With a 2000 year old history, the Holy Thorn Tree of Glastonbury has stood as an important symbol for Christians in England — a pilgrimage point retracing the steps of Joseph of Arimathea (believed to be Jesus’ great uncle). Now it has been cut down in what some are alleging to be an anti-Christian act of vandalism. I have seen no evidence establishing an anti-Christian intent.
Now, the tree stump is covered in police tape.
Many Christians believe that Saint Joseph traveled to the location after Christ was crucified — bringing with him the Holy Grail. The legend is that Joseph stuck his wooden staff in the ground when he went to sleep on the hill and when he woke, a thorn tree had sprouted.
The tree would flower twice a year at Christmas and Easter.
When the original tree was chopped down by the Puritans in the Civil War, the cuttings were replanted and this tree was from one of those cuttings.
Experts have verified that the tree – known as the Crategus Monogyna Bi Flora – originated from the Middle East.
An arrest in the case will present an interesting question of the appropriate charge and whether it will be treated as a hate crime.
Source: Daily Mail
The whole-wide-world would be better off in all respects if Christianity were lopped off at its ugly head and only a stump remained as a vestige reminder of the untold evils it has wrought upon mankind.
Or like in Texas the Liberty Tree was poisoned over a love gone bad…….
I don’t know where the idea that this tree can be established scientifically to have come from the Middle East can have originated. This thorn is a variant of the common hawthorn which is native to Europe as well as parts of North Africa and parts of Asia. All known living specimens are cultivars of the original Glastonbury variety.
I’d like to see any evidence for the claim, but it does sound like wishful thinking of the kind that is encouraged by religious legends. On the face of it there doesn’t seem to be any reason why it should not be completely native to Glastonbury.
This callous and nasty act of vandalism aside, the Glastonbury legend doesn’t make a lot of sense. Christianity wasn’t properly established in England for many centuries after the events of the gospels, and the earliest known written version of the legend of Joseph of Aramathea is in the early medieval period. Early church historians, some of whom name early evangelists who visited Britain, do not mention him.
This thorn is fairly unique to the area, though. Several trees exist, supposedly propagated from cuttings from an original, and all of them blossom twice a year. Attempts to grow from seed all seem to produce the form that blossoms only once a year.
AN,
“What’s Graber doing?”
“I don’t know. Why does he have his guitar in his mouth?”
I had heard that in years! An old Dr. Demento favorite.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tVx4d7po_E&fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0]
pete:
LOL
You’re a treasure — an “amish rock and roll band.”
Priceless.
.
i think we can safely rule out the druids.
that would be about as likely as a quaker riot
or an amish rock and roll band
Silly religionistical claptrap. Sorry about the tree, though. We mourn any wasted, such as those sacrificed for the 600,000 unsold Palin books.
Bdaman:
He does? Are you sure?
He doesn’t know I was freezing my arse off down here.
Asian women are waiting with baited (they eat sushi) breath for your apology.
I really want to know if you are going to apologize to all Asian women?
I think you should apologize to Buddha for offending him as well, he is so delicate doncha know.
bdaman, It’s not an infection and don’t use me as a carom point to continue the endless pissing contest between you two. I’m tired of it as is and my posting problem is to me, frankly, more important than the fact that some of the posters here poke at each other with pointed sticks and act rudely to each other, you both act badly.
I’m already pi$$ed off, don’t use me to make a point in that silly game. :-/
lottakatz
your infected, ask Buddha what you should do. I’m curious to hear his answer. He’s been working on computers since he was five and he knows everything.
The Tor is a wonderful sight, though I have not seen the tree (and now won’t ever.)
Glasters itself is a bit tacky, although my last visit was 20 years back – every other shop being a “head” shop (man).
The world famous festival is actually about 6 miles away at Pilton and is one of those “must do before you die” experiences, although very expensive now, which is a shame.
No matter the motivation, it is a sad and overtly evil act to cut down any monument that others find meaningful, regardless of why. I don’t think it would be too difficult to make this a crime of hate, given its history and significance.
dumb
Lotta,
If you haven’t already done so, try clearing out your memory, reboot and see if that clears up the circle of frustration. Failing that … try chum … sharks are dunb
lottakatz, I posted another message to you on another thread, but with this “old age” thing, I can’t remember where… 🙂
It’s this site, I just posted links to another site- also, I’m now getting an old version of this site, the latest article is missing from the opening page- I also got a message on the third thread on this site I tried to post to “You are posting too fast- slow down”.