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New Noah's Ark ready to sail
by CNN
Reposted from:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/04/28/dutch.ark.ap/index.html
The massive central door in the side of Noah's Ark was thrown open Saturday -- you could say it was the first time in 4,000 years -- drawing a crowd of curious pilgrims and townsfolk to behold the wonder.
Of course, it's only a replica of the biblical Ark, built by Dutch creationist Johan Huibers as a testament to his faith in the literal truth of the Bible.
Reckoning by the old biblical measurements, Johan's fully functional ark is 150 cubits long, 30 cubits high and 20 cubits wide. That's two-thirds the length of a football field and as high as a three-story house.
Life-size models of giraffes, elephants, lions, crocodiles, zebras, bison and other animals greet visitors as they arrive in the main hold.
"The design is by my wife, Bianca," Huibers said. "She didn't really want me to do this at all, but she said if you're going to anyway, it should look like this."
A contractor by trade, Huibers built the ark of cedar and pine -- biblical scholars debate exactly what the wood used by Noah would have been.
Huibers did the work mostly with his own hands, using modern tools and occasional help from his son Roy. Construction began in May 2005.
On the uncovered top deck -- not quite ready in time for the opening -- will come a petting zoo, with baby lambs and chickens, and goats. And one camel.
Visitors on the first day were stunned.
"It's past comprehension," said Mary Louise Starosciak, who happened to be bicycling by with her husband while on vacation when they saw the ark looming over the local landscape.
"I knew the story of Noah, but I had no idea the boat would have been so big."
In fact, Noah's Ark as described in the Bible was five times larger than Johan's Ark.
But that still leaves enough space near the keel for a 50-seat film theater, where kids can watch the segment of the Disney film "Fantasia" that tells the story of Noah.
Another exhibit shows water cascading down on a model of the ark. Exhibits on the third level show ancient tools and old-fashioned barrels, exotic stuffed animals, and a wax model of an exhausted Noah reclining on a bed in the forecastle.
Genesis says Noah kept seven pairs of most domesticated animals and one breeding pair of all other creatures, plus his wife, three sons and three daughters-in-law together on the boat for almost a year while the world was deluged.
Perhaps it was only logical that the replica project would be the brainchild of a Dutchman: Fear of flooding is ingrained in the country's collective consciousness by its water-drenched history.
Lois Poppema, visiting from California, said she thought the Netherlands was exactly the right place for an ark.
"Just a few weeks ago we saw Al Gore on television ... saying that all Holland will be flooded" by rising sea levels, she said.
"I don't think the man who made this ever expected that global warming will become (such an important) issue -- and suddenly having the ark would be meaningful in the middle of Holland."
Under sunny skies Saturday, Huibers said he wasn't worried about another biblical flood, since according to Genesis, the rainbow is the sign of God's promise never to flood the world again. But he does worry that recent events such as the flooding of New Orleans could be seen as a portent of the end of time.
Huibers said he hopes the project will renew interest in Christianity in the Netherlands, where churchgoing has fallen dramatically in the past 50 years. He also plans to visit major cities in Belgium and Germany.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/04/28/dutch.ark.ap/index.html
The massive central door in the side of Noah's Ark was thrown open Saturday -- you could say it was the first time in 4,000 years -- drawing a crowd of curious pilgrims and townsfolk to behold the wonder.
Of course, it's only a replica of the biblical Ark, built by Dutch creationist Johan Huibers as a testament to his faith in the literal truth of the Bible.
Reckoning by the old biblical measurements, Johan's fully functional ark is 150 cubits long, 30 cubits high and 20 cubits wide. That's two-thirds the length of a football field and as high as a three-story house.
Life-size models of giraffes, elephants, lions, crocodiles, zebras, bison and other animals greet visitors as they arrive in the main hold.
"The design is by my wife, Bianca," Huibers said. "She didn't really want me to do this at all, but she said if you're going to anyway, it should look like this."
