Creationist theme park planned for KY, complete with full-size ark

[JBoy]

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/ky_gov_beshear_unveils_plans_for_creationist_theme_park_complete_with_full-sized_ark.php?ref=fpa



Aqua Buddhists need not apply: Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear (D) on Wednesday unveiled some interesting tourism plans for his state, announcing a plan to construct a "creationist theme park."

A joint project between Beshear and Answers in Genesis -- a Christian organization that also built a similar attraction, the Creation Museum -- the park will reportedly cost at least $150 million and create 900 jobs, according to the news release.

The amusement park, named Ark Encounter, will include all the modern recreation amenities, including: a full-sized wooden ark, a "walled city much like was found in ancient times, a replica of the Tower of Babel with exhibits, a first-century Middle Eastern village" and even outdoor parking. The park is scheduled to open in the spring of 2014.


http://arkencounter.com/faq/

The Ark Encounter is a one-of-a-kind historically themed attraction. In an entertaining, educational, and immersive way, it presents a number of historical events centered on a full-size, all-wood Ark, which should become the largest timber-frame structure in the USA.

Plans for the attraction include a Walled City, the Tower of Babel, a first-century Middle Eastern village, a journey in history from Abraham to the parting of the Red Sea, a walk-through aviary, a large petting zoo, and so on.

It is designed to be family oriented, historically authentic, and environmentally friendly.


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Most intriguing thing to me is their liberal use of the word "historial", when "biblical" would be more accurate.

[NoPasaran]

1. The usual bunch of idiots are already mocking this

In another thread http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=9671926&mesg_id=9671926

[truebrit71]

2. So, what, you think this is a good idea?

:shrug:

[valerief]

3. Because it's so so mockable.

:rofl:

I wonder if it'll have all the animal feces on board, too.

:rofl:

[sarge43]

6. I wonder if there'll be llamas, kangaroos, bald eagles

and other animals not native to the Eur-Asian and African continents.

[Robyn66]

14. There will be green aligators and long necked geese

some hummpty backed cammels and some chimpanzees, some cats and rats and elephants but sure as your born, you aint going to see no unicorns!

[Deep13]

18. How did Noah know to wait for the penguins? nt

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

20. Pumas, ocelots, jaguars, Kodiak bears,

platypi, wombats, opossums, condors, capybaras, pronghorns, coyotes...

Where did all of those guys come from?

[sarge43]

25. Macaws, Amazon greens, cockatiels, lorries, parakeets, passenger pigeons,

They're good strong fliers; still that's a hellva haul and not much notice.

FWIW, there are 300 plus species of parrots; that's over 600 screaming maniacal 'toons. 40 days and nights -- yeah, right.

[Deep13]

17. I'll demand a refund if I don't see 300,000 pairs of beetles. nt

[Zoeisright]

8. You think this is a good idea?

If so, that's just sad.

[Rebubula]

9. Mocking...

...because it DESERVES TO BE MOCKED!!!

Anyone that buys into the christian bible's version of creationism is a fool that needs to be mocked and ridiculed.

Seriously....we are LONG past the time that we need to coddle these braindead denizens of our planet.

[Johonny]

11. Yeah how could you mock this

I just hope they plan to flood the ground every evening as the final act.

[Deep13]

16. This kind of stupidity ought to be mocked...

...and I'm not an idiot for doing so.

Evolution is real. Deal with it.

[Poll_Blind]

4. With Kentuckians portraying Biblical figures this is going to be SUPER authentic!

I cannot wait for Joseph and Mary to delivery my order of Deep Fried Jerusalem Onion Petals. As I dip each lightly battered petal into their Holy Ghost Ranch sauce I shall reflect on what it is to be a Christian in America.

PB

P.S.
The Holy Ghost Ranch sauce is just Ranch with ketchup! Why have your cooks forsaken me?!? :(

[Ganja Ninja]

22. And of course all the Biblical figures will be white.

What could be more authentic?:shrug:

[no_hypocrisy]

5. It can't be built and run with taxpayer dollars on government land and

sponsored by the government.

