I can’t see how bede was specifically referring to paganism. To me the sparrow absolutely does not represent a pagan specifically. It represents the fleeting life of everyone in the context of a belief in the afterlife.
The point is not "the fleetingness of life" per se, it's the question of what comes before and what comes after. Bede's implication is that the pagan religion of King Edwin had no explanation, whereas Christianity provided one ("... what came before or what follows after, we do not know. Therefore, if this new lore brings anything more certain and more wise, it is worthy of that that we follow it").
In the context of early christian stuff, isn't "paganism" a catch-all for pre-abrahamic faiths? Kind of an outgroup for Christians to compare themselves to.
Yes but I see the fleetingness of life allegory as applying to everyone. Including Christians.
I still think 1731 is a long time ago, I can't quite appreciate how long ago 731 is.
Seeing BONE in all caps always makes me think of the B-1 Lancer.