A contractor by trade, Huibers built the ark of cedar and pine -- biblical scholars debate exactly what the wood used by Noah would have been.
Huibers did the work mostly with his own hands, using modern tools and occasional help from his son Roy. Construction began in May 2005.
On the uncovered top deck -- not quite ready in time for the opening -- will come a petting zoo, with baby lambs and chickens, and goats. And one camel.
Visitors on the first day were stunned.
"It's past comprehension," said Mary Louise Starosciak, who happened to be bicycling by with her husband while on vacation when they saw the ark looming over the local landscape.
"I knew the story of Noah, but I had no idea the boat would have been so big."
In fact, Noah's Ark as described in the Bible was five times larger than Johan's Ark.
But that still leaves enough space near the keel for a 50-seat film theater, where kids can watch the segment of the Disney film "Fantasia" that tells the story of Noah.
Another exhibit shows water cascading down on a model of the ark. Exhibits on the third level show ancient tools and old-fashioned barrels, exotic stuffed animals, and a wax model of an exhausted Noah reclining on a bed in the forecastle.
Genesis says Noah kept seven pairs of most domesticated animals and one breeding pair of all other creatures, plus his wife, three sons and three daughters-in-law together on the boat for almost a year while the world was deluged.
Perhaps it was only logical that the replica project would be the brainchild of a Dutchman: Fear of flooding is ingrained in the country's collective consciousness by its water-drenched history.
Lois Poppema, visiting from California, said she thought the Netherlands was exactly the right place for an ark.
"Just a few weeks ago we saw Al Gore on television ... saying that all Holland will be flooded" by rising sea levels, she said.
"I don't think the man who made this ever expected that global warming will become (such an important) issue -- and suddenly having the ark would be meaningful in the middle of Holland."
Under sunny skies Saturday, Huibers said he wasn't worried about another biblical flood, since according to Genesis, the rainbow is the sign of God's promise never to flood the world again. But he does worry that recent events such as the flooding of New Orleans could be seen as a portent of the end of time.
Huibers said he hopes the project will renew interest in Christianity in the Netherlands, where churchgoing has fallen dramatically in the past 50 years. He also plans to visit major cities in Belgium and Germany.
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Posted: Saturday, April 28, 2007 | PermalinkComments 1 - 50 of 69 |
Reload Comments | Back to Top | Page Numbers2. Comment #35759 by Cairnarvon on April 28, 2007 at 7:42 pm
Huh. And Schagen isn't even anywhere near the Dutch Bible Belt.Between this and their recent wave of creationism, the Netherlands scare me.
Other Comments by Cairnarvon
3. Comment #35763 by plexer on April 28, 2007 at 7:51 pm
Did he build it in a week and does it float?....Other Comments by plexer
4. Comment #35765 by MIND_REBEL on April 28, 2007 at 7:54 pm
LOL at CNN(Christian News Network). Another example of the major media in cohoots with the evangelical nutcases that are REALLY running the world. Other Comments by MIND_REBEL
5. Comment #35766 by burn0gas on April 28, 2007 at 7:54 pm
And the fact that he built a so-called replica and still can't fit seven pairs of most domesticated animals and one breeding pair of all other creatures doesn't phase him one bit. Other Comments by burn0gas
6. Comment #35767 by eccles on April 28, 2007 at 7:58 pm
HAS IT GOT A WOODPECKER ON THE HULL NEAR THE WATERLINE? Other Comments by eccles
7. Comment #35768 by gobbles on April 28, 2007 at 7:58 pm
Interesting... in fact, while you're at it, why not make a full-scale labyrinth with a robotic minotaur in the centre that confronts all those who vistits.Or a recreation of mount olympus with the 12 almighty olympians sitting atop, with Zeus in the middle. Atleast that would be much more interesting than cliched christian BS.
