From
American Atheist News:
CREATIONIST MUSEUM SET TO OPEN: HAS BIBLICAL LITERALISM
PERMEATED
MAINSTREAM AMERICAN CULTURE, REPLACED SCIENCE?
Raquel Welch, Barney Rubble, Fred Flintstone Meet Genesis
It was once only a fantastic belief preached in fundamentalist
and evangelical churches, tent-revival meetings, and the most hard-shell Baptist
seminaries and other religious schools.
Now, though, creationism -- the belief that human and other life on our planet,
along with everything we know to constitute the observable universe, was
recently created by a supernatural deity, and the literal account revealed in
passages from the Old Testament -- is rapidly going mainstream. The teaching of
creationism and similar accounts like "Intelligent Design" in public schools has
become a culture war skirmish playing out across the country. Authors and
lecturers regularly debate the topic in the media and even college campuses as
they attempt to "challenge" and refute Darwinian evolution. Personal opinions
about evolution and creationism were even solicited during last week's
nationally televised debate among the major Republican contenders seeking their
party's nomination for the presidency.
And what may be a high water mark in the public relations campaign to showcase
creationist doctrine is slated to occur on Memorial Day, Monday May 28, 2007
when the group "Answers in Genesis" opens its $27 million, 60,000-square-foot
Creation Museum in Petersburg, Ky.
Supporters pray that the museum will present an "alternative" to scientific
evolution. The core audience is expected to be the millions of Christian
evangelicals and fundamentalists who look to the Bible as a literal, true and
reliable source. Other visitors, though, may agree with much of the message
being promoted by "Answers in Genesis" and its president, Ken Ham. A Gallup Poll
released in March showed that 47% of Americans believe a supernatural deity
created humans similar to their present form within the last 10,000 years. This
belief contradicts findings in geology, biology, astronomy and other sciences
that indicate life and the present condition of our universe to be the result of
long evolutionary processes taking place over "deep time," millions and even
billions of years.
The museum is strategically located. Ham boasts that the facility is within one
day's drive of 60% of the U.S. population, and expects to draw over 250,000
visitors in the first year. AIG has spared little expense in putting together
what is described as a first-class exposition. A second construction phase is
now underway, adding another 10,000 square feet of space. Crosswalk.com reporter
Michael Ireland described the project as "a one-of-a-kind, high-tech museum
filled with animatronic displays (e.g., moving dinosaurs), striking videos, a
state-of-the-art planetarium, Special Effects Theater, etc. that is spread over
60,000 square feet incorporating up to 40-foot ceilings to contain some of its
massive exhibits."
"The museum will go beyond telling the compelling story of the creation of life
on this planet," Ireland added, "to proclaiming the Bible as supreme authority
in all matters in addresses."
The expansive undertaking was possible thanks primarily to AIG's 8,500 charter
members and tens of thousands of other donors. There has been considerable media
coverage of the museum project on the major television networks, PBS and print
media including The Washington post, The New York Times and Discover Magazine.
International media from Australia, Europe and elsewhere have also covered the
story.
"Answers in Genesis" -- Crankery to Mainstream
"Answers in Genesis" has evolved from humble beginnings into one
of the nation's leading crusaders on behalf of Biblical literalism and
supremacy. Its roots go back to the Creation Science Association which, in 1980,
became the Creation Science Foundation.� Ken Ham, born in Australia in 1951,
moved to the U.S. in 1987 after earning a bachelor's degree in science. In 1993,
he was granted an honorary doctorate of literature from Jerry Falwell's Liberty
University. During this period he worked at the Institute for Creation Research,
and in 1994 established the "Answers in Genesis" Christian ministry.
Ham and his organization expound a religious doctrine known as "young Earth
creationism." This belief rejects Darwin's Theory of Evolution, along with most
mainstream scientific findings about the origins of life and the rest of the
universe. Instead, believers point to select passages in the book of Genesis,
taking as literal truth stories that Jehovah created everything in six days,
along with the tale of Noah and his ark.� In lectures and debates, Mr. Ham and
other advocates of creationism often attempt to discredit evolution by asking,
"Were you there?" They also claim to find evidence of flaws or shortcomings in
evolutionary evidence, or take the position that "fairness" and free speech
require creationism be given equal time in public school classrooms.
Not all Christians, of course, accept Biblical literalism or oppose the science
behind evolution. There are also advocates of so-called "Intelligent Design" who
reject the proposition that the universe is the result of recent divine
creation, but instead claim that physical laws and other scientific findings are
evidence of deity who played a role of "first mover" in bringing life and the
universe into existence at some point in the distant past.� Like the "young
Earth" creationists at AIG, supporters of "ID" claim to challenge mainstream,
evolution-based scientific findings, and promote themselves as a legitimate
"alternative," especially in public school classrooms.
Blaming Darwin
Just as they promote a Biblical-supremacist theology, Mr. Ham and
other creationists condemn evolution as a pernicious force in human history.
