2012-09-26
Explanation
This comic reimagines the Garden of Eden by taking the "Tree of Knowledge" concept literally through the lens of computer science. God is giving Adam and Eve a tour of Eden, and when one of them asks how a tree can give knowledge, God explains that trees are the major data storage mechanism in Eden, with fruits serving as directory copies. This is a play on the computer science concept of a "directory tree," where files are organized hierarchically in nested folders.
God then shows them various trees corresponding to the kinds of folders a typical computer user might have: a tree of .gif files for forum jokes, a tree of temp storage, and a tree of music playlists. The punchline comes when one of them asks "Where's your porn folder?" -- a knowing reference to the fact that nearly every computer user has one, even God apparently. God's evasive answer in the final panel reveals that the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil -- the one forbidden tree -- is actually God's porn folder. The humor layers a modern digital embarrassment (hiding a porn folder) onto the foundational Judeo-Christian narrative, suggesting that God's strictest prohibition was really just about hiding something embarrassing on his hard drive.