Other Comments by gobbles
8. Comment #35770 by k1mgy on April 28, 2007 at 8:03 pm
"Huibers said he hopes the project will renew interest in Christianity in the Netherlands, where churchgoing has fallen dramatically in the past 50 years. He also plans to visit major cities in Belgium and Germany."Which sparked what I think is a brilliant idea: BIBLICAL THEME SAIL AROUND CAPE HORN
Yes, bring the lame, the halt, and the blind. Lay your hand on the Ark, and sail away from a putrid, debauched godless landscape to the fresh open sea and all the thrills, adventure, and poop scooping that awaits.
Just two thoughts I'd add for for your send-off: First, "don't travel west" and second, "don't come back".
Other Comments by k1mgy
9. Comment #35773 by EvolvedDNA on April 28, 2007 at 8:12 pm
I often wondered, and asked any religious types who happened by, where all the crap went that all of these animals must have expelled on Noahs Ark. I would think that the ark ran agound on a giant mound of shit. If they want to find the original it is problaly buried in the most fertile place on earth!!Other Comments by EvolvedDNA
10. Comment #35775 by andyinsdca on April 28, 2007 at 8:30 pm
It's too bad that this dude didn't spend his time and money doing something useful. If he's so damn religious and pious, why didn't he feed homeless kids or teach illiterate adults to read? That would do far more to show that his religion is good than building some stupid monument. Other Comments by andyinsdca
11. Comment #35776 by military_atheist on April 28, 2007 at 8:42 pm
Does it come complete with a year's worth of feces and urine for all the animals in the world?Other Comments by military_atheist
12. Comment #35778 by poundemonium on April 28, 2007 at 8:44 pm
What a waste of cedar and pine. From I recall, Holland isn't exactly covered in forests, making this colossal fantasy-ship an affront to global reforestation efforts. But then again, someone who cheers the fact that the creator of the universe killed off most of life on the planet probably couldn't give a shit either way.Other Comments by poundemonium
13. Comment #35782 by MelM on April 28, 2007 at 9:00 pm
There's no fool like a religious fool!Other Comments by MelM
14. Comment #35786 by Planeten Paultje on April 28, 2007 at 9:26 pm
Fun fact: He built the thing on top of a big steel pontoon. Without that the ship would probably have rolled over.... Other Comments by Planeten Paultje
15. Comment #35787 by Bizarro Dawkins on April 28, 2007 at 9:29 pm
"There's no fool like a religious fool!"I absolutely agree. Religion is dead, as its common understanding implies a stagnant set of rules and traditions.
Of course, I imagine you are probably ridiculing all who call themselves Christians. Granted, some "Christians" certainly deserve to be confronted on the basis of innaproppriate behavior (maybe not ridiculed, as that simply leads to more bitter feelings and seems to confer arrogance to the person doing the insulting), but I would not call all Christians fools. Was Galileo a fool? Or Newton? What about Pascal?
What about me? Am I a fool?
Other Comments by Bizarro Dawkins
16. Comment #35788 by monoape on April 28, 2007 at 9:31 pm
Now all he needs to do is go collect the ~1.7 million described (not estimated / actual, which would be much higher) species from around the globe, feed 'em, make sure none of them escape and eat or be eaten by the others and then release them back in to habitats around the globe where they can survive. Should be finished by teatime.
Other Comments by monoape
17. Comment #35789 by Ev3nt H0riz0n on April 28, 2007 at 9:37 pm
I wonder if anyone could find a picture of it?The arc story is actually ripoff of The Babylonian "Epic of Galgamesh".
Other Comments by Ev3nt H0riz0n
18. Comment #35791 by Tridhos on April 28, 2007 at 9:54 pm
The technical feasibility is dealt with here http://talkorigins.org/faqs/faq-noahs-ark.html#buildingbut creationists have never allowed facts to spoil their silly stories. Bear in mind that that this was during a storm so you can bet your best boots that this guy is not going to test his scale model anywhere near a squall let alone a storm. Its amazing that the creationists point to gaps etc in the fossil records which date back hundreds of millions of years but they cannot produce one shred of evidence for this Ark even though they have been told where it came to rest. My theory is that it ascended into heaven.
