A new on-line user generated concept from the creators of Wikipedia is hoping to end all religious strife across the world. The so-called Wiki-Bible project plans to have one on-line holy book for all world faiths, written and edited by the world-wide community.

‘Like all ideas, the genius is in its simplicity,’ said creator Karl Eckstein. ‘If someone feels strongly that the central tenet of another religion is fundamentally wrong, then they can go on-line and change it. This morning the Wiki-Bible stated quite categorically that there was but one god and his name was Allah. This afternoon, another editor had corrected that to explain that there were in fact a number of different gods including Ganesh, Krishna, Vishnu and Cristiano Ronaldo.’

It is hoped that by asserting their version of which is the one true faith, fundamentalists around the world will be diverted from asserting their beliefs through violence or religious persecution. ‘But we hope that eventually, people of all faiths will accept this as the one true holy text for all mankind’ added Eckstein. ‘Plus if you find yourself having broken one of the central commandments of your religion, you can always go online and change it. This morning the seventh commandment read ‘Though shalt not commit adultery. Unless it is with thy neighbour’s wife Janice.’

The Wiki-Bible site has been swamped with visitors since its launch, with thousands of editors from the Vatican, Israel and Mecca logging on to adjust the emphasis in the Wiki-Gospels. ‘There are still a few nuances to be ironed out’ admitted Eckstein. ‘I think that bit about God having promised the land of Judea to the Buddhists and Taoists as well might not be very helpful. And admittedly it all gets a bit confusing towards the end.’ But according to the world’s definitive holy e-book, for the time being the sacred text is quite clear. ‘And yea, God laid down his life for his only son. And his name was Luke Skywalker.’

Birdwatchers in Devon were perplexed by the bizarre behaviour of a large black bird yesterday, that local farmers reported as being ‘distressed and alarmed’ every time it passed a certain part of a cornfield. ‘At first we thought there must be some sort of dangerous predator lurking in the long grass’ said keen twitcher Mike Springer, because it was definitely frightened by something. ‘Then someone pointed out that the bird’s distress seemed to increase every time it flew near a couple of sticks that had been propped in the middle of the field, with an old jacket slung over them and a tatty straw hat on top.’

The ragged clothes on the old sticks have been a feature of the field for many years, and are a popular resting spot for passing rooks and jackdaws. But this particular bird, later identified as Corvus Corax, or the common raven, was clearly scared of something. ‘We think it might it might have been the particular clothes stuck on the effigy’ said one of the birdwatchers. ‘The figure wasn’t wearing an anorak, or beige nylon trousers, and to be honest we were all a little alarmed ourselves!’