Tuesday, May 15, 2007 | Reason : Commentary | print version

Statement of Concern about Impact of AIG's Creation 'Museum'

by Glenn Branch, National Center for Science Education, Inc.

Thanks to khhl59 for forwarding the e-mail.

RD.net has received the following e-mail, which came from Glenn Branch from the National Center for Science Education, Inc:

Subject: Statement of concern regarding AiG museum

Dear Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana friends of NCSE,

With the young-earth creation ministry Answers in Genesis scheduled to open its lavish creation museum in northern Kentucky at the end of the month, there is a great deal of concern among the scientific and educational communities in the adjacent states about its impact on the public understanding of evolution.

As part of NCSE's efforts, we are inviting university scientists in Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana to sign a statement expressing their concern about the effect that the museum may have on the scientific literacy of the students they will be teaching. The statement reads, in full:

We, the undersigned scientists at universities and colleges in Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana, are concerned about scientifically inaccurate materials at the Answers in Genesis museum. Students who accept this material as scientifically valid are unlikely to succeed in science courses at the college level. These students will need remedial instruction in the nature of science, as well as in the specific areas of science misrepresented by Answers in Genesis.

If you qualify to sign the statement, we urge you to do so, by visiting:
Scientific Inaccuracies at AIG's Creation "Museum"

On the same website, we are also providing suggested resources for teachers and ways to take action :
Resources for Teachers
Ways to Take Action

And please help us spread the word by forwarding this e-mail.

Sincerely,

Glenn Branch
Deputy Director
National Center for Science Education, Inc.
420 40th Street, Suite 2
Oakland, CA 94609-2509
510-601-7203 x305
fax: 510-601-7204
800-290-6006
branch@ncseweb.org
http://www.ncseweb.org

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1. Comment #40914 by Rtambree on May 15, 2007 at 7:44 am

This would be a great museum to visit for a laugh. Anyone live nearby that can visit it "ironically"?

When religion is wiped out, we could keep it as a museum to the stupidity and irrationality of religion.

Other Comments by Rtambree

2. Comment #40927 by rufustfirefly on May 15, 2007 at 8:06 am

Ken Hamm and AIG are hilarious. I plan to visit the museum sometime. Unfortunately, religion will never be "wiped" out, either by reason or by force.

Other Comments by rufustfirefly

3. Comment #40931 by commonhumanity on May 15, 2007 at 8:11 am

Some of the students and professors from Eastern Kentucky University (where I teach English) are going up to protest. I hope U. of Kentucky and others will swell the crowd.

If I go, my sign will read, "Grandmothers for Real Science." (Grandmothers are supposed to behave themselves, be religious, you know.)

I'm a native Kentuckian, and I'm embarrassed. We're hoping people will say "near Cincinnati" (not Kentucky)when you speak of it.

p. s. We call it "The Fred and Wilma Flintstone Museum" (It has dinosaurs and people living at the same time); also the "Science Fiction Museum," since their science is fiction; however, that might be misleading!

Other Comments by commonhumanity

4. Comment #40939 by Lara Avara on May 15, 2007 at 8:26 am

Dang: I live to far away. If anyone goes, please loudly refer to the dinosaurs as "Jesus Horses" for me.

Other Comments by Lara Avara

5. Comment #40943 by Snomann32 on May 15, 2007 at 8:29 am

URL for the Creation Museum:

http://www.creationmuseum.org/

Other Comments by Snomann32

6. Comment #40945 by Rtambree on May 15, 2007 at 8:34 am

2. Comment #40927 by rufustfirefly

>Unfortunately, religion will never be "wiped" out, either by reason or by force

I disagree. I think it will disppear of its own accord. In fact, it has been doing so for 250 years. Most of the Scandinavian countries are already irreligious - due to a security and high standard of living. No one forced them.

If all of humanity could live under a Scandinavian social welfare model (i.e. Norway is #1 on the UN Human Development Index) then religion will evaporate altogether. There might be some fringe recalitrants and the odd cult that springs up here and there, but religion will no longer be a political, cultural, social or economic force.

The process will accelerate once a majority of politicians, media, celebrities, intellectuals, academics, and other leaders become atheists. The herd will follow, if for no other reason than fashion.

Once there's a critical mass, and it becomes a social disadvantage to believe in invisible friends, the human drive for status will do the rest.

I give it another 250 years.

Other Comments by Rtambree

7. Comment #40946 by nrvous on May 15, 2007 at 8:35 am

Is this Statement of Concern playing too much into AIG's hands? I'm sure Hamm dearly wants to be able to claim he's ruffling some feathers in the science community, and now here's his proof. Just as with the ID people: all they have to do is claim that evolution is controversial, then the scientists shoot back that no controversy exists, and -- voila! -- instant controversy!

I'm more inclined to ignore him entirely. Don't even give him the satisfaction of the attention. (Then again, I do live within striking distance of the museum, and part of me badly wants to pay it a visit.)

Other Comments by nrvous

8. Comment #40949 by BillySands on May 15, 2007 at 8:37 am

Looks like the Russians are more intelligent than many Americans
http://www.darwin.museum.ru/eng/

Other Comments by BillySands

9. Comment #40953 by Martin on May 15, 2007 at 8:44 am

Comment #40945 by Rtambree:

I give it another 250 years

That long? Pity I won't live to witness it. Let's all move to Scandinavia.

Other Comments by Martin

10. Comment #40955 by balliolboy on May 15, 2007 at 8:48 am

At least the visitor base will be self selecting - have you seen the admission prices ! Those should stop them from preying (sic) on the poor and vulnerable.

