# The banana- the atheist's nightmare! (Chick related) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 26, 2001, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banana-the-atheists-nightmare-chick-related/70208 "2001-06-26T14:46:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df788c/32.png) [@Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ben)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2001, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banana-the-atheists-nightmare-chick-related/70208/1 "2001-06-26T14:46:19Z")
From [http://www.raycomfort.com](http://www.raycomfort.com) (I’m afraid his frames won’t let me copy the right url, but it’s from the “Atheist test” tract.) "Note that the banana: Is shaped for human hand Has non-slip surface Has outward indicators of inward content: Green-too early, Yellow-just right, Black-too late. Has a tab for removal of wrapper Is perforated on wrapper Bio-degradable wrapper Is shaped for human mouth Has a point at top for ease of entry Is pleasing to taste buds Is curved towards the face to make eating process easy To say that the banana happened by accident is even more unintelligent than to say that no one designed the Coca Cola can." How do I know about this pseudo-Chick? I found a tract in the library. It was the shape, size, and content of a Chick tract (although I didn’t see anything about the Pope) but it has a glossy cover. Check it out yourself! [http://www.lost-ark.com](http://www.lost-ark.com). (“Hey, brother- did you know that the word ‘copyright’ occurs nowhere in the Ten Commandments?”) Rather amusingly, Mr. Comfort had a debate with an atheist named “Barrier.” One can’t help but wonder if he was chosen for his name… Oh, and did I mention that Comfort has a tract on evolution? Did I even _need_ to mention that Comfort has a tract on evolution? Is it stating the obvious to point out that Piltdown man is a key point in it? -Ben ---
**Author:** ![kabbes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@kabbes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kabbes)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2001, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banana-the-atheists-nightmare-chick-related/70208/2 "2001-06-26T15:20:02Z")
I particularly love this piece of _fantastic_ doublethink, from the evolution tract: > [@](#): > > Evolution can only be accepted on blind faith . . . because it cannot be proven. > > On the other hand, you can prove God’s existence. A building is proof that there was a builder. A painting is absolute proof that there was a painter. You don’t need to see him to believe he exists. His painting is all the evidence you need. It wouldn’t be there if he didn’t exist. Creation proves absolutely that there is a Creator. There wouldn’t be a creation if there wasn’t a Creator. A child can understand that. Convinced me! pan ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2001, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banana-the-atheists-nightmare-chick-related/70208/3 "2001-06-26T15:28:26Z")
Gad! They’re multiplying! Is it a Pod-Chick[sub]TM[/sub], or is Chick actually having \<\\> _children_?! [sub]Run! Save youse selves! Wimmin an’ chilluns first…![/sub] ---
**Author:** ![kabbes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@kabbes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kabbes)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2001, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banana-the-atheists-nightmare-chick-related/70208/4 "2001-06-26T15:50:54Z")
Of course, it strikes me that if you take it as axiomatic that _humans_ were created, then it does seem bizarre to suggest that an object so well adapted to a human as a banana would have come about by chance. I mean - think of it! All those points **Ben** listed above! What are the chances? However, once you _remove_ that axiom… pan ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2001, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banana-the-atheists-nightmare-chick-related/70208/5 "2001-06-26T16:12:35Z")
Boy, this guy nailed it all, from the complete misunderstanding of the application of statistics, to the ubiquitous out-of-context quote from Darwin about the eye. If only he had thrown in Pascal’s Wager. ---
**Author:** ![Pudgy\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Pudgy\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pudgy_Dog)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2001, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banana-the-atheists-nightmare-chick-related/70208/6 "2001-06-26T16:50:46Z")
Actually, it sounds more like something that one might purchase at the adult novelty store. Of course I was always told that people that in Central America consider yellow bananas as rotten. And my mom always waited for the bananas to get a little black to make bread out of them. Of course, if you remove the human factor and look at the banana in its native enviroment, maybe it would be logical that the banana take its form through evolution. However, if this disproves evolution, then where is the easy zip opener on my apple or orange? Why do cows need to be butchered? I should be able to just pop open the resealable bag and pull out some hamburger. Following this logic, MRE’s are grown on trees on secret government run farms. It’s just that the evil conspiracy run government that is trying to sell the human race to Satan for a few bucks doesn’t want you to know this. ---