This is just one of the hoaxes they have tried. "In 1955 French explorer Fernand Navarra reportedly found a 5-foot wooden beam on Mount Ararat some 40 feet under the Parrot Glacier on the northwest slope and well above the treeline. The Forestry Institute of Research and Experiments of the Ministry of Agriculture in Spain certified the wood to be about 5,000 years old. A claim that is disputed by Radio Carbon dating. Navarra's guide later claimed the French explorer bought the beam from a nearby village and carried it up the mountain." See this link for more examples. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Searches_for_Noah's_Ark
Other Comments by Tridhos
19. Comment #35795 by Dennis on April 28, 2007 at 10:17 pm
I hope he left room for the dinosaurs!See below for an interesting take on the logistics of ark lunacy.
http://www.abarnett.demon.co.uk/atheism/noahs_ark.html
Other Comments by Dennis
20. Comment #35796 by Roy_H on April 28, 2007 at 10:20 pm
http://home.austarnet.com.au/stear/new_no_flood_evidence.htmAnother website debunking the Noah's Ark myth.
Other Comments by Roy_H
21. Comment #35798 by PaulJ on April 28, 2007 at 10:36 pm
A contractor by trade, Huibers built the ark of cedar and pine -- biblical scholars debate exactly what the wood used by Noah would have been.According to one particularly unreliable source it was gopher wood (Genesis 6:14).
As in, "Hey, Ham! Go for some wood while I get these pesky critters rounded up!"
Other Comments by PaulJ
22. Comment #35808 by Spiral on April 28, 2007 at 11:30 pm
I think it puts religion where it belongs - to theme and amusement parks. Other Comments by Spiral
23. Comment #35809 by Thadd on April 28, 2007 at 11:38 pm
Any puclication that begins an article by stating that Noah's Ark occured 1000 years (give or take) after the beginings of early complex socieites has absolutely no credability. Even the smalles addition of something like "is said to have" etc would save this statment. Otherwise it is just terrible reporting.Other Comments by Thadd
24. Comment #35811 by Corylus on April 28, 2007 at 11:56 pm
I'm sometimes accused of being overly cynical, and I admit that this is a character flaw of mine, but I'm wondering... is this guy charging for admission? Maybe a donation to cover "costs"? Other Comments by Corylus
25. Comment #35813 by BicycleRepairMan on April 29, 2007 at 12:23 am
Lets all pollute more, so we can witness the sinking of this ship and laugh. Other Comments by BicycleRepairMan
26. Comment #35814 by RickM on April 29, 2007 at 12:32 am
There is no hope.There is absolutely no hope for humanity. It's doomed.
The incessant stupid gene marches on.
"… a petting zoo, with baby lambs and chickens, and goats."
JUST FUCKING SHOOT ME!
Other Comments by RickM
27. Comment #35817 by koldito on April 29, 2007 at 1:24 am
Some people just want to have an extravagantly large boathouse and don't know how to justify it.Other Comments by koldito
28. Comment #35820 by Russell Blackford on April 29, 2007 at 1:46 am
This time round, don't forget the unicorn.Other Comments by Russell Blackford
29. Comment #35822 by masrock2ndaccount on April 29, 2007 at 1:53 am
Ducks are EvilAs espoused by Eddie Izzard
Please find the transcript for the enlightend comedy of Noah's ark:
http://www.auntiemomo.com/cakeordeath/glorioustranscript.html#tyranny
Masrock
Other Comments by masrock2ndaccount
30. Comment #35827 by Mikado on April 29, 2007 at 2:41 am
"Ok father we need to recruit some new people to work for us on earth, we seem to be loosing believers. As I am definitely not going again so I am planning to recruit this English biology professor to work for us. He is very smart and have experience in the American market, you know they are suckers for English accents"."No, no Jesus do you think I can just create money, he is far to expensive. I have found a hard working Dutch contractor that has showed he can take on big jobs. He is willing to work for almost nothing"
Other Comments by Mikado
31. Comment #35835 by LB on April 29, 2007 at 3:02 am
In reply to comment: #35787 :Was Galileo (1564-1642) a fool? Or Newton (1643-1727) ? What about Pascal (1623-1662) ?
