If you build a giant, 33 meter flammable statue in the middle of a town, you can’t exactly say that you couldn’t imagine the possibility that it might be hit by lightning and catch on fire. My guess is that they assured themselves that since they were building an effigy of their god, that surely it would be spare the wrath of nature. It only took two years for this ugly mess to be struck by lightning. Now, the small Mexican town that wanted to be known for having the world tallest Jesus statue will have to contemplate trying to spend another 6 years rebuilding it.

The hilarious thing is that it’s not the first time this kind of incident has happened. In 2007, a statue of Jesus was also hit by lightning, and the nuns were quick to claim that it held no religious significance and was simply an act of nature, and not God (boy when the miracle looks sinister, they sure like to pull the “nature” card). Then, three years later, the hideous “Touchdown Jesus” was also struck down. Both were repaired, their parishioners having learned nothing of the devastating power of mother nature.

So, I’m not a superstitious man, but if you religious symbols are being burned down systematically with what almost looks like targeted strikes, is it perhaps not time to rethink the whole affair?