LOS ANGELES: Today, best-selling author and Creationist, Ray Comfort, is inviting Richard Dawkins to a 20-minute debate on the existence of God in honor of the 150th Anniversary of Charles Darwin's The Origin of Species.
During lectures and in interviews, Dawkins has called Comfort the 'Banana Man' because of Comfort's well-known Creationism skit. In fact, on September 29, 2009, during a presentation in Toronto, and at other times, Dawkins has imitated Comfort's rendition of the banana's role in creation.
Yesterday, Comfort and actor Kirk Cameron joined 1,200 Christians across the nation in giving away 170,000 copies The Origin of Species at 100 of America's top universities. One thousand free copies were also distributed at Oxford, which is Dawkins' hometown university.
Dawkins has publicly called Comfort "an ignorant fool," has told his students to rip out Comfort's Introduction to The Origin of Species, and has asked Comfort for $100,000 before he will enter a debate.
"I think I can smell English chicken," Comfort says.
As a gesture of good-will Comfort has sent Dawkins a gift basket with a personal copy of the book.
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Richard Dawkins calls prominent Creationist 'Banana Man'
Friday, 20 November 2009, 11:46 (EST)
Have your say on this article
Added: Saturday, 21 November 2009, 18:23 (EST)
It's not just Dawkins. Pretty much everyone who accepts the truth of evolution calls Comfort the Banana Man. Having said that, I think 'fool' is a bit strong. 'Wilfully ignorant' is probably more accurate.
Matt, Melbourne, Australia
Added: Sunday, 22 November 2009, 0:51 (EST)
1. No mention of Dawkins stated reason for refusing Comfort's continued requests for debates. 2. You're calling Comforts embarrassing failure at justifying Intelligent Design by the attibutes of bananas a "skit" ? Interesting interpretation! 3. You imply Dawkins has ask for the $100,000 for himself. This is of course not true. 4. I hope the last sentence is sarcasm, because the gift basket is hardly good will! :)
James, Melbourne
Added: Tuesday, 24 November 2009, 0:25 (EST)
This is quite ironic considering that Dawkins states that if you doubt, even dare to doubt, that humans are related to “bananas and turnips” you are to be equated to a Holocaust denier.
Mariano, Miami, FL, USA
Added: Thursday, 26 November 2009, 12:58 (EST)
I think Ray and Kirk are really atheists and are using sarcasm to get the point across, because nobody can be that ignorant about nature.
Darko, Caledon, Ontario, Canada
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