And I would almost go further to say that this is not unlike the destruction of the Buddhas of Bamyan by the Taliban.
I have to agree with you that this is indeed a case of sacrilege. Do you think that someone might take the hump against science and cut that down? The apple tree under which Newton is supposed to have observed a falling apple and hit upon the idea of gravity has been grafted and can be found in a number of auspicious locations including MIT. You might be interested to learn that there are other sacred trees in the world.
In fact, the thorn has been replaced continuously over the centuries and so it wont be long before the tree is replanted on Wearyall Hill. There is also more than one tree as I understand with another one in the grounds of the Church of St John. Cromwell’s soldiers cut it down and burned it during the English Civil Wars but it was replanted. However, the Glastonbury Thorn will triumph in the end. I, for one, do not want to see these go and take great joy and satisfaction considering the foibles of mankind and the need for superstition. Where would we stop? This part of Somerset is dotted with the legacy of obsolete religions from the prehistoric mounds and Stonehenge to the incredible abbeys of Bath, Wells, and Salisbury. I do not want to see these religious practices eliminated and I think it gives atheists a bad reputation (if indeed the desecration was done in this cause). I think that the act was pointless and destructive. It could have been someone from a different religion but I imagine that it was probably someone who does not like religion. No doubt this was done by someone who takes exception to Christian superstitions. It holds a very special significance all over the world and thousands follow in the footsteps of Joseph Arimathea, coming especially to see it.” The local folk of Glastonbury are shocked. Katherine Gorbing, the director of Glastonbury Abbey said, “The mindless vandals who have hacked down this tree have struck at the heart of Christianity. It was done deliberately because the tree was considered sacred. The act has been called vandalism but really it is sacreligious. It was only last Wednesday that I watched a local TV news report of the ritual where a child from a nearby school has the honour to cut off a branch to send to the Queen so that she can put it on the royal dining table for Christmas. It spookily used to flower every Christmas and Easter and at one point was the most famous tree in Christendom. It was reputedly said to have grown from the staff of Joseph of Arimathea which burst into blossom when he thrust it into Wearyall Hill close to the Glastonbury Tor. Two days ago, somebody cut down Glastonbury’s famous thorn tree. Glastonbury Thorn photographed last month
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