Laminin argument
The laminin argument is an attempt to prove the existence of the Christian god. The argument promotes the idea that God left a hallmark of its creation of living beings in the form of the laminin glycoprotein.
The pastor Louie Giglio promotes this argument in one of his DVD sermons. It has since been passed around in chain letter e-mails and social networking sites.
- "You see ... laminins are what hold us together ... LITERALLY. They are cell adhesion molecules. They are what holds one cell of our bodies to the next cell. Without them, we would literally fall apart. And I knew all this already. But what I didn't know is what laminin LOOKED LIKE. But now I do. [...] And now we see that from a very LITERAL standpoint, we are held together...one cell to another....by the cross. [1]"
Argument
The argument runs as follows: [2][1]
- p1. Laminin is a protein that bonds living cells together.
- p2. Laminin is shaped like a cross.
- p3. The cross is the symbol of Christianity.
- c1. Laminin's shape is the signature or hallmark of an intelligent designer
- c2. That designer is the Christian god.
Counter arguments
Biblical inaccuracy
The earliest known copies of the gospels use the word stauros for Jesus's cross. According to historians of the time, the stauros crucifixion was done as a "T" shape. Jesus's cross was not cross-shaped.
Asserted resemblance between two arbitrary objects
- Main Article: Association fallacy
A commonly used illustrative format of the structure of laminin can be said to resemble a cross (among other things, such as a sword or caduceus [the latter being a symbol of the Greek god Hermes], or even an inverted cross [which is often displayed to mock the Christian god]). The actual protein itself would have to be manipulated from the form it takes in nature in order to resemble a cross. Humans have a bias, called apophenia, that perceives false patterns in random data.
Cherry picking a single protein
- Main Article: Cherry picking
Laminin is not the only protein or cell found in animal connective tissues. None of the others (nor their structural illustrations) can be said to be shaped like a cross.
As noted above, laminin is only found in animals. Is it being suggested that another entity designed the plants?
Graven images are forbidden
- Main Article: 2nd commandment
A common criticism of Christianity is that it breaks the second commandment (of the Biblical Ten Commandments) by the use of the cross or crucifix as a symbol of worship. If this is an accurate criticism, then the Christian god is encouraging the breaking of its own commandments.
Which God?
- Main Article: Which God?
Even if intelligent design was proven, it does not prove the Christian god was involved. Extraterrestrials that use a cross as a symbol are one of the many other possibilities.
References
See also
External links
- Wikipedia:Laminin - Wikipedia article on laminin
- [3] - Snopes article on debunking the laminin argument, includes the structural illustration often used in the argument and photo of laminin as found in nature
- [4] - Youtube clip of Giglio making the laminin argument
- A lame argument about laminin A good rebuttal
- Many other molecules have shapes that can be seen or imagined as special for many different religions. Laminin is not unique.