Read a very interesting yet odd article the other day by the Vatican’s Chief Astronomer. Can’t remember his name but it sounded a bit like a pasta dish. Who knew that the Vatican had astronomers? Yet they do. They’re into science. Apparently.

And this dude was trying to find an explanation for the Star of Bethlehem, the Christmas Star. In science. As if the action of a supernova, a collision of meteorites, the interaction between Jupiter and Venus, would actually prove, not just the nativity narrative, but that Jesus Christ was absolutely the ‘son of God’.

But the opposite happened. They’ve scoured records, they’ve re-wound the entire universe for 2000 years and at the time of Jesus’ birth, there was NO astronomical oddities of a bright, flashy nature. The planetary positions were wrong. We know when supernovas occurred and they didn’t back then. So rather than accept the somewhat inevitable conclusion that ‘its the Bible; the gospel, IT WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE FUCKING LITERAL!!!!’ Bishop Star-Gazer instead took this doubtful event as proof of a miracle. If it didn’t occur according to the laws of physics, nature and astronomy then it is DEFINITELY AND WITHOUT DOUBT a miracle. God shone the light to guide the kings to Jesus. Otherwise, without streetlights or satnav, they’d have struggled to find that barn in Bethlehem.

Which is why we should never, ever, let religion into the science lab. Otherwise the answer to every single question, from the splitting of atoms to the forces of gravity, from quantum mechanics to evolution has but one simple answer: God done it. Makes exam papers easier but doesn’t really advance the cause much.

Sajid Javid, the Communities Secretary for the Government, wants to implement an ‘oath’ to British Values, to be sworn by all those in public office, as a model for newly arriving immigrants who should do the same. To avoid extremism and extremist views. “Oh, no, I can’t join in that jihadi plot that I’ve been groomed for since I was 4 because I’ve sworn allegiance to British Values and it didn’t mention suicide vests so I can’t do it. Sorry.” No-one’s ever lied under oath to achieve a further cause, get a job, sleep with the woman…

And Arsenal lost.

Happy Monday

A xxxx