Wikipedia notes, "Ham believes the Theory of Evolution indirectly caused or
heavily contributed to the rise of humanism, racism, eugenics, euthanasia,
pornography, homosexuality, family breakup, abortion, and more by increasing the
influence of atheism." Like others on the religious right, Ham also links the
teaching of evolution with increased secularization and social changes. Reacting
to the recent shootings at Virginia Tech, Ham posted an opinion piece on the
"Answers in Genesis" web site declaring, "We live in an era when public high
schools and colleges have all banned God from science classes," presumably
resulting in "a culture (that) allows the killing of the unborn" and the
perception that human life is "cheap."
GENESIS AND RAQUEL AND BARNEY, OH MY!
As creationism has become a major cultural project for many
evangelical Christians wary of secular science, the academic community has
managed to respond with books, articles, web sites and conferences. The fact
that anti-evolution activists have taken over local and, in some cases like
Kansas, even state school boards and education departments has also generated
concerns about the status of science education in America. Meanwhile,
creationists and Intelligent Design proponents have become more sophisticated in
getting their message out to the public.
Despite a more polished and sophisticated message, many of the claims of "young
Earth creationists" remain difficult to defend. That will not stop the
Creationism Museum from presenting every detail of the literal Genesis story as
truth -- such as the claim that dinosaurs co-existed with our early human
ancestors. Dioramas and 3-D exhibits at the museum will reportedly depict
dinosaurs and humans living in the same environment. It may not be as
titillating as the 1966 film hit "One Million Years B.C." starring a buxom
Raquel Welch and other humans who battle their monstrous reptilian neighbors.
Fossil and other evidence points to a different sort of time-line, where
dinosaurs became extinct about 60 million years before human beings made their
appearance. Film producers and executives at Hammer Studios made no claim to
scientific accuracy, though, and instead indulged in fantasy, violence and, of
course, titillation in the form of a sexually-charged heroine.
The AIG may also have to deal with charges that it is simply blending ancient
Bible-based allegory with American pop-culture, especially the Hanna-Barbera
Production animated sitcom, "The Flintstones."The show ran from 1960-1966 on the
ABC television network, and portrayed the travails and triumphs of a stone-age,
working class family living in the imaginary town of Bedrock. "Friendly"
cartoon-style dinosaurs were part of the natural environment, and the show
skillfully amalgamated a semblance of contemporary technology built from
stone-age implements often powered by animals.
While pop-culture entertainment like "The Flintstones" or movies featuring
ancient monsters and distressed fashion models make no pretense to scientific or
historic accuracy, creationists are serious in citing the Bible as a literal,
accurate answer to complex questions about human origins. As Biblical
supremacists, they embrace the works found in the Old and New Testaments as
revealed truth from God. AIG and other creationist groups, for example, not only
reject evolution as an explanation of how life appeared on Earth, they also
expand their theology to reject much of contemporary cosmology. Their "young
universe" -- only 6,000 or so years old -- still betrays compelling evidence
that it is much larger and far more ancient.� Creationists have invented
interesting but nevertheless flawed arguments to explain this discrepancy,
including claims that God created light "en-route," or that the speed of light
was considerably greater in the not-too-distant past.
Collision in the Classrooms
Creationists not only argue the validity of the Biblical account
in Genesis, but also insist that their views are at least as "valid" as
contemporary science, and thus worthy of "equal time" in school science classes.
They also oppose efforts to censor teachers who want to introduce creationist
ideas, especially as "an alternative" to most science texts now used.
Because of its stance on behalf of "Biblical Supremacy," AIG also opposes any
pro-life position in respect to abortion rights, and challenges homosexuality as
a violation of Christian teaching. It also maintains that Darwinism and
evolutionary teachings have been the basis of destructive racial theories and
eugenics. They cite the Holocaust and the rampages of Stalinism as examples.
According to Wikipedia, "In dealing with Christendom's own violent history, AIG
asserts that anyone using the Bible to justify atrocities (such as the Crusades,
the colonization of the New World, pogroms, the burning of 'witches,' the Wars
of Religion etc.) are 'completely contrary to the teachings of Christ.' "
Critics, though, see creationist undertakings like the Answers in Genesis
Creation Museum as destructive; they worry that young children may be influenced
by such ideas at the expense of scientific literacy. Several hundred people are
expected to join a "Rally for Reason" outside the gates of the AIG museum on
Memorial Day, May 28 during the facility's grand opening. "Many educated people
realize that creationism is a myth," said Edwin Kagin, Kentucky State Director
for American Atheists and an organizer of the Rally For Reason in an interview
with Associated Press. "Myths aren't necessarily untrue, but they aren't
literal, either."
For further information:
http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/evol20.htm:
"Federal judge bars 'Intelligent Design' from classrooms (12/20/05)
http://www.atheists.org/evolution/:
(Numerous articles on creationism, evolution)
http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/evol4.htm:
(Nearly half of Americans accept creationist accounts over scientific
evolution.)