Shrine of the Irish Oak Inc

The Shrine of the Irish Oak is a small Celto-Roman Polytheist temple based on the Celto-Roman Polytheist culture and religion, worshiping both native Celtic Gods as well as Gods the Romans brought with them, not so much as a reconstructionists, but as what might have been if the Celto-Roman culture would have thrived and continued into the modern day. Thus the tradition is more open and free flowing than some other Pagan religions, Members may call themselves "Celto-Romans" The temple and its Polytheistic denomination of modern Paganism has been in legal existence and reconized as a church by the state of Arkansas for 13 years.
Historical religious foundation for the temple and its Polytheistic tradition
Conflict between the ancient Celtic and Roman civilizations is a popular historic theme, but was only a short episode in their common history. The two cultures also shared centuries of cooperation and prosperity after that time, in which the Celto-Roman culture was born. The temple is inspired and built upon the spirit of that historical time, The Celtic-Roman culture with its harmonious blend of Native and foreign polytheistic religions (Celtic, Roman, Egyptian, Persian,etc.) was for hundreds of years the central cultural religious expression of the Western world.
History
The temple started in 2001 as a small weekly gathering of high school friends in the old Aloha motel (room #2 and later #9) in Waldron that focused on worship of various Deities from the Celto-Roman time frame, inspired by the Wiccan group The temple of Brigantia (http://www.janeraeburn.com/brigantia/) Mainly the healing Goddesses Sulis Minerva and Brigantia.
The weekly meetings blossomed into a more formal group and in April 2004 the group founder Fr. Nathaniel Hunt (aka Titus Martianius Lupus, in Nova Roma, and Wolf Paradox in the Paradox Core) incorporated it in Arkansas as a religious non profit church.
The Temple and the origin of its polytheist tradition's Name
The sometimes confusing name comes from the fact that the raised area on the main altar (the actual shrine part) for the Sacred Deity statues to set on, is made of 4 boards of antique Irish Oak, that was sanded, and attached to the altar in a stair step pattern up to the holiest part of the altar and covered with fabric hence where the "Irish Oak" name came from. The name stuck even though the temple don't necessary worship the Irish Deities. (though some of the temple's Deities do have counterparts in the Irish Pantheons )
Beliefs
The temple is 100% Polytheistic, Members view the Deities as close family/friends.
The temples official beliefs are listed as:
1. We are devoted to the peaceful worship of the Celto-Roman-Egyptian Gods and Goddesses
2. Our core values are do what is right within the laws of honor and Maat, Live fruitful lives, manifest the Gods in the world by our actions, be true to ourselves and the Gods.
They have a belief in an after life,(The halls of Heaven) where all good people dwell with their chosen Gods, One can reincarnate, but that is up to each person in the afterlife, but only if they chose too.
Gods/Deities of the temple
While the temple focuses on the Celto-Roman Gods, it is open to all Polytheistic Deities.
As of 2015 the official temple Gods are listed as
Sulis Minerva, Wepwawet, Anubis, Brigantia, Moccus, Tarranis, Bast, Cerunincos and Nematona
. Unlike most other Pagan/Wiccan traditions the temple and its members view all the Deities as all powerful supreme beings, beyond the need for anything other than love and symbolic offerings from their children. Who along with all beings forms a chain of Divine unity.
Support of the Yazidis and Hindus, and addition of Yazidi/Hindu Deities into the temple's pantheon
In 2014 communication/friendship with the Yazidis and Hindus (Order of the Peacock Angel from ancient of Iraq Land of the Aryans, Group Representative Nallein Satana Al-Jilwah Sowilo () lead to the inclusion of the god Melek Taus/ Under the Hindu name of Lord Murugan and his brother Ganesh into the temple's Pantheon.
Chartering/Affiliation with the Universal Life Church of Modesto
In October 2013 the Temple officially chartered as a local congregation of the Universal Life Church, (Universal Life Church congregation #62735) as the temple supports and shares the goals and religious freedoms of the ULC, as well as the more organized structurer that being a ULC congregation provides. The Temple is listed on the ULC.net website's list of ULC congregations, as a congregation in good standing with ULC HQ
The temple does send all its ordinations to ULC H.Q
The temple has created a coat of arms showing its affiliation to the ULC
Modern Celto-Roman Worship
The temple views the worship ceremony both public and private as a symbolic meal shared with the Deities,
The temple holds weekly worship services, as of this writing that days are Friday/Saturday evenings. They are still in the processes of constructing a Celto-Roman festival calendar. Members are not only free to worship any Deities from the Celto-Roman time frame, they can worship any that would have come into contact with the Celts had the Celto-Roman culture would have continued into the modern day.
Members are encouraged to set up home altars to their patron Deities.
The temple's tradition includes the ritual ceremonial offerings of candles, incense, Small libations of juice/wine/mead and food offerings.
The food that is offered to the Deities in worship is then shared among the worshipers in fellowship and communion with the Gods. Altar cloths/statues and sacred tools maybe offered which would form part of the deities altar, Members may also pledge community service in the Deities names as an offering, Offerings of can goods are donated to local food banks.
Worship Services
Unlike other Pagan/Wiccan traditions and temples, The Shrine of the Irish Oak holds weekly worship services, Friday/Saturday evenings, and the chapel is open on Wednesday evenings for visitation.
Temple web sites
While the temple does have an official website at webs.com, and an yahoo group, Most if not all of its online activities, updates and posts are now done on its Facebook page
Polytheistic day of protest and remembrance
The temple took part in the Polytheist day of prayer that was held on July 31, 2015, an event for the remembrance of the ancient and holy sites/temples of Palmyra destroyed by Daesh. (https://krasskova.wordpress.com/2015/06/22/a-polytheistic-day-of-protest-remembrance/)
The temple plans on creating an altar for those Deities who's temples were destroyed.
Community service and the Rlsh community
In 2015 the temple officially started working with a Rlsh organization known as the Paradox Core, But they had been a charity and religious working relationship since early 2012
since it was founded by active duty military members the Core has military style leanings rather than the common inspiration from comic book type super heroes. Members of the organization call themselves Community Mercs or Community soldiers.

The temple has carried out various charity and religious works in the states of Arkansas,Chicago, Oklahoma and Missouri, and plans many more.
2016 temple birthday celebration
On April 12, 2016 the Temple and its tradition will turn 13 years old. there are plans for a re dedication and blessing of the temple on that date
The temple has stayed small and other than weekly worship it supports and asks its members to be active local community service and charitable works.

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