The Banana, an Atheist Nightmare (revisited)

[Wolfman]

Awhile ago, Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron came under fire for producing a video in which Ray argued that the banana is the atheist's "worst nightmare", because it conclusively proves the existence of God. He pointed out the a banana is perfectly shaped not only to be held in the human hand, but also to point towards the mouth as eating it. The convenient stem on top works as a 'tab' to open it, like the tabs on the top of a can of Coke.

Critics were quick to pile on and point out that the modern banana has been deliberately engineered by humans, and that the original wild ancestors of our modern banana enjoyed almost none of those human-friendly characteristics.

However, in a moment of remarkable inspiration/revelation, I've come to realize that Mr. Comfort was absolutely correct...he was just looking at it from the wrong perspective!

Evolution had no way of predicting that the modern banana would ever appear. Therefore, evolving a hand that is perfectly engineered to hold, open, and eat a modern banana would have had no evolutionary purpose whatsoever. Why would evolution have given us banana-holding hands, if there were no modern bananas to hold/open/eat? The only reasonable conclusion is that there must be a God who knew that some day, bananas would appear on the scene, and that humans would need properly designed hands with which to hold, open, and consume those bananas.

Thus, through the exercise of pure logic, devoid of any fallacies or errors whatsoever, I have demonstrated the unequivocal, undeniable reality of God's existence.

Discuss.

 

[Brainache]

I think the whole thing is an example of someone grasping something else which is banana shaped.

 

[tsig]

Awhile ago, Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron came under fire for producing a video in which Ray argued that the banana is the atheist's "worst nightmare", because it conclusively proves the existence of God. He pointed out the a banana is perfectly shaped not only to be held in the human hand, but also to point towards the mouth as eating it. The convenient stem on top works as a 'tab' to open it, like the tabs on the top of a can of Coke.

Critics were quick to pile on and point out that the modern banana has been deliberately engineered by humans, and that the original wild ancestors of our modern banana enjoyed almost none of those human-friendly characteristics.

However, in a moment of remarkable inspiration/revelation, I've come to realize that Mr. Comfort was absolutely correct...he was just looking at it from the wrong perspective!

Evolution had no way of predicting that the modern banana would ever appear. Therefore, evolving a hand that is perfectly engineered to hold, open, and eat a modern banana would have had no evolutionary purpose whatsoever. Why would evolution have given us banana-holding hands, if there were no modern bananas to hold/open/eat? The only reasonable conclusion is that there must be a God who knew that some day, bananas would appear on the scene, and that humans would need properly designed hands with which to hold, open, and consume those bananas.

Thus, through the exercise of pure logic, devoid of any fallacies or errors whatsoever, I have demonstrated the unequivocal, undeniable reality of God's existence.

Discuss.

Mankind's a hand job?

 

[Wowbagger]

Also, it's often easier to open a banana from the bottom.

 

[Wolfman]

Also, it's often easier to open a banana from the bottom.

...with your banana-opening hand!

 

[fuelair]

Awhile ago, Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron came under fire for producing a video in which Ray argued that the banana is the atheist's "worst nightmare", because it conclusively proves the existence of God. He pointed out the a banana is perfectly shaped not only to be held in the human hand, but also to point towards the mouth as eating it. The convenient stem on top works as a 'tab' to open it, like the tabs on the top of a can of Coke.

Critics were quick to pile on and point out that the modern banana has been deliberately engineered by humans, and that the original wild ancestors of our modern banana enjoyed almost none of those human-friendly characteristics.

However, in a moment of remarkable inspiration/revelation, I've come to realize that Mr. Comfort was absolutely correct...he was just looking at it from the wrong perspective!

Evolution had no way of predicting that the modern banana would ever appear. Therefore, evolving a hand that is perfectly engineered to hold, open, and eat a modern banana would have had no evolutionary purpose whatsoever. Why would evolution have given us banana-holding hands, if there were no modern bananas to hold/open/eat? The only reasonable conclusion is that there must be a God who knew that some day, bananas would appear on the scene, and that humans would need properly designed hands with which to hold, open, and consume those bananas.

Thus, through the exercise of pure logic, devoid of any fallacies or errors whatsoever, I have demonstrated the unequivocal, undeniable reality of God's existence.

Discuss.

Actually, the banana was perfectly evolved to substitute for what Kirk clearly prefers to receive per anum. A giant kumquat. Or a big cucumber.

 

[fuelair]

I think the whole thing is an example of someone grasping something else which is banana shaped.

In all fainess, Kirk does strike me as a bit of a jack-off-all-tradesmen. Though he may prefer to deal orally with them.

 

[Craig4]

Mankind's a hand job?

Well, sometimes it starts like that. Foreplay is important don't ya know.

 

[Lukraak_Sisser]

Let us not forget that this god ALSO predicted that one day we would invent slapstick movies and thus he at the same time created the banana peel in sucht a way that we might be entertained.

That's me convinced.

But now, what commandmends would god have given us trough his creation of the banana?

 

[Jrrarglblarg]

Thou shalt not refrigerate the bananas.

 

[Mudcat]

But now, what commandmends would god have given us trough his creation of the banana?

Though salt put banana in a cream pie for it to be implanted in an unsuspecting victim's face.

