I heard about this molecule called Laminin that apparently looks like a Cross. In this age of stuff appearing in tortillas and what have you, I decided to check it out. Thinking about it, I remembered one lecturer in introducing histology mentioning about this Laminin molecule in connection to molecules in the extracellular matrix. He did not elaborate on the structure of this molecule.
So I went to Google. The first item on the search takes me to a video of Louie Giglio wowing a crowd showing a “scientific diagram” of this Laminin. Needless to say that his presentation was pretty cool (though overwrought with much emotion), I wasn’t too impressed by all the skeptics/atheists flaming in the comments section of the video. It was almost like the haters had a skewed perception of what exactly is being claimed here. In fact there was a good clarification by the uploader of another one of the video:
its something i found uplifting so i recorded it. we don’t worship laminin. we don’t worship every cross shaped object. we just found it ENCOURAGING, UPLIFTING, etc etc that the protein that essentially holds our body together is in the shape of the cross where Jesus died for EVERYONE.
Indeed, its just something one finds subjectively “uplifting”. No one is claiming that this vindicates the Christian faith or that Jesus’ resurrection was real. No one is trying to force any one to believe anything. Yet, it is frustrating to see people attack/flame stuff like this-who feel that need to deride the religious’ marvel at these things. Heck, there is even another video, claiming to debunk this non existent argument. Wow, what commotion…
From a scientific point of view, this protein resembling a cross would not suggest anything except that this shape is optimal for the function this molecule carries out in the body. However, one must keep in mind that proteins are dynamic molecules that might change their shape as they fulfill their function, so this molecule might not look like the shape of the cross at all times-only in certain instances. Still, a valid representation of the molecule would depict it as cross shaped. So nothing wrong with it. Apparently, this protein is a crucial component of _all_ animals and humans’ extracellular matrix. Y’all who are hatin’, give us a break. It is funny seeing the depths people are prepared to go to over nothing, literally nothing.
And finally, If Louie was trying to say, “Oh Look, here is a molecule that looks like a cross” then, cool. If he was trying to demonstrate that this molecule is evidence of God’s promise, then I’m sorry he failed.
August 25, 2008 at 5:07 pm
every great articifer has left an imprint on their greatest work..no doubt that the great designer and sovereign ruler left His..His providential authority and love is merely verified once again…from the tabernacle of moses…to the cross of Christ…to the actual body of the believer(the temple of God)…His presence is so necessary…His Glory is revealed…we thank God for bringing this to light…”for in Him we live, and move, and have our being…let us Worship Him….
August 25, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Hi bishopmark,
But I said that just because the molecule is “cross-shaped” (and it is highly doubtful it stays in the shape in our body) does not mean that God has left his imprint on us in the form of this molecule. This molecule takes the shape of the Cross only in representations like that in my post. But its okay to wonder over this….
September 15, 2008 at 2:43 am
To Mr. Scientist to be,
You have to read, Romans 1:22.. You claim to be wise but you become fool…believe stop being a skeptics..JESUS HOLDS ALL THINGS TOGETHER.(Col.1:17).whether you believe it or not!!
Matt.12:30 says “He who is not with me is against me. And he who is not with me SCATTERS (disintegrate)..I told You only JESUS HOLD ALL THINGS TOGETHER..whether its an entire COSMOS, UNIVERSE or even in all of CREATION including all molecules and LAMININ…JESUS “..UPHOLD ALL THINGS..”-(Heb.1:3)
September 15, 2008 at 10:12 am
Hi Joel Arbole,
First, excuse me for your comment not appearing immediately: all newly registered comments are in moderation until I release them. So, no need to re-submit your comment. Its a one-man blog, so please understand.
Second, I’m not a skeptic, I’m a Christian. I loath sensationalist presentations like what Louie did. I firmly believe that emotional appeals would do little to save an unbeliever. I don’t care whether Louie is a Christian or skeptic, if his argument is a non-sequitur, I will call it exactly that. With that being said,…
You said:
On that, I would agree with you. I believe, God is the Sustainer of all things. All of Creation depends on his sustenance. But this was not Louie’s argument! If you watch the video, he asks the question, [paraphrase]“How can we know such and such specific promises of God are true?”, then goes off on a tangent about Laminin! Listen, if God withdrew his sustaining power, nothing would exist, not a single thing. That is the bleeding obvious from a standpoint of Christian theology. To take that as support for a specific promise of God is quite a stretch, in my view. Hence, I disagree with Louie’s argument, if you can call it that.
