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The Creation Museum.

metirish May 29 2007 10:34 AM

] World's first creationist museum opens in Kentucky Tuesday May 29, 2007 Guardian Unlimited The world's first creationist museum, which tells visitors the Earth is only about 6,000 years old, has opened its doors in the American midwest. The Creation Museum claims dinosaurs such as Tyrannosaurus rex lived alongside ancient civilisations but were strictly vegetarian before the Fall of Man and that the Grand Canyon was created by Noah's flood. Some 4,000 people visited the Kentucky museum on its first day yesterday while demonstrators protested outside and a plane towing a banner reading "Thou shalt not lie" circled overhead. Article continues Critics say the $27m (£14m) centre, whose motto is "Prepare to believe!", will be the first museum in the world whose exhibits are almost entirely fake. It is seeking to convince visitors of the truth of its belief in the account of the world's creation in the book of Genesis through a mixture of animatronic models and tableaux. Mark Looy, a co-founder of the privately funded centre, said: "The guests were very happy with the museum experience. "Of course, we had some naysayers come through and engage us in conversation, and that's fine - we want them." Lawrence Krauss, an author and physicist at Cleveland's Case Western Reserve University, decided to view the museum first-hand. "It's really impressive, and it really gives the impression that they're talking about science at some point," said Mr Krauss. Awarding marks out of five, "I'd give it a four for technology, five for propaganda. As for content, I'd give it a negative five," he said. The museum features hi-tech exhibits designed by former theme-park artist Patrick Marsh, including animatronic dinosaurs and a wooden ark at least two stories tall, plus a special effects theatre and planetarium. Some exhibits show dinosaurs aboard Noah's ark and assert that all animals were vegetarians until Adam committed the first sin in the garden of Eden. When Mr Marsh was asked to explain the existence of fossilised remains of man's ancestors, he replied: "There are no such things. "Humans are basically as you see them today. Those skeletons they've found, what's the word? They could have been deformed, diseased or something. "I've seen people like that running round the streets of New York." Construction of the complex began with a prayer meeting for workers, all of whom signed a contract saying they agreed with creationism. Ken Ham, the museum's Australian director, is equally defiant. He revealed he had "skipped through" a copy of Richard Dawkins' latest book, but he said: "The thing is, Dawkins does not have infinite knowledge or understanding himself. "He's got a position, too, it's just a different one from ours. The Bible makes sense and is overwhelmingly confirmed by observable science. It does not confirm the belief in evolution." ] "I've seen people like that running round the streets of New York." WTF does he mean by that? http://www.creationmuseum.org/ Anyone here share this museum's teachings,what do you make of it?

seawolf17 May 29 2007 11:03 AM

]"It's really impressive, and it really gives the impression that they're talking about science at some point," said Mr Krauss. That's a great backhanded compliment. Well said, Mr. Krauss. Well said.

Benjamin Grimm May 29 2007 11:07 AM

I read about this place a few weeks ago. The article I read said that scientists have been referring to it as the "Fred and Wilma Flintstone Museum"

Edgy DC May 29 2007 11:14 AM

I don't really consider Kentucky the Midwest. It's on the wrong side of the Ohio River.

Iubitul May 29 2007 11:30 AM Re: The Creation Museum.

metirish wrote: ] "I've seen people like that running round the streets of New York." WTF does he mean by that? Probably talking about Yankee fans...

Frayed Knot May 29 2007 12:00 PM

I like it that stuff like exists. The more that these wacky ideas get exposed to the outside world the better as far as I'm concerned.

Benjamin Grimm May 29 2007 12:01 PM

Except that too many people won't see it as wacky. They'll see a "museum" that adds credibility to their wacky beliefs.

Frayed Knot May 29 2007 12:07 PM

I see it as stupid ideas exposed to the light of day will do more harm to that idea than good -- maybe not immediately, but eventually. A secret Klu Klux Klan is more dangerous than a public one.

Rockin' Doc May 29 2007 12:26 PM

Virtually any belief that is taken to the extreme is a dangerous and distorted view.

Willets Point May 29 2007 01:41 PM

Visit virtually (for shits and giggles).

TransMonk May 29 2007 01:55 PM

Edgy DC wrote: I don't really consider Kentucky the Midwest. It's on the wrong side of the Ohio River. Agreed.

Benjamin Grimm May 29 2007 01:58 PM

Here's one of their artifacts:

TheOldMole May 29 2007 06:11 PM

Laurence Krauss is a wonderful writer, author of "The Physics of Star Trek," which I gave to my physics-loving grandson a Christmas or two ago. In an interview about that book, he noted that if it was a commercial success, he planned to release a sequel called ""The Physics of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Krauss."