Nah.
What about me(19XX-) ? Am I a fool?
Yes.
Other Comments by LB
32. Comment #35838 by the great teapot on April 29, 2007 at 3:08 am
I have just built a full scale replica of god.Perhaps CNN would like to see it. No they wiil just have to trust me on it.
Other Comments by the great teapot
33. Comment #35840 by Bob Russell on April 29, 2007 at 3:11 am
Now the raiders will know where to go....hope he has good security....no wait that was another ark...oh well different myth...same crowd.Other Comments by Bob Russell
34. Comment #35841 by GodlessHeathen on April 29, 2007 at 3:12 am
"It's past comprehension," said Mary Louise StarosciakYou can say that again.
Other Comments by GodlessHeathen
35. Comment #35851 by pissinintothewind on April 29, 2007 at 4:16 am
Bizzaro Dawkins, If you consider the time those people were born into and the paradigm of the universe and life that was current, none of them were fools. On the other hand if you with access to our accumulated knowledge and current scientific paradigm believe anything of the creed then you at the least inhabit a fools paradise. You seem to be opposed to peoples ridicule of christians as it promotes "more" bitter feelings, So are you opposed to all satire? What about politicians? actors? these have feelings too! To be frank I question the reason you ask that question of yourself on a site like this? Is it something of the martyr or masochistic in you?Other Comments by pissinintothewind
36. Comment #35852 by pissinintothewind on April 29, 2007 at 4:25 am
As for the "ARK" a waste of good timber, Dick head.Other Comments by pissinintothewind
37. Comment #35867 by Hugo on April 29, 2007 at 6:16 am
So many things he could have done, shelter for homeless ...Comment #35795 by Dennis, even better, look at the video there is a dinosaur in his ark replica.
Other Comments by Hugo
38. Comment #35880 by Mark R on April 29, 2007 at 7:28 am
What a joke... all that wood wasted...looks like a forest was used...then again what does he care...typical creationist does not care about the future of the planet since jc will be back to take us all away. I am in the wood working industry and this is a discusting waste. We do everything we can to prevent the use of wood in a wasteful way. This thing will rot away and become a big eye sore for the are it is located. BUT im sure there is a fee for touring it. Other Comments by Mark R
39. Comment #35882 by Mark R on April 29, 2007 at 7:30 am
Maybe you can book a spot for your pet incase we have a major flood from global warming soon. Other Comments by Mark R
40. Comment #35885 by kkant on April 29, 2007 at 7:37 am
Bizarro Dawkins writes:I absolutely agree. Religion is dead, as its common understanding implies a stagnant set of rules and traditions.
You can't have it both ways. Either God is perfect and stagnant, or God is changing. He said what he said in the Old Testament, and he can't take it back: that would be an admission of fault and imperfection. A follower of your God living in 600 BC would be morally obligated to kill people working on the Sabbath, and there's nothing you can say today which can justify this evil perpetrated by your God.
Bizarro Dawkins writes:
but I would not call all Christians fools. Was Galileo a fool? Or Newton? What about Pascal? What about me? Am I a fool?
Not fools. Just mistaken about certain things. Yes, you too are mistaken Bizarro.
