michaeledward
Grandmaster
So, on Monday afternoon, I got a call telling me to catch a plane to Cincinnati on Tuesday. As I was driving around the city, I passed Exit 11, and a sign to 'The Creation Museum'. In the last week or so, we had seen a television show that pulled some fossilized sea shells out of the earth under the grass near the Creation Museum.
It was a powerful confluence, but, my class was scheduled until 5:00 PM each day, and the museum closes at 6:00 PM each evening. I didn't think I would have the opportunity to go. Even though I thought it would be interesting.
For those who have read my posts here, it is no secret that I was raised in the Roman Catholic Church. I became involved with an evangelical music ministry in my youth. I am a born-again Christian, who has abandoned all of these beliefs for a heavily athiestic bent of agnosticism.
But, still, I was curious.
Good fortune struck. My client told me to cut my class short by a half a day, so that other corporate activites could take place. I ended up with a half day free before my homeward flight.
I arrived at the Creation Museum at about 1:00 PM this afternoon. I was surprised how many cars were parked in the parking lot. As I walked toward the entrance, I noticed the grounds, while not yet completely landscaped are just glorious. The plants are beautifully maintained. They have several man-made streams bubbling their way to a large man-made pond; perhaps 6 acres or so. The dinosaur topiaries are a bit odd. But, I've been to Disney, and seen goofy topiaries before (both goofie and 'Goofy', if you get the pun).
Several large bronze statues adorn the entrance; a deer, a giraffe and a stegosaurus.
It costs twenty bucks to get in, but if you give them your name and address, they'll take a couple of bucks off. (I can afford the two bucks to stay off that database). There is a "planetarium" show for an extra five bucks.
The entry portion of the building is beautiful. And while I didn't ask, i got the distinct impression that most of the employees are 'true believers'. I think I got a bit of the 'it's just a job' vibe from the girls at the food court. Speaking of, the food concessions seemed exceedingly reasonable for this type of venue (2.69 for a very nice hot dog. 4.99 for cold sandwiches).
The first attraction I visited was the planetarium. This facility was built in 2007, but it was definately not the latest in projection technology. The seats reclined well, and were comfortable. The projector, however, was never quite in focus. During the 22 minute presenation, I heard at least three accusations that 'secular scientists can't sufficiently explain' a particular fact. (for example, Blue colored stars are hotter, and burn out quicker, and therefore, how can they be as old as claimed. - answer, not all stars were created at the same time). (for example 2 - star formation has never been witnessed - answer, we have had telescopes for a mere 400 years). Perhaps most interesting, at the end of the projection, there were three credits in the film. Apparently, all of the computer generated images were created by a single person. I think it would have been better to leave it uncredited.
There is a 'walking tour' through the museum. Except, that it isn't a walking 'tour'. It is a painfully slow, non-guided assembly line. Television monitors present literal biblical ideas, next to photos that say 'Man's view' vs 'God's View'; from how canyons are formed, to fossilized animal remains, to animal life.
There was a four minute movie that reads the first chapter of Genesis in a dramatic fashion. The translation they used was not the King James I am used to. Some of the grammar was awkward. To get into this short theatrical presentation, you have to wait in 'Graffiti Alley' and the 'Culture in Crisis' rooms ~ without knowing what you are waiting for. These two rooms are designed to present the worst aspects of the human condition.
Then you enter the primary tour area. Adam and Eve, with the deer, and foxes, and bears, and dinosaurs. You learn that the Tree and the serpent are the reason death exists. That hiding behind fig leaves was insufficient, so animals were killed for more discrete dressing. That animal sacrifices are poor attempts to redeem ourselves before god. And that these animal sacrifices are insufficient to the task.
We see Methuselah. We see a very small portion of Noah's Ark. We get an explanation of how even the youthful, small sauropods were included in the Ark.
All leading to the 'Last Adam Theater'. I did not want to see that theater presentation, and the staff person did not really like the idea that I would skip such an important part of their museum.
There is a hall of dragons. Which is really some rather nice statues of dinosaurs presented for the children of Christians. And a Bookstore.
I believe that everyone in attendance at the museum today ~ and there were many ~ is a true believe coming to have his beliefs validated. Earth 6,000 years old. Noah's Flood 4,300 years ago. Jesus Good. Everything Else Bad.
When I left, I called my wife, and told her I needed shower. I certainly didn't go with an open mind. But, I also didn't go to mock peoples beliefs. But, most of the people in this building are just scary to me. I think they are dangerous.
I think it might be nice to tour the facility at my own pace. Which is the way I usually tour a museum. But, here, patrons are channeled through each exhibit. There is no exploration or discovery. Guests must follow the prescribed timeline, else the material would not make sense. So, I was always stuck behind somebody not moving as quickly as I would have liked ~ or ~ they were obstructing something that may have been interesting to examine, but I didn't want to be in a cattle-line. There is no easy way to 'come back to this exhibit later'.
One last note. As I mentioned, the grounds, while still being worked, are quite attractive. I walked the grounds a bit, and encountered a groundskeeper. I complimented her on her work. She quitely thanked me on behalf of the four person team that works the grounds. I was a bit surprised that she did not offer her god the credit for the beauty of the flowers and plants. While I was not attempting to bait her, I have noticed in the past that often people will give god credit where his hand is presumed (such as the creation of the pretty plants on the grounds). That, I found, interesting.
