Kentucky Creation Museum Sparks Protest

In Petersburg, Kentucky, a new museum of natural history is opening on Monday, with a unique twist. This museum will be based on a literal interpretation of the Bible, particularly the book of Genesis.

Genesis is the first and oldest book of the Bible. It describes the creation of the universe, the creation of Adam and Eve as the first humans, the story of Cain and Abel, Noah and the flood, the Tower of Babel, and the lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.

The museum takes visitors on a journey through what it calls "The 7 C's of History": Creation, Corruption, Catastrophe, Confusion, Christ, Cross, and Consummation. This information is available in the "About Us" section of the museum's website, www.creationmuseum.org.

"Creation" teaches that the universe was created in six 24-hour days approximately 6,000 years ago. "Corruption" teaches that death entered the natural world after Adam fell by eating an apple from the forbidden tree. "Catastrophe" teaches that there was a worldwide flood that destroyed all the vegetation and animals that existed at that time except for those taken on board Noah's ark, including dinosaurs. All of this is shown in a spectacular 25 million dollar display that was designed by a Universal Studios attractions expert.

What has generated controversy is not the Biblical message that is displayed, but the claim that these things are scientific facts and completely supported by modern science -

geology, biology, physics, astronomy, and paleontology.

"This may be fascinating, but this is nonsense," says Lawrence M. Krauss, a theoretical physicist at Case Western Reserve University. Krauss is a defender of evolutionary science. He says, "It's fine for people to believe whatever they want. What's inappropriate is to then essentially lie and say science supports these notions." Krauss is the author of several best-selling books, including The Physics of Star Trek and Fear of Physics. Krauss will join protestors on Monday.

The stated purpose of the museum is to evangelize and win souls for Christ. The mission statement given on the website is to "Exalt Jesus Christ as Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer through a safe, wholesome, and family-friendly center for learning discovery that clearly presents major biblical themes from Genesis to Revelation.

When the museum opens on Monday near Cincinatti, Ohio, a group of protesters will gather across the street on private property and hold a protest called "Rally for Reason." The rally is being organized by members of the Kentucky Atheists and American Atheists societies. The group will bring in guest scientists, as well as educators and members of the clergy. They will host speeches on the importance of teaching evolution in public school.

Most mainstream scientists currently hold that the age of the earth is approximately 4.5 billion years, and that modern species including humans descended from a common ancestor through a process of evolution.

About half of Americans in a recent survey stated that they disagree with Darwinian evolution and believe that the earth was created in six days.

One protestor plans to fly an airplane carrying a banner that says "Thou Shalt Not Lie" above the museum on Monday.

The museum will charge adults $19.95 and kids $9.95 for admission, with discounts available for joining a mailing list. The hours of admission are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The website for the protest is www.rallyforreason.com, "for people who accept evolution over superstition and myth." The organizers do not argue with Answers in Genesis' right to present their beliefs. Organizer Edwin Kagin of Union, Kentucky says "They can teach that things fall up if they wish. We are simply trying to show that the nonsense they are vending is not accepted by those who do not share their fundamentalist religious views."

The website states that the protest's purpose is "to promote the teaching of science and to raise public awareness of anti-science efforts by religious fundamentalists."