I’m finally home from this crazy, awesome, non-stop weekend. People have been asking me how the Creation Museum was, and I always have to pause before I answer. There is just so much to say about it that I don’t know where to begin. In order to make sure I don’t forget anything, I think I’m just going to retell my trip in chronological order. This is going to take multiple posts, so stay tuned throughout the day!
Mark, Josh, and I left around 6 am Friday morning. The drive from West Lafayette, IN to the Creation Museum in Kentucky was supposedly a little under 3 hours, and we didn’t want to be late. I was driving (won a lovely travel grant from the Secular Student Alliance, thank you!) and functioning on about 3 hours of sleep due to over excitement the night before, but I was so pumped that morning that it didn’t really matter. Only about 45 minutes into our drive we saw an anti-evolution billboard which seemed very appropriate for the day. Really not surprising though – if you’ve ever driven through Indiana, you know religious billboards are a common sight.
I thought Kentucky was much prettier than Indiana. It’s always a relief to see rolling hills and something other than corn and soybean fields. When we were about 15 minutes from the Creation Museum, an eerie fog rolled in:
Me: This is really creeping me out. It’s like we’re going to Jurassic Park.
Josh: Through the mist of time, back to the beginning… six thousand years ago…
In a movie like fashion, the mist cleared once we arrived at the museum gates. When we parked there was already a small gaggle of heathens hanging out in the parking lot, even though we were an hour early. There was something very strange and satisfying about knowing those people you’ve never met are your allies. I mean, it wasn’t hard to figure out who was in the group, since everyone was wearing science or atheism shirts. Four of my other Purdue friends who were driving in a different car arrived right after us (even though they left 20 min before…whoops, guess I was being a speed demon). Eventually the group was getting a little too big, and since I didn’t want anyone to get run over by a car, I sort of ushered the group towards the front of the museum. I think it’s instinct for me to go into my Leader role when dealing with a bunch of atheists, haha. A security guard checked out bags, which was really just a quick glance and not invasive at all. Everyone was very polite and cooperative. This is also where we met our first dinosaur:
The Creation Museum was nice enough to set up a little tent for our group so we could check in in an organized fashion. I was near the front of the line since we got there early, and it was very fun to watch the group grow.
Almost immediately after I signed in, PZ walked right by me. Apparently I visibly freaked out in a fangirlish way, because my friends started laughing at me. I didn’t want to bother him since he just got there (and I was still too shy), so we went to get into the museum. The first thing you can do when you enter is get your photo taken in front of a green screen to make it seem like a giant T-Rex is about to eat you. The Purdue group – 8 students and a mom – thought why the hell not, and took one. The photo was hilarious, but then we found out it was 15 dollars to get a copy. Screw that. I had already spent 10 bucks to get in, an I wasn’t giving them a penny more.
Immediately after that I spotted the infamous Pastor Tom walking around the entrance. Not wanting any kerfuffles, our group quickly moved towards the exhibit. The first thing you’re greeted with is an impressive mastodon:
It’s description, however, was less impressive. I made a mistake of not taking a photo of the sign so I don’t know the exact number, but they hilariously think that the last ice age occurred within the last two or three thousand years. We already had major human civilizations around at that time, many of those who had written records. I don’t think we’ve discovered any Egyptian hieroglyphics about extreme temperature changes. They’d probably claim that just because we can’t find them doesn’t mean they don’t exist (sound familiar?). But really, it’s pointless to harp on this one fact, since the whole museum is filled with ridiculous dating. As PZ already pointed out, it’s hilarious that they take the time to say dinosaurs were alive and well in 2348 BC. I wonder what would be harder for multiple human civilizations to fail to record: giant lizard creatures roaming the earth, or drastic temperature changes and cold? Hmmm…
Part1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9
I'm afraid to say – your first two pics aren't showing up. =(
Other than that – even though I still don't care if I wasn't there (not my idea of a fun afternoon, to be honest), it's still highly amusing … albeit in a cringe-inducingly sort of way. Can't wait for your other posts. =)
I’m afraid to say – your first two pics aren’t showing up. =(Other than that – even though I still don’t care if I wasn’t there (not my idea of a fun afternoon, to be honest), it’s still highly amusing … albeit in a cringe-inducingly sort of way. Can’t wait for your other posts. =)
Dangit, photos will be fixed in a second
Dangit, photos will be fixed in a second
Did that giant hairy elephant live within the last six thousand years?
