401 - Robin Hood: The Original Green Man (Nottingham talk)

I was invited to give this talk on Robin Hood in Nottingham—just a stone’s throw from Sherwood Forest—on the feast of Pentecost. What began as a reflection on a beloved folk hero opened into something deeper: a meditation on rebellion, trickery, legitimacy, and the strange holiness that's possible for jesters and outlaws. In this talk, I explore how Robin Hood, the Green Man, King David, and even figures from Islamic tradition and Arthurian legend, all point toward a surprising truth—that the margins of society can conceal servants of the true King. I hope you enjoy it.<br /><br />Original YouTube version: https://youtu.be/7Q4LBLmeeMw<br /><br />COURSE: Scripture: The Key to Reality, presented by Seraphim Hamilton<br /><br />This course is designed to help students appreciate the unique role the Bible plays in helping us step into the world as it truly is: a symbolic revelation of the Infinite God. Scripture is symbolic because it is a revelation of Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ is the Archetype of the World. In a way, then, Scripture enfolds within itself the totality of the world, guiding its hearers to see an icon of Christ in each of God’s creatures: from trees to beasts to priests.<br />- Live classes are on Tuesday at 2 - 4 pm Eastern Time, starting June 10th through July 22nd, 2025<br />- Class Length: 5 sessions, 10 hours total<br />- Cost: 120 USD (108 USD for Involved patrons)<br />- Register now: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/scripture-the-key-to-reality<br /><br />Get early access to Rapunzel and the Evil Witch: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/rapunzel-and-the-evil-witch<br /><br /><br />💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com<br />🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau <br />🔒 BECOME A PATRON: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe <br /><br />Timestamps:<br />00:00 - Coming up<br />01:30 - Intro music<br />01:56 - Introduction by Jonathan<br />03:34 - Introduction: The virtuous rebel<br />06:10 - Who does Robin Hood resemble?<br />09:40 - Green<br />14:25 - A trickster for God<br />16:39 - David<br />25:41 - He loses at the edge<br />39:24 - The Green man: Merlin<br />45:25 - Q&amp;A starts: St. Christopher<br />46:39 - Sir Gawain and the Green Knight<br />48:55 - Maid Marian and the Virgin Mary<br />49:53 - Difference between giants and monsters<br />51:20 - Intention<br />53:01 - Robin Hood in politics<br />54:10 - Marksmanship<br />55:54 - Does the end justify the means<br />57:42 - Is Robin Hood religious?<br />59:06 - Locations and history<br />01:01:38 - Humor in Christianity<br />01:03:20 - Trickery<br />01:06:46 - What goes around comes around<br />01:08:15 - Downstream from the Gospel<br />01:11:44 - Christ vs Robin Hood in history<br /><br />Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ <br />My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/