Kentucky’s Democratic governor Steve Beshear announced yesterday that a creationism theme park — dubbed “Ark Encounter” — is expected to open in the state in 2014. The governor boasted that the park would have a $250 million impact on the local economy annually. The park “will feature a 500-foot-long wooden replica of Noah’s Ark containing live animals such as juvenile giraffes.”
The project is a collaboration with a non-profit organization Answers in Genesis, which runs the Creation Museum in Boone County, KY. The Nation’s Chris Hayes noted on MSNBC last night that Answers in Genesis “is dedicated to portraying the Bible’s view of history. Among their claims, the Earth was created in six days, just 6,000 years ago, and that at one time, man and velociraptor co-existed peacefully.” (Of course, dinosaurs went extinct nearly 65 million years ago.) Yesterday during Beshear’s press conference announcing the plan, Barefoot and Progressive‘s Joe Sonka asked if there will be dinosaurs at “Ark Encounter”:
SONKA: Will there be dinosaurs on the Ark?
[Laughter]
ANSWERS IN GENESIS OFFICIAL: [off-mike] Well you know the position of Answers in Genesis so you can probably answer that yourself. We’ll have appropriate animals on the ark based on — [on mike] I’m sure we’ll have representative kinds of animals on the ark, to include dinosaurs.
The park’s developers are seeking $37.5 million in state tourism development incentives which, the Louisvillle Courier-Journal reports, has “sparked debate among experts on church-state issues as to whether they would violate the constitutional ban on the establishment of religion by government.”
Sonka also noted that the “Creationuts handed out the fanciest press kit I’ve ever seen, with the following descriptions of the ‘attractions’ in their park, including a ‘Tower of Babel’ which ‘introduces exhibits on the origination of languages and people groups (so-called ‘races’).’” Sonka added that most of the questions during the press conference were “about the dimensions of the Ark, which couldn’t have been more useless considering that the governor of our state was up on stage presenting his endorsement of a theme park devoted to intellectually molesting children.” “Be ashamed, Kentucky. Be very ashamed,” Sonka wrote.
The Courier-Journal notes that “the National Center for Science Education asserts that ‘students who accept this material as scientifically valid are unlikely to succeed in science courses at the college level.’”
Dinosaurs, cool!!
Dinosaurs, cool!!
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Dinosaurs, cool!!
Come on Sonka (whoever that is), lighten up--intellectually molest children? I've been to sites in Mexico that contain structures devoted to Aztec and Mayan gods; I've seen pictures of places in Egypt that do the same for their ancient religions, and I'm sure there are areas that do the same for greek and roman mythology (and I know I've seen plays and operas devoted to the same). I've also seen exhibits, areas devoted to Native American beliefs. Why should Kentucky be ashamed of this anymore than any of the others. It's not a place I'd want to go, but so long as it is privately held and managed, I see no reason for Kentuckians to be "ashamed" of it.considering that the governor of our state was up on stage presenting his endorsement of a theme park devoted to intellectually molesting children.” “Be ashamed, Kentucky. Be very ashamed,” Sonka wrote.
Re: Dinosaurs, cool!!
Big RR wrote:Come on Sonka (whoever that is), lighten up--intellectually molest children? I've been to sites in Mexico that contain structures devoted to Aztec and Mayan gods; I've seen pictures of places in Egypt that do the same for their ancient religions, and I'm sure there are areas that do the same for greek and roman mythology (and I know I've seen plays and operas devoted to the same). I've also seen exhibits, areas devoted to Native American beliefs. Why should Kentucky be ashamed of this anymore than any of the others. It's not a place I'd want to go, but so long as it is privately held and managed, I see no reason for Kentuckians to be "ashamed" of it.considering that the governor of our state was up on stage presenting his endorsement of a theme park devoted to intellectually molesting children.” “Be ashamed, Kentucky. Be very ashamed,” Sonka wrote.
None of those actually promote a belief in the reality of Aztec gods Egyptian gods, Roman gods &c. Nor encourage the modern restoration of their practices. The promotion of superstition which is contradicted by physical evidence long known to humans is shameful.* And it is one reason Kentucky has contributed so little in intellectual achievement.
yrs,
rubato
* The earth is 6,000 years old and dinosaurs walked the earth at the same time as humans; stupid.
Re: Dinosaurs, cool!!
Yes, but on the other hand, you have contributed absolutely nothing to intellectual achievement, so "little" stands as a distinct and noteworthy accomplishment by comparison...it is one reason Kentucky has contributed so little in intellectual achievement.
Last edited by Lord Jim on Thu Jun 27, 2013 3:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Dinosaurs, cool!!
Yes, they are just telling the stories, which is what I can see this is doing as well. No more a promotion of "superstition" than a native American story tellers telling about the devil's towers origins, or the dire predictions that came out because the Mayan calendar was ending. People believe what they want, and if they want to tell their stories in an entertaining way, I see nothing shameful about it.rubato wrote:Big RR wrote:Come on Sonka (whoever that is), lighten up--intellectually molest children? I've been to sites in Mexico that contain structures devoted to Aztec and Mayan gods; I've seen pictures of places in Egypt that do the same for their ancient religions, and I'm sure there are areas that do the same for greek and roman mythology (and I know I've seen plays and operas devoted to the same). I've also seen exhibits, areas devoted to Native American beliefs. Why should Kentucky be ashamed of this anymore than any of the others. It's not a place I'd want to go, but so long as it is privately held and managed, I see no reason for Kentuckians to be "ashamed" of it.considering that the governor of our state was up on stage presenting his endorsement of a theme park devoted to intellectually molesting children.” “Be ashamed, Kentucky. Be very ashamed,” Sonka wrote.
None of those actually promote a belief in the reality of Aztec gods Egyptian gods, Roman gods &c. Nor encourage the modern restoration of their practices. The promotion of superstition which is contradicted by physical evidence long known to humans is shameful.* And it is one reason Kentucky has contributed so little in intellectual achievement.
yrs,
rubato
* The earth is 6,000 years old and dinosaurs walked the earth at the same time as humans; stupid.
Re: Dinosaurs, cool!!
And it is one reason Kentucky has contributed so little in intellectual achievement.
Except at rube's house on Saturday afternoons........
Your collective inability to acknowledge this obvious truth makes you all look like fools.
yrs,
rubato
Re: Dinosaurs, cool!!
You seem obsessed with alcohol. Is this a problem for you?
yrs,
rubato
yrs,
rubato
Re: Dinosaurs, cool!!
No, should it?
Your collective inability to acknowledge this obvious truth makes you all look like fools.
yrs,
rubato