And, thanks for commenting.
February 8, 2009 at 6:09 pm
I have found some new info about Laminin and I blogged it here. Check it out.
February 17, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Interesting, but silly. Mine is a family of evangelistic Christians–I’m not one–and they make hay of silly stuff like this, using it to further illustrate some divine creationist. The flip side of divine creation is also the presence of cancers and other diseases wrought upon innocent children, newborns.
If your is such a loving god, why does it terrorize babies?
February 19, 2009 at 9:32 pm
Hi Edward,
It makes Christianity look comical when some Christians try to use Laminin as an apologetic. From your question, “If your is such a loving god, why does it terrorize babies?” I can guess your very evangelistic Christian family members haven’t been doing their work properly. If you don’t mind me asking, have they ever mentioned to you something called “sin”? I hope they have.
There are many responses to the Problem of Evil from a Christian point of view; too numerous for me to mention here. I suggest you avail yourself of such material to gain a deeper understanding.
May 12, 2009 at 6:52 am
I find it humorous when you say that “no one is claiming that this vindicates the Christian faith”, yet people are doing just that, including some in your own comments section.
May 12, 2009 at 11:31 am
Hi Russell,
Ha! Indeed, it is ironic. I guess you’ll find people like that in all sides of the debate. To take what I said in context, Laminin being cross shaped was not brought up by Louie to convince unbelievers of the truth of Christianity but to assure believers of the reality of God’s promises coming true. If the motivation of Louie was to convince unbelievers of the truth of Christianity, there is no better argument to use than the Resurrection. However, a lot of folk are trying to use Louie’s example as a general design argument as far as I know. And yes some of the comments here are a bit over enthusiastic about the prospects of Laminin!
June 19, 2009 at 3:25 am
I saw the video yesterday. I’m a Christian. I was encouraged by such an emotional presention by Giglio. As Christians, we must be passionate and emotional in what we believe. We believe that on the cross Christ was the propitiation for our sins. Moreover, we must be extremely emotional that He, Jesus Christ, resurrected from the dead. The evidence is all there to convince us that He did died, was laid in the tomb and He resurrected. So Louie’s presentation reminds me as a believer that God is everywhere, and even if a protein such as laminin, shouldn’t be a big deal, or the x-factor of the whirlpool galaxy, the form we see from those reminds me of Christ and God.
June 19, 2009 at 11:57 am
Hi Mario tbh, that’s fine. I could do with a lot less hype from Louie and explanations that make sense though….if you catch my drift.
August 28, 2009 at 11:22 pm
i saw this in my 9th grade bible class the other day and i was like…wow….it was just cool, it reminded me of colossians 1:17 …im 14 i cant believe i actually remembered a bible reference that wasnt like genesis 1:1 or john 3:16 ya know? i just have a question (for a report in that very bible class) what is the name of the part of the cross that is parallel to the ground and what is the vertical pole called too? plz answer quick its due monday!!!
November 14, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Hey good sir,
I want to say thank you first of all for having this blog/conversation. I have never blogged before this is my first time and i am impressed with the debate/conversation. I am a follower of Christ and I am inspired by what I have found with the protein, laminin. I havent seen the Louie video yet but my buddy said it was cool. I read a book by Lee Stroble called, A Case for a Creator that you might find interesting where it is more fact than emotion. But one image that he describes so well is the make up of a single celled organism. His comparison is a classic mouse trap with the pin the 3″ by 2″ wooden board the metal bar that comes down to crush the mouse and the tightly wound spring. If you take any one of those components away the mouse trap wont work. The same with the make up of proteins and our celluer make-up. The laminin is interesting but to know that life in itself can not evolve, if you will, but must be held together and PUT together is marvelous. Check out that book, I think you will like it.
As a fallower of Christ we can not believe in good luck or bad luck, chance or coincidence because there isnt any with God, He has a strict plan. So there is no coincidence that laminin is in the cross shape or the squigly cross shape under a microscope but from the smallest protein to canes magorious (SP) it brings Him glory for Him alone. Final note, He created that crossed shaped laminin to bring one if not an X amount of people to Him.