 

[Ron_Tomkins]

Awhile ago, Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron came under fire for producing a video in which Ray argued that the banana is the atheist's "worst nightmare", because it conclusively proves the existence of God. He pointed out the a banana is perfectly shaped not only to be held in the human hand, but also to point towards the mouth as eating it. The convenient stem on top works as a 'tab' to open it, like the tabs on the top of a can of Coke.

Critics were quick to pile on and point out that the modern banana has been deliberately engineered by humans, and that the original wild ancestors of our modern banana enjoyed almost none of those human-friendly characteristics.

However, in a moment of remarkable inspiration/revelation, I've come to realize that Mr. Comfort was absolutely correct...he was just looking at it from the wrong perspective!

Evolution had no way of predicting that the modern banana would ever appear. Therefore, evolving a hand that is perfectly engineered to hold, open, and eat a modern banana would have had no evolutionary purpose whatsoever. Why would evolution have given us banana-holding hands, if there were no modern bananas to hold/open/eat? The only reasonable conclusion is that there must be a God who knew that some day, bananas would appear on the scene, and that humans would need properly designed hands with which to hold, open, and consume those bananas.

Thus, through the exercise of pure logic, devoid of any fallacies or errors whatsoever, I have demonstrated the unequivocal, undeniable reality of God's existence.

Discuss.

Are you trying to play Devil's Advocate? Cause you're not doing a very good job at it, my friend

 

[Toke]

I wonder why Kirk Cameron have only talked of how the banana fits in the hand?

 

[catsmate]

Awhile ago, Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron came under fire for producing a video in which Ray argued that the banana is the atheist's "worst nightmare", because it conclusively proves the existence of God. He pointed out the a banana is perfectly shaped not only to be held in the human hand, but also to point towards the mouth as eating it. The convenient stem on top works as a 'tab' to open it, like the tabs on the top of a can of Coke.

Critics were quick to pile on and point out that the modern banana has been deliberately engineered by humans, and that the original wild ancestors of our modern banana enjoyed almost none of those human-friendly characteristics.

However, in a moment of remarkable inspiration/revelation, I've come to realize that Mr. Comfort was absolutely correct...he was just looking at it from the wrong perspective!

Evolution had no way of predicting that the modern banana would ever appear. Therefore, evolving a hand that is perfectly engineered to hold, open, and eat a modern banana would have had no evolutionary purpose whatsoever. Why would evolution have given us banana-holding hands, if there were no modern bananas to hold/open/eat? The only reasonable conclusion is that there must be a God who knew that some day, bananas would appear on the scene, and that humans would need properly designed hands with which to hold, open, and consume those bananas.

Thus, through the exercise of pure logic, devoid of any fallacies or errors whatsoever, I have demonstrated the unequivocal, undeniable reality of God's existence.

Discuss.

Why limit yourself to human evolution/design? I knew a Malamute who could peel bananas (and amazingly didn't eat the skin).

 

[sphenisc]

I'd be more impressed if boiled eggs had transparent shells and a screw top.

 

[12AX7]

For my money, it doesn't get any better than the 'life in the peanut butter jar' gig.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZFG5PKw504

 

[annnnoid]

….and of course….the only reasonable conclusion to arrive at when adjudicating the existence of creatures with the capacity to hold, open, and consume them banana’s is that they are apes!

….but hang on one dang picken minute there. Are you an ape?

Does this story have a happy ending? Do we have the slightest clue why ‘evolution’ (or whatever the hell it is) saw fit to produce something with the ability to adjudicate the activity of adjudication…and then go have a beer and ponder the meaning of it all? I mean…what possible evolutionary purpose does something as subjective as ‘subjective experience’ serve???? …..”facken ell…that banana tasted like a monkey’s bum…but don’t I just love monkey’s bums!” […I’ve heard they eat damn near everything in China…] ?

N O T ... Y E T (see here for evidence of this)

…but mightily do they struggle who presume to build the tower. Babel rises again (or is that babble…never quite get it right).

…but good on ya Wolfman…creative as always. Thinkin outside the box. All but incontrovertible proof you’re not an ape (banana consumption notwithstanding)…if we had any idea how to establish that anything at all is (incontrovertible…that is).

 

[Marduk]

Thus, through the exercise of pure logic, devoid of any fallacies or errors whatsoever, I have demonstrated the unequivocal, undeniable reality of God's existence.

Discuss.

I think you've just shown that Gorillas are the chosen people, now it suddenly makes sense, thats why the bible only fools people with a chimp like intellect

 

[marplots]

It's actually a very powerful argument, although made banal and silly with the banana example. The argument that man can discover God by examining creation goes at least as far back as Calvin in the 16th century.

In the broad form it has a strong emotional hook -- things appear ordered and purposeful because that's the way God created them to be. Without God's plan and imposed structure, chaos would rule.

You can argue that this idea drove many early Christians (and probably others, I'm just not familiar with how it played out in the middle east) to seek the underlying laws of nature because they were evidence of God's hand. Might even credit the rise of scientific thinking to it.

 

[TimCallahan]

I think the whole thing is an example of someone grasping something else which is banana shaped.

That makes perfect sense to me. God gave us hands for our own bananas. The only thing I don't understand is why women have hands.