It was a powerful confluence, but, my class was scheduled until 5:00 PM each day, and the museum closes at 6:00 PM each evening. I didn't think I would have the opportunity to go. Even though I thought it would be interesting.
For those who have read my posts here, it is no secret that I was raised in the Roman Catholic Church. I became involved with an evangelical music ministry in my youth. I am a born-again Christian, who has abandoned all of these beliefs for a heavily athiestic bent of agnosticism.
But, still, I was curious.
Good fortune struck. My client told me to cut my class short by a half a day, so that other corporate activites could take place. I ended up with a half day free before my homeward flight.
I arrived at the Creation Museum at about 1:00 PM this afternoon. I was surprised how many cars were parked in the parking lot. As I walked toward the entrance, I noticed the grounds, while not yet completely landscaped are just glorious. The plants are beautifully maintained. They have several man-made streams bubbling their way to a large man-made pond; perhaps 6 acres or so. The dinosaur topiaries are a bit odd. But, I've been to Disney, and seen goofy topiaries before (both goofie and 'Goofy', if you get the pun).
Several large bronze statues adorn the entrance; a deer, a giraffe and a stegosaurus.
It costs twenty bucks to get in, but if you give them your name and address, they'll take a couple of bucks off. (I can afford the two bucks to stay off that database). There is a "planetarium" show for an extra five bucks.
The entry portion of the building is beautiful. And while I didn't ask, i got the distinct impression that most of the employees are 'true believers'. I think I got a bit of the 'it's just a job' vibe from the girls at the food court. Speaking of, the food concessions seemed exceedingly reasonable for this type of venue (2.69 for a very nice hot dog. 4.99 for cold sandwiches).
The first attraction I visited was the planetarium. This facility was built in 2007, but it was definately not the latest in projection technology. The seats reclined well, and were comfortable. The projector, however, was never quite in focus. During the 22 minute presenation, I heard at least three accusations that 'secular scientists can't sufficiently explain' a particular fact. (for example, Blue colored stars are hotter, and burn out quicker, and therefore, how can they be as old as claimed. - answer, not all stars were created at the same time). (for example 2 - star formation has never been witnessed - answer, we have had telescopes for a mere 400 years). Perhaps most interesting, at the end of the projection, there were three credits in the film. Apparently, all of the computer generated images were created by a single person. I think it would have been better to leave it uncredited.
There is a 'walking tour' through the museum. Except, that it isn't a walking 'tour'. It is a painfully slow, non-guided assembly line. Television monitors present literal biblical ideas, next to photos that say 'Man's view' vs 'God's View'; from how canyons are formed, to fossilized animal remains, to animal life.
There was a four minute movie that reads the first chapter of Genesis in a dramatic fashion. The translation they used was not the King James I am used to. Some of the grammar was awkward. To get into this short theatrical presentation, you have to wait in 'Graffiti Alley' and the 'Culture in Crisis' rooms ~ without knowing what you are waiting for. These two rooms are designed to present the worst aspects of the human condition.
Then you enter the primary tour area. Adam and Eve, with the deer, and foxes, and bears, and dinosaurs. You learn that the Tree and the serpent are the reason death exists. That hiding behind fig leaves was insufficient, so animals were killed for more discrete dressing. That animal sacrifices are poor attempts to redeem ourselves before god. And that these animal sacrifices are insufficient to the task.
We see Methuselah. We see a very small portion of Noah's Ark. We get an explanation of how even the youthful, small sauropods were included in the Ark.
All leading to the 'Last Adam Theater'. I did not want to see that theater presentation, and the staff person did not really like the idea that I would skip such an important part of their museum.
There is a hall of dragons. Which is really some rather nice statues of dinosaurs presented for the children of Christians. And a Bookstore.
I believe that everyone in attendance at the museum today ~ and there were many ~ is a true believe coming to have his beliefs validated. Earth 6,000 years old. Noah's Flood 4,300 years ago. Jesus Good. Everything Else Bad.
When I left, I called my wife, and told her I needed shower. I certainly didn't go with an open mind. But, I also didn't go to mock peoples beliefs. But, most of the people in this building are just scary to me. I think they are dangerous.
I think it might be nice to tour the facility at my own pace. Which is the way I usually tour a museum. But, here, patrons are channeled through each exhibit. There is no exploration or discovery. Guests must follow the prescribed timeline, else the material would not make sense. So, I was always stuck behind somebody not moving as quickly as I would have liked ~ or ~ they were obstructing something that may have been interesting to examine, but I didn't want to be in a cattle-line. There is no easy way to 'come back to this exhibit later'.
One last note. As I mentioned, the grounds, while still being worked, are quite attractive. I walked the grounds a bit, and encountered a groundskeeper. I complimented her on her work. She quitely thanked me on behalf of the four person team that works the grounds. I was a bit surprised that she did not offer her god the credit for the beauty of the flowers and plants. While I was not attempting to bait her, I have noticed in the past that often people will give god credit where his hand is presumed (such as the creation of the pretty plants on the grounds). That, I found, interesting.
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