**Author:** ![MrVisible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@MrVisible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrVisible)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2001, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banana-the-atheists-nightmare-chick-related/70208/7 "2001-06-26T17:22:24Z")
Hmm… interesting that Mr. Comfort should choose the banana as an example of God’s perfect creations. Especially since the banana, in its uncultivated form, is inedible. Bananas were originally cultivated as a form of starch, and only through human intervention did the fruit of the banana become edible to humans. A good history of banana cultivation and its interaction with human history can be found [here](http://www.inibap.org/publications/annualreport/focus195.pdf), at the website for the International Network for the Improvement of Banana and Plantain. ---
**Author:** ![saepiroth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@saepiroth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saepiroth)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2001, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banana-the-atheists-nightmare-chick-related/70208/8 "2001-06-26T23:31:03Z")
oh well, at least this guy seems to actually make covers for his drither; better for kindling. but i can’t help wondering… how does that triangle thing work in his ‘best optical illusions’ tract? i’ve never come across that illusion before… oh yes… this is the pit… [sub]ahem…[/sub] Fuck the Fundies. with Fruit. Forcefully. And Alliterate. ---
**Author:** ![Greyson3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/258eb7/32.png) [@Greyson3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greyson3)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2001, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banana-the-atheists-nightmare-chick-related/70208/9 "2001-06-26T23:57:57Z")
**saephiroth** , the triangle solution is that it isn’t really a triangle. The hypotenuse is curved, concave on the first figure and convex on the second. I’ve seen it before, and I’m not real fond of it myself. You can see a diagram at the bottom of this page: [http://www.randi.org/jr/03-09-2001.html](http://www.randi.org/jr/03-09-2001.html) I guess I probably should have chosen a more… spiritual site to link to in this thread about religious tracts, but I’m feeling contrary today. ---
**Author:** ![Greyson3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/258eb7/32.png) [@Greyson3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greyson3)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2001, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banana-the-atheists-nightmare-chick-related/70208/10 "2001-06-27T00:03:15Z")
Whoops, sorry for the double post. It appears I misspoke. The side isn’t really curved, although it appears that way at first… I guess you’d have to see it. Anyway, it isn’t something you’d smack yourself for not realizing. ---
**Author:** ![saepiroth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@saepiroth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saepiroth)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2001, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banana-the-atheists-nightmare-chick-related/70208/11 "2001-06-27T00:29:11Z")
oh… thank you. i assumed it was something like a scraped edge or an indetectibly changed shape, but it is really hard to use a straightedge and compass on your monitor. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2001, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banana-the-atheists-nightmare-chick-related/70208/12 "2001-06-27T00:40:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MrVisible \* > \*\*A good history of banana cultivation and its interaction with human history can be found [here](http://www.inibap.org/publications/annualreport/focus195.pdf), at the website for the International Network for the Improvement of Banana and Plantain. \*\* I’m just alarmed that there \*exists an International Network for the Improvement of the Banana and Plantain. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2001, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banana-the-atheists-nightmare-chick-related/70208/13 "2001-06-27T01:27:46Z")
Wow - cool. More shit to make fun of on [GHF](http://www.godhatesfundies.com/). Maybe this weekend I’ll do some write-ups. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2001, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banana-the-atheists-nightmare-chick-related/70208/14 "2001-06-27T05:49:47Z")
To expand on what **MrVisible** said… Original wild bananas are actually seed pods. They contain several large, hard, round seeds surrounded with a little pulp. Domesticated bananas are actually triploid (each cell has three copies of each gene, instead of two). Because of that, the seed cells fail during meiosis and die, leaving the pod free to fill up with nice tasty pulp. Kind of ironic that bananas are useless as God created them, and it required human intervention to make them edible. Hey - I’ll show off my knowledge whereever I can. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2001, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banana-the-atheists-nightmare-chick-related/70208/15 "2001-06-27T13:23:21Z")