Other Comments by balliolboy

11. Comment #40964 by BaronOchs on May 15, 2007 at 9:02 am

Rtambree I look forward to the day we all drive volvos and watch porn, but you are relying on the hope that security and welfare will necessarily improve. Which isn't given at any rate, what if society deteriorates? Will people start reaching the gods out of the back of the closet?

Other Comments by BaronOchs

12. Comment #40976 by Cycik on May 15, 2007 at 9:19 am

I guess I have make my first post to this site in that I am probably only 2 hours away from this "museum." I might want to visit but that would entail giving money to these folks. It being not far from Cincinnati Ohio just gives truth to the statement: How does Cincinnati and yogurt differ? Yogurt has an active culture.

Other Comments by Cycik

13. Comment #40998 by Phaderus on May 15, 2007 at 10:03 am

I would think that laughter would be the best solution. Either outside at those entering or, if you sneak in, just laugh loudly every time you see a blatant falsehood (i.e. everywhere).

Other Comments by Phaderus

14. Comment #41016 by Dower on May 15, 2007 at 10:46 am

Unfortunately, religion will never be "wiped" out, either by reason or by force.

Zeus was swept into the dustbin of history. God will be to.

Other Comments by Dower

15. Comment #41052 by maton100 on May 15, 2007 at 12:29 pm

Jaysus Christ! When everyone has universal health care and food, then America can focus on building multi-million dollar bullshit museums.

Other Comments by maton100

16. Comment #41055 by Fedler on May 15, 2007 at 12:36 pm

It being not far from Cincinnati Ohio just gives truth to the statement: How does Cincinnati and yogurt differ? Yogurt has an active culture. Very clever, Cycik!

Other Comments by Fedler

17. Comment #41058 by flobear on May 15, 2007 at 12:41 pm

If you read your Bible carefully - I mean *really* carefully, you'll find that Jesus was not actually a Jew, but a Stegosaurus.

Other Comments by flobear

18. Comment #41140 by phasmagigas on May 15, 2007 at 2:37 pm

Whos to visit this place?

the choir of course, a few passing customers, some more moderate christians who wont be aware that such nonesense exists. I get the feeling a lot of people are going to go in there and think 'man, this is really weird' and get the hell out and a lot of them will be christians. I have never actually met anybody who believes T rex walked alongside man. Luckily common knowlege does put dinos way in the past, save birds of course.

Other Comments by phasmagigas

19. Comment #41193 by Rtambree on May 15, 2007 at 3:41 pm

11. Comment #40964 by BaronOchs

Good point. You're right - the evaporation of religion relies on the assumption of improving universal living standards.

But once again, on the whole, living standards have trended upwards in the last 250 years. Even the poor in Cincinnati live better than medieval Kings & Queens.

So, it's a simple extrapolation...

But you're right - it could all go pearshaped and we start regressing again - like we did from 400AD to about 1400AD (when 'coincidentally', Christianity was at the height of its powers).

Other Comments by Rtambree

20. Comment #41207 by derwent on May 15, 2007 at 4:06 pm

Someone should build a science museum across the road, lol... put a big sign out the front: "REAL science, FREE entry". (Recover costs from sale of food, souvenirs and guided tours etc.)

Every exhibit could have a description: "Creationist claim: [insert relevant AiG nonsense]. Facts: [insert facts]."

Other Comments by derwent

21. Comment #41219 by Veronique on May 15, 2007 at 4:27 pm

14. Comment #41016 by Dower

Mythology is where all gods go to die
Sam Harris

Back on quotes again. God, I love quotes, they are so pithy!

17. Comment #41058 by flobear

Properly read, the Bible is the most potent force for atheism ever conceived
Issac Asimov

All right, all right, I'll stop :-)

Cheers
V

Other Comments by Veronique

22. Comment #41289 by flobear on May 15, 2007 at 7:33 pm

Veronique: Ohh. Good Asimov quote!

I don't see how that has anything to do with Jesus being a Stegosaurus though.

Other Comments by flobear

23. Comment #41298 by Thadd on May 15, 2007 at 8:12 pm

As a religion scholar, I am terribly affraid of the impact this museum will have on children.

Teaching incorrect history of the bible and literal interpreattion that goes against all textual, archaeological, and scientific evidence.

Such museums impact more than just science, and it is trully a shame that children will be exposed to this without any actual scientific counter.

Other Comments by Thadd

24. Comment #41320 by brue68 on May 15, 2007 at 10:28 pm

Comment #40945 by Rtambree:

I give it another 250 years

That long? Pity I won't live to witness it. Let's all move to Scandinavia.

I'm seriously considering it. I am so very sick of all the bs that goes on here.

Other Comments by brue68

25. Comment #41363 by Goodwithwood on May 16, 2007 at 2:24 am

How's the fishing in Scandinavia?

Other Comments by Goodwithwood

26. Comment #41368 by Machoduck on May 16, 2007 at 2:42 am

"I'm seriously considering it. I am so very sick of all the bs that goes on here."

Great, we have a lot of space, but we're a bit short on people. At least non-idiot people...

"How's the fishing in Scandinavia?"

Quite good - much better than Texas or Utah at lest!;)

But just so you know - living here isn't cheap. I guess a high amount of tax and insanely high prices on everything is a downer, but it's not that much if you considder what you get back...

Other Comments by Machoduck

27. Comment #41389 by JemyM on May 16, 2007 at 4:17 am

"How's the fishing in Scandinavia?"

I do not know if there is a country who eat so much fish in the whole world like Norway. Maybe Japan.

Other Comments by JemyM