Expect an action to be filed by sundown by Freedom From Religion Foundation.

[Robyn66]

15. The governer is defending it

saying it is just a theme park and the theme is not under consideration. It will provide jobs bla bla bla and what's worse HES A DEM!!!!

[no_hypocrisy]

23. It won't pass "the Lemon Test"

In 1971, the Supreme Court heard the case of Lemon v Kurtzman (403 US 602). In the case, the Court decided that a Rhode Island law that paid some of the salary of some parochial school teachers was unconstitutional. The case is discussed in more detail on the Constitution and Religion Page. One of the results of this case is the Lemon Test. The Lemon Test is used to determine if a law violates the 1st Amendment.

The Lemon Test is not immutable - there is discussion in the general public and on the current Court about the Lemon Test. However, it has stood as a good guide for lower courts ever since 1971.

The following paragraph is taken from the Lemon v Kurtzman opinion and establishes the rules of the test:

Three ... tests may be gleaned from our cases. First, the statute must have a secular legislative purpose; second, its principal or primary effect must be one that neither advances nor inhibits religion; finally, the statute must not foster an excessive government entanglement with religion.

http://www.usconstitution.net/lemon.html

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. Is that a dinosaur??

LOL!

[ChoppinBroccoli]

10. I Can't Wait Until The Full-Sized Ark Is Built

Because unless the thing is the size of a small city, then there will be living, measurable proof that two of every species of animal couldn't possibly have fit inside.

My dream scenario would be to ask the tour guide if every possible permutation of every animal species was represented on the Ark (like some of the animals known to exist today that have adapted to living within modern environments), and then to have that person say, "Well, no, that animal wasn't on the Ark because it didn't exist then. It only came into being recently after it completed its evolution."

Just wait until these people figure out that the Bible still thinks the sun revolves around the Earth (because it DOES, you know--just ask Gallileo).

[Locrian]

12. me too

Not to mention all the food. Wow - how did they fit all that in there? Was it some kind of magic handbag like in Harry Potter? You know, that OTHER fantasy book.

[Robyn66]

13. They are using tax payer money to pay for this

using the excuse that it is just a theme park. I wonder how they would feel about an
"Amer-Mecca" theme park???? Maybe not feeling it so much with the tax payer money!

[WolverineDG]

19. zOMG, a lawyer for an atheist group says it's ok

Edwin Kagin, a Northern Kentucky attorney who is also the national legal director for the group American Atheists, said it doesn't appear to him to violate the law. If other projects with religious themes could qualify for the tax incentives, the law doesn't discriminate.

from http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20101130/NEWS01/311300059

also from this link: The Creation Museum, which opened three years ago, has drawn more than 720,000 visitors, and organizers say it has had an economic impact of more than $20 million.

The Ark Park itself could possibly hire up to 900 people, not counting those involved in the construction of it. So in this economy, what do you want this Governor to do? Tell them to pound sand & send the jobs & money to Indiana? Yeah, that's going to go over well. If you think Indiana isn't falling all over itself to provide similar incentives, you're only fooling yourself.

(btw, I think they should do away with all tax incentives for things like this. Usually it's sports organizations that want the public to fund their top-of-the-line stadiums but charge such high prices no one can afford to go to the games)

dg

[NightWatcher]

21. we've already got one here in Florida, take that you back-slidden Kentucks

in Orlando right across from Ikea. Come for the meatballs stay for the crazy

(reposted in both of the threads)

[Deep13]

24. Wow, Vegas for Fundies! nt

[AsahinaKimi]

26. I REALLY REALLY WISH

Some one would built a full size working STAR SHIP across the street.

[Better Believe It]

27. "historically authentic" So they'll have dinosaur rides! With real dinosaurs? Yippeee!