Prompt Cast
The Doubtful Massacre of the Innocent Babies of Bethlehem and the Tay Rail Bridge Disaster
TLDR The massacre of the innocent babies of Bethlehem described in the Gospel of Saint Matthew is likely not a historical event, raising doubts about its authenticity. The Tay Rail Bridge in Scotland collapsed due to high winds, resulting in the death of passengers and the bridge's designer, and inspired the worst poet in recorded history, William McGonagall.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
The massacre of the innocent babies of Bethlehem, as described in the Gospel of Saint Matthew, is likely not a historical event and is not mentioned by any other gospel writers or historians, raising doubts about its authenticity.
03:35
The Gospel of Matthew likely draws parallels between Jesus and Moses, with Jesus going to Egypt and Herod's massacre of the innocent babies of Bethlehem reflecting the story of Moses leading the children of Israel out of Egypt.
06:57
Herod, despite being a brutal and ambitious ruler, is celebrated by the church as the one who inadvertently brings about the first Christian martyrs and inspires the famous Coventry Carol.
09:53
The episode discusses the construction and subsequent disaster of the Tay Rail Bridge in Scotland, which collapsed due to high winds, resulting in the death of passengers on the Edinburgh Express.
13:15
The Tay Rail Bridge collapses with a train on it, resulting in the death of approximately 75 people, including the staff, and the bridge's designer, Sir Thomas Bouch, dies less than a year later from shock and distress of mind; this event captures the attention of William McGonagall, known as the worst poet in recorded history, who later has a religious conversion.
16:24
William McGonagall has a religious conversion and walks 60 miles to Baal Moral, where he declares himself the Queen's poet, despite being told that Tennyson holds that title, and later writes his masterpiece, a poem about the Tay Bridge disaster.
19:20
William McGonagall's reputation as a poet was so poor that he resorted to working in a circus where he would read his poetry while the audience pelted him with eggs, flour, and other items.
Categories:
History