Other Comments by kkant
41. Comment #35916 by Frostbit on April 29, 2007 at 10:11 am
Now I would like to throw him his first challenge, instead of gathering a pair of each living species on earth. I challenge him to gather one pair of just beetles.Other Comments by Frostbit
42. Comment #35920 by Laurence Winch-Furness on April 29, 2007 at 10:19 am
were there any woodworms on the Ark? That would have been funny: "Right, now have we got all the insects? And the woodworms? Yes? Oh good, now.... ahhh, shit... Other Comments by Laurence Winch-Furness
43. Comment #35922 by AnatheistinNigeria on April 29, 2007 at 10:40 am
When I read this article, I felt ashamed to be Dutch.I still think that these bible thumpers are still a small minority in the Netherlands
Other Comments by AnatheistinNigeria
44. Comment #35923 by MorituriMax on April 29, 2007 at 10:43 am
What a waste of cedar and pine. From I recall, Holland isn't exactly covered in forests, making this colossal fantasy-ship an affront to global reforestation efforts. But then again, someone who cheers the fact that the creator of the universe killed off most of life on the planet probably couldn't give a shit either way.
No waste of wood. The mothership dropped off the materials.
Other Comments by MorituriMax
45. Comment #35925 by Mikado on April 29, 2007 at 10:45 am
I thin you have this thing about the number of species all wrong. Obviously god must have seen the need for a flood coming all the time so most of the animals and bacteria was created after the flood. I am certain Noa did not notice. From what I have heard god managed to slip in polar bears after the medieval warm period.Other Comments by Mikado
46. Comment #35945 by GodlessHeathen on April 29, 2007 at 12:20 pm
44. Comment #35922 by AnatheistinNigeria on April 29, 2007 at 10:40 amIs he really a bible-thumper? A believer, sure, but is he one of those who goes about preaching/witnessing at folks?
When I read this article, I felt ashamed to be Dutch.
I still think that these bible thumpers are still a small minority in the Netherlands
This looks to me like someone who did their car up like it was from Star Trek, or someone who built a full-size replica of the bridge of a Star Wars ship. Just a big, wacky fan of some fiction.
Other Comments by GodlessHeathen
47. Comment #35958 by Ladon on April 29, 2007 at 3:01 pm
This guy isn't just a religious loony.... he's a businessman. Yeah, me being Dutch makes me feel ashamed whenever I hear that there are still religious people in my country, but this guy is a little different. He took out a couple off business lones. He made a businessplan which got accepted by a bank and he's gonna exploit his boatthingie like a true capitalist. He might be religious, but this is a business, whatever the guy says.edit: how many times can one say business in a short text ;)
Other Comments by Ladon
48. Comment #35960 by wagnerpe on April 29, 2007 at 3:03 pm
Well, I guess we don't have to do anything about global warming after all...just turn to the Bible instead. I hope this guy can fit two of every one of the 1,250,000 different species on this planet on his ark, just like Noah did.Other Comments by wagnerpe
49. Comment #35962 by Ladon on April 29, 2007 at 3:04 pm
[quote]When I read this article, I felt ashamed to be Dutch.
I still think that these bible thumpers are still a small minority in the Netherlands
[/quote]
Don't worry,they are a minority, just give it fifty more years and religious people will be hospitalized for some kind if mental disease.
Other Comments by Ladon
50. Comment #35965 by John A. Michon on April 29, 2007 at 3:15 pm
I have not yet been able to get a picture in my comments to this site, but here is, as an alternative, a (Dutch language) site that shows a number of pictures of Mr. Huibers achievement.www.contimeta.com/nieuws/000000976209a7702.html
The site does not claim that the thing is irreducibly complex. One should realize, however, that it should be seen as a scale 1:5 model of the intelligent design that was handed down to Noah personally and has been reported in handsome detail in Genesis 6:14-16. In reality it seems to be largely a sponsoring stunt of a manufacturer of carpenter tools that goes by the name of 'Contimeta'.
Other Comments by John A. Michon
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1. Comment #35758 by js5535 on April 28, 2007 at 7:41 pm
Indeed you could say that, if you were an idiot.
Other Comments by js5535