It mastadon.
Sorry.
Did that giant hairy elephant live within the last six thousand years?It mastadon.Sorry.
I love bad puns <3
I love bad puns <3
Get ready to use that WTF tag like mad, Jen. Ohh, what a terribly hilarious place. I can't wait to take my own pilgrimage to the place of hilariousness and terrible lies.
Get ready to use that WTF tag like mad, Jen. Ohh, what a terribly hilarious place. I can’t wait to take my own pilgrimage to the place of hilariousness and terrible lies.
I think the most surprising thing that historical records from 2300BC or so don't mention is the entire earth being covered in water and every living thing drowning.
I think the most surprising thing that historical records from 2300BC or so don’t mention is the entire earth being covered in water and every living thing drowning.
@Brian. You forget the Bible. lol. You truly can't argue with stupid.
@Brian. You forget the Bible. lol. You truly can’t argue with stupid.
Hey,there s me! Fantastic trip.
Hey,there s me! Fantastic trip.
ounds like the museum is a great place to go and camp out. I would guess the museum gets tons of support from health insurance companies, since they want to keep us stupid and uninformed. Bless them. ick.
ounds like the museum is a great place to go and camp out. I would guess the museum gets tons of support from health insurance companies, since they want to keep us stupid and uninformed. Bless them. ick.
Regarding why civilizations don't record the presence of dinosaurs, As I understand it, many creationists think that records of dragons and similar creatures are in fact records of dinosaurs. I've seen at least some YECs who have claimed that dinosaurs could actually breather fire.
Regarding why civilizations don’t record the presence of dinosaurs, As I understand it, many creationists think that records of dragons and similar creatures are in fact records of dinosaurs. I’ve seen at least some YECs who have claimed that dinosaurs could actually breather fire.
Sorry I didn't know you all were going a few weeks ago; I would have enjoyed attending with folks who shared my perspective! I went near the end of July (by myself, boo hoo) but took lots of pictures to show various friends. I was amazed by how many Mennonites/Amish seemed to be there; it makes me wonder if the people who started the Creation Museum located outside of Cincinnati instead of the REAL Bible Belt because they knew they'd have a built-in market with this contingent.
That said, as a Hoosier who grew up in Indy but has lived in five different states since graduating high school, I think you need to realize that as conservative as Indiana may seem, it really is a pale version of what you get in the South. Truthfully, Indiana isn't that much different from its neighboring states of Illinois, Ohio, etc. (After all, Indiana was capable of being "swayed" in the 2008 election which one can hardly say of most states in the South, and many other states in the Midwest.) Outside of the big cities in those states, it's pretty conservative as well–Ohio and Illinois just have more big cities than Indiana. But Indiana is scarcely an anomaly when seen in perspective of its neighbors.
The growing presence of secular and atheist groups (the CFI in Indianapolis is among the most well-organized in the country) is NOT something that is taking place in the south. And billboards are far more prevalent there too. More churches as well.
Just putting it all in perspective. It's a conservative country–the secular places are mere dots on an otherwise solidly religious backdrop. Fortunately for atheists, those dots tend to be the most densely populated places as well.
