon that path and discover Norse and Germanic Paganism. Now he leads and instructs others down that ancient road.

Due to time constraints we had a shorter conversation than my recent episodes, but we think it’s just the first of many. We discussed: 

• Self-actualization, aesthetics, and masculinity.
• Why men need to reject consumerism.
• The pagan notion of "frith", and how it plays into the larger functional worldview of paganism.
• How hierarchy gives men a goal to strive for, a ladder to climb, and something to aspire towards.
• How a trip to Peru and an experience with psychedelics led him to discover the faith of paganism.

I originally reached out to Ben because I feel that it’s time that, despite their historical differences, Christians and Pagans (and all spiritually-facing men) need to learn to come together it the face of a third thing, an anti-spirit that’s flooding across the globe.

It’s time to start building bridges, and I think we made a good start of it.

To follow Oaks and Oaths, click here

Listen to the Oaks and Oaths podcast on Apple — Spotify — Google

To read Neil Gaiman’s “Norse Mythology” click here

To read Brett McKay’s “Muscular Christianity” click here

Check out my new website at https://renofmen.com

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