To a certain extent, I understand evangelical Christians wanting to infuse their religion into every aspect of American culture. After all, they have an agenda, saving the souls of everybody on Earth, and the method is not nearly as important as the results. But I continue to question their sanity when I read a story like the one that appeard on Salon.com this week.
It seems that a group of evangelical Christians have built a museum of "natural history" that has exibits showing Adam and Eve frolicking with dinasaurs (T-Rex was a vegetarian). They attribute the extinction of dinosaurs to "the great flood", and describe how Adam and Eve were saved (along with a few baby dinosaurs) by riding along with Noah on his Arc.
From the website:
"Discover: Were Dinosaurs on the Ark of Noah?"
"Yes. From a biblical standpoint, it is extremely clear that God created all land animals on day six of the creation week (dinosaurs are land animals), and that He gathered two (male and female) of each kind of land animal into the ark."
"Therefore, dinosaurs were included in this group. This is reinforced by statements in Genesis 7, which say that all animals with the breath of life came by pairs into the ark."
Honestly, I don't remember any of this from my days in Sunday School. Religion must evolve, I guess. I didn't see any mention of what happened to the dinosaurs that went with Noah, or what Adam, Eve, Noah, and Mrs. Noah did for the (however many) millions of years between the era of dinosaurs, and the advent of recorded history. But I'm probably being a bit picky here.
The Museum Of Earth History is located in Eureka Springs, Arkansas and boast an impressive collection of dinosaur fossils from the, uhhh "EVEacious Period".
I'm amazed that people are willing to expose their children to such tripe. Why brainwash your kids with this ridiculous interpretation of the history of our planet?
Article comments
1 - Jim
In the book of Job Chapters 40 and 41, both 'the behemoth' and the 'leviathon' are mentioned. Job is thought to be the oldest book in the Bible. The leviathon is described as an incredible creature living in Job's time that had fire and smoke coming from it's nostrils when it snorted. Sounds like a type of dinosaur to me! All one needs to study is the prophetic passages in the Bible and compare them to history to find the evidence that God's word is TRUE. I've so far found, in 20 years of intense study, no fault in His Word that causes me to doubt it.
Evolution requires faith in a theory with no real proof. That is also a religion, not science. I'd rather believe in a faith that provides proof.
Isaiah 46:8-10
8 "Remember this, fix it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels.
9 Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.
10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come.
2 - Gwen
Besides the (mis)spelling of "Existance" (that would be existence) on their page, they also are a bit confused with their numbers. The Bible clearly states that two of every clean animal and seven of every unclean animal was brought onto the Ark. Duh!
3 - Aaman
I have to see this place - looks hilarious - thanks, Bennett
4 - Bennett
Holyshit!
Aaman!
Yeah, it make me grin to the horizon.
I really do like this...
"The leviathon is described as an incredible creature living in Job's time that had fire and smoke coming from it's nostrils when it snorted. Sounds like a type of dinosaur to me!"
No shit!?!
Uh, okay.
:)
5 - gonzo marx
oh boy..i can't resist...
Jim sez...
*I've so far found, in 20 years of intense study, no fault in His Word that causes me to doubt it.*
no?...ok, let's just go with Noah here, and genetics
if every land animal, including humans, were killed except for those on the Ark...then EVERY animal and all people are descended form those that were on it
ya with me so far?
soOOOooOOoooo.not only was somebody fucking their sister...but all animals would have done the same
i leave it as an excercise for the biologists/geneticists to point out why that is not only ludicrous...but impossible
next...Jim, the Biblical Scholar, sez...
*Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other*
now this directly contradicts the First Commandment which states...
"Thou shalt have no other Gods before me"
this statement clearly indicates the acknowledgement of "other Gods"...just that He demands to be First
so which is it?
might i suggest the Clue comes form the fact that Jim quotes "Isaiah"...and what i quoted comes from Moses
soOOoooOOooOOooo many contradictions in the Books called the Bible...and yet some would take it for "literal Truth" rather than a Tome of Wisdom
more Fools they...
Excelsior!
6 - noname
Jim, you really need to take your nose out of your Bible for a second. If evolution is a theory then it does not mean it is totally untrue. There is truth to theories more often than not. With your "faith" however, there is no proof needed and it cannot evolve with new discovery. It is this way and this way only. There is science to evolution and with science comes the introduction of new ideas and the testing of those ideas. Yours is a one-way street that you have to ride all the way out.
Furthermore, you fail to realize that although a supreme being could have designed the universe, that does not mean evolution does not take place. Maybe God created evolution?
This is a losing argument for creationists. If they want to teach their children creationism in their homes, churches or private schools, I won't try to stop them. But when they say their Biblical stories are on the level of science and kids in public schools MUST be taught this, that's a violation of the Constitution. It's no different than having the Ten Commandments or school prayer mandated.
7 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Gonzo writes,
now this directly contradicts the First Commandment which states...
"Thou shalt have no other Gods before me"
this statement clearly indicates the acknowledgement of "other Gods"...just that He demands to be First
Gonzo, I'm not touching the rest of this question - I'm certainly no creationist. And I'm staying out of a debate between Christian fundamentalists and their detractors. But your interpretation of the Hebrew text is faulty.
The text reads as follows: "Lo yihyéh l'khá elohím ahherím 'al panái." There will be no other gods besides Me. The key phrase here is "'al panái" In modern Hebrew, "'al panái" means "upon my face". In ancient Hebrew it meant "upon my countenance" or "besides me."
The G-d of Israel is not 'first,' Gonzo. He is It. Alone. By Himself. That is what the text means. Otherwise we Jews would have erected a host of sub-gods ourselves.
That is why phrases in Genesis "We will create" raise such fundamental issues that have warranted investigation.