Sorry I didn’t know you all were going a few weeks ago; I would have enjoyed attending with folks who shared my perspective! I went near the end of July (by myself, boo hoo) but took lots of pictures to show various friends. I was amazed by how many Mennonites/Amish seemed to be there; it makes me wonder if the people who started the Creation Museum located outside of Cincinnati instead of the REAL Bible Belt because they knew they’d have a built-in market with this contingent.That said, as a Hoosier who grew up in Indy but has lived in five different states since graduating high school, I think you need to realize that as conservative as Indiana may seem, it really is a pale version of what you get in the South. Truthfully, Indiana isn’t that much different from its neighboring states of Illinois, Ohio, etc. (After all, Indiana was capable of being “swayed” in the 2008 election which one can hardly say of most states in the South, and many other states in the Midwest.) Outside of the big cities in those states, it’s pretty conservative as well–Ohio and Illinois just have more big cities than Indiana. But Indiana is scarcely an anomaly when seen in perspective of its neighbors.The growing presence of secular and atheist groups (the CFI in Indianapolis is among the most well-organized in the country) is NOT something that is taking place in the south. And billboards are far more prevalent there too. More churches as well.Just putting it all in perspective. It’s a conservative country–the secular places are mere dots on an otherwise solidly religious backdrop. Fortunately for atheists, those dots tend to be the most densely populated places as well.
I haven’t read all these posts yet, but: have you read John Scalzi’s account of his trip to the Creation Museum? It’s hilarious.Description here:http://whatever.scalzi.com/200…Photo tour here:http://www.flickr.com/photos/s…
Just for a laugh, I did the math…putting the mass of the earth together generated friction,which is also required to keep the mass together…friction means heat, lots of it!! In fact a startling amount, as follows~mass of Earth = 5.9742 × 10 24th kilogramsthe speed of light = 300,000,000 m / sE=mc2, resulting in 54×10 40th joules of energy,or 86.4×10 59th electron volts of energyMinimum energy for fusion is 17.1 x 10 6th ev,meaning there is 69 x 10 53rd ev in excess of the minimum fusion requirement…6 day creation means Earth is a sun, not a planet!Since we are clearly upon a planet, and the mathematic requirements are both well-known and proven, there is but one conclusion-Genesis is wrong, as is YEC, as is the Creationist ‘Museum’…see the Pontecanis video on YouTube”Mathematic Disproof of YEC”. ;>}Source material from:Illinois Institute of Technology, University of Toronto Department of Physics,Google Calculator
Actually there are plenty of pictures of dinosaurs from the past. http://www.s8int.com/dinolit1….
If you ever get a chance, the Creation Evidence Museum in Texas is pretty genius. From what I’ve heard they’ve stopped showing their “Physics of Creation” video and have moved from a single-wide trailer to an actual building. Our Anthropology Club in college took a little field trip. It’s amazing that we didn’t get kicked out. Especially since a couple of our guys were quick to point out that all their “Incan” artifacts were either fake or stolen.
Just a note here from someone who is now classified as a “Theistic Evolutionist” the term “Day” in the bible was actually translated from a word that was closer to “period of time” than the word day. Day was just chosen because it was easier to fit.I’m not sure if i agree with a Young Earth Creationist Museum, but hey, whatever floats their boat. It takes all kinds to make the world go ’round.
These people are RETARDED! Who would believe such nonsense?
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sadly a lot of people do. Ever visit the Bible Belt. (the belt is too tight and blocks all oxygen to the brain)
“Through the mist of time, back to the beginning… six thousand years ago…” LMAO
THE FOG! I went to the Creation Museum just over a week ago and experienced the exact same fog! I felt incredible fear while entering the “museum” and couldn’t believe how big it was! I can’t wait to read the rest of your experiences there!
I don’t know if you have read the account of this trip to the Creation Museum: http://www.buffalobeast.com/11…
The Bible also recorded enormous insects as well – ‘There were gi-ANTS on the earth in those days…”Don’t get me started on the mam-MOTHS.
he Creation Museum or the Anti-Museum as it has christened itself, is one of the weirdest accomplishments of the creationist movement. It is unique because of its size and cost: although there are many small “museums” that also promote creationism, the Anti-Museum is by far the largest and best funded effort. Its success or failure will gauge the market for old-fashioned “scientific” and Biblical creationism, especially at a time when intelligent design creationism is perceived as a more dangerous threat to science education. Hopefully the above overview shows that it is no threat to science, but may hinder regional science education and science literacy.