Religions for Peace - USA

Religions Working for Peace and Justice

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

New Museum Tells the Story of Creation

A new museum has opened up in Petersburg, Kentucky which tells the story of creation, the way the earth was formed according to the Bible. The Creation Museum is based on the theory that the planet was created in 6 days 6,000 years ago (scientific evidence shows that the earth is several billion years old.) The museum has drawn over 4,000 visitors from all different states, as well as a number of protestors. On opening day, a plane flew above the museum with a banner saying “Thou Shalt Not Lie.”

One visitor, Lawrence Krauss, professor of physics and astronomy and director of the Center for Education and Research in Cosmology and Astrophysics at Cleveland 's Case Western Reserve University, had this to say about the museum: "It's really impressive — and it really gives the impression that they're talking about science at some point. On a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being best, I'd give it a 4 for technology, 5 for propaganda. As for content, I'd give it a negative 5."

The museum’s exhibits were designed by a theme-park artist and include dinosaurs and a wooden ark at least two stories tall. The exhibit shows dinosaurs on Noah’s ark and even claims that before the fall of man animals were vegetarians.

Out of curiosity, I looked up the word "museum" in the dictionary, and one of the definitions was “a building, place, or institution devoted to the acquisition, conservation, study, exhibition, and educational interpretation of objects having scientific, historical, or artistic value.” (from dictionary.com) Interesting.

The 27 million dollar museum is privately funded. You can check out the museum’s website here.

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3 Comments:

  • At 2:24 AM, Blogger Opus110 said…

    The Creation Museum:" One small step for the Christian fanatics, one giant leap (backwards) for humankind."

     
  • At 4:11 PM, Blogger Kes Schroer said…

    Only if humankind buys it, Mischa.

    I think I agree with Justin Webb, who recently wrote about the museum for the BBC:

    "There is nothing remotely convincing about the Creation Museum and frankly if it poses the threat to American science that some American critics claim it does, that seems to me to be as much a commentary on the failings of the scientific establishment as it is on the creationists."

    Basically, I agree with Webb that opinions are only as dangerous as you make them out to be. If there's anything "wrong" about the Creation Museum, I think the failing lies with its nay-sayers.
    So frankly, I'm trying to look at the Creation Museum as an opportunity. For everyone, for a variety of reasons.

    And hey, at least Kentucky made the news, right?

     
  • At 12:57 PM, Blogger Margaret said…

    Really interesting, Alicia...I had no idea about this, and I have a feeling it'll refuel the evolution debate in a new and different way. Keep these kinds of stories coming! ;)

     

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