[link to atheist test](http://www.raycomfort.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=lwpstore&Product_Code=231&Category_Code=Tracts). I notice that the site has a link to some forums. Hmmm… how about I offer a dollar to anyone who… OK, maybe that wouldn’t be a good idea. But I am interested in what that would be like. ---
**Author:** ![missdavis102](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7feea3/32.png) [@missdavis102](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missdavis102)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2001, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banana-the-atheists-nightmare-chick-related/70208/16 "2001-06-27T13:38:38Z")
When we’re done taking the Athiest test, do we have to check yes to receive Christ as our savior and send it back in? Will he send a missionary to my house? Would he send a young male missionary if I asked for one? Two? Would said young male missionary make me get on my knees and “repent my sins”? Make me get on my knees and do other things? Oh. Sorry, got carried away there… ::fans self, and tries to gather composure:: My review of this site: Pathetic. Simply Awful. But it’s like a narrow-gauge train wreck - small and pitiful but I can’t stop looking. Just fucking great - now I have two of these sites I can’t stay away from. Thanks a motherloving lot. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2001, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banana-the-atheists-nightmare-chick-related/70208/17 "2001-06-27T13:51:40Z")
A few things jump out at me here. First of all, the link says > [@](#): > > If you have even broken one Law, then you have sinned against God and therefore will “surely die,” for the “wages of sin is death.” Does that include jaywalking? Seems a little excessive. > [@](#): > > George Gallup, the famous statistician, said, > > “I could prove God statistically; take the human body alone; the chance that all the functions of the individual would just happen, is a statistical monstrosity.” > > Could I convince you that I dropped 50 oranges onto the ground and they by chance fell into ten rows of five oranges? The logical conclusion is that someone with an intelligent mind put them there. The odds that ten oranges would fall by accident into a straight line are mind-boggling, let alone ten rows of five. Maybe my knowledge of the Law of Averages is limited, but taking the example of the monkeys and the typewriters, wouldn’t it follow suit that, if you dropped oranges long enough, ten oranges would eventually fall by accident into ten rows of five? Or is that the Law of Diminishing Returns? Also, if the universe is supposed to be infinite, wouldn’t it also follow suit that this planet that we’re on _ **IS** _ the statistical monstrosity that Gallup made reference to? Of course, since this is the only known planet with life on it, the whole theory comes out of a completely skewed, biased perspective. ---
**Author:** ![kabbes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@kabbes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kabbes)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2001, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banana-the-atheists-nightmare-chick-related/70208/18 "2001-06-27T13:59:14Z")
If you draw lines 1 inch apart and then drop a 1 inch needle, the probability that the needle will cross a line is 2/_pi_ And if you drop enough oranges for a long enough time, they’ll eventually fall into a pattern that looks _just_ like a giant penis, complete with hairy bollocks. So there you go. pan ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2001, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banana-the-atheists-nightmare-chick-related/70208/19 "2001-06-27T14:30:34Z")
No No No Y’all are missing the point. All of our genes didn’t come together as a result of random chance. Fate didn’t just throw a bunch of chromosomes together and we came out. The fact that it all works isn’t proof of God’s existence, it’s proof that everything that DIDN’T work didn’t survive. So **of course** what made it through looks hugely complex and impressive. But that doesn’t mean it was planned. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2001, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banana-the-atheists-nightmare-chick-related/70208/20 "2001-06-27T14:55:42Z")
It seems to me that the operator of the Web site in the OP must be a follower of the Pangloss school of optimism: [quote] “It is demonstrable”, said he, “that things cannot be otherwise than as they are; for as all things have been created for some end, they must necessarily be created for the best end. Observe, for instance, the nose is formed for spectacles, therefore we wear spectacles. The legs are visibly designed for stockings, accordingly we wear stockings. Stones were made to be hewn and to construct castles, therefore My Lord has a magnificent castle; for the greatest baron in the province ought to be the best lodged. Swine were intended to be eaten, therefore we eat pork all the year round: and they, who assert that everything is right, do not express themselves correctly; they should say that everything is best.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banana-the-atheists-nightmare-chick-related/70208.md?page=2)