Are you really that upset that he mentioned Jesus? It’s easily the most well known clue for that river and I don’t think it really degrades the quiz overall. Did you want him to put “river that was used to partition Transjordan and Palestine”? That pretty much gives away the answer.
As a staunch atheist, it didn't even cross my mind that anyone would take issue with that clue. It does sometimes seem like people are actively trying to be offended.
Very reasonable position. As everyone knows, religion has never played a part in history. And it's not like this Jesus guy may have had any significant historical influence.
I'd also suggest docking an additional star for the unnecessary zoology in the dolphins question, and even another one for the unnecessary architecture with the Notre Dame.
I've been to the spot in the River Jordan where Jesus was baptized. Or, at least one of them. I've read about at least five or six similar places claiming to be the same spot and neglected to visit them. I'm sure they're all equally well attested. Anyway, definitely historical...
I think in the Middle Ages there were so many "genuine fingers of St Paul" being flogged by itinerant priests that, put together, the poor old apostle must have had hundreds if not thousands of hands.
It wasn't just British POWs who suffered and built the Burma railway. There were a lot of commonwealth (especially Aussies) and Dutch too. But by far the greatest death toll was to the "native" workers from a variety of places around SE Asia. Something like 7 times as many dead as the Allied POWs.
The Nevka is a distributary channel that branches from the Neva at the delta with the Gulf of Finland. The Malaya Nevka (little Nevka) is a distributary channel that branches off the Nevka. Within St Petersburg, the names of the separate channels are important to describe exactly which body of water is meant.
I'd also suggest docking an additional star for the unnecessary zoology in the dolphins question, and even another one for the unnecessary architecture with the Notre Dame.
(He did, of course, exist though)