BBC reports on AiG's Creation Museum

[shernren]

Creation museum pushes true "history"

Does anybody else think the article is wonky? I do. The only indication that we're not dealing with an undisputed view among the Christian community is when they explicitly mention fundamentalism in the opening paragraph, and in the comment where Dr. Purdom expresses her concern that many Christians "do not accept the literal truth of the creation", implying heavily that this makes them less Christian than others. At every other turn "Christian" is substituted for "creationist", and "the Bible" for "the creationist interpretation of the Bible", to devastating effect:

"We're going to turn that on its head, and use dinosaurs to show that the Bible presents the true history of the world. We have people, and dinosaurs, together."

... but for every sceptic, there is a committed Christian eager to listen and proselytise.

"It's foundational. If you can't believe Genesis, then why believe any other part of the Bible? You can't pick and choose, you can't say this part is right, and this part is wrong," she said ...

"What the Bible would reveal to us, no other book gives an account of the history of the Universe as this one does," he added.

Despite adopting the structure and technology of the most extravagant science museum, it remains that none of it is remotely plausible without first accepting Genesis.

Terrifying equivocations here. Hopefully this BBC article will move Christians to make clear that creationism is only one possible perspective on Genesis out of many.

 

[MatthewDiscipleofGod]

I can't wait for the museum to open! It certainly has gotten a lot of press these last couple years.

Creation museum pushes true "history"

Does anybody else think the article is wonky? I do. The only indication that we're not dealing with an undisputed view among the Christian community is when they explicitly mention fundamentalism in the opening paragraph, and in the comment where Dr. Purdom expresses her concern that many Christians "do not accept the literal truth of the creation", implying heavily that this makes them less Christian than others. At every other turn "Christian" is substituted for "creationist", and "the Bible" for "the creationist interpretation of the Bible", to devastating effect:

"We're going to turn that on its head, and use dinosaurs to show that the Bible presents the true history of the world. We have people, and dinosaurs, together."

... but for every sceptic, there is a committed Christian eager to listen and proselytise.

"It's foundational. If you can't believe Genesis, then why believe any other part of the Bible? You can't pick and choose, you can't say this part is right, and this part is wrong," she said ...

"What the Bible would reveal to us, no other book gives an account of the history of the Universe as this one does," he added.

Despite adopting the structure and technology of the most extravagant science museum, it remains that none of it is remotely plausible without first accepting Genesis.

Terrifying equivocations here. Hopefully this BBC article will move Christians to make clear that creationism is only one possible perspective on Genesis out of many.

 

[Dannager]

I can't wait for the museum to open! It certainly has gotten a lot of press these last couple years.

I for one do not appreciate people celebrating my religion's pending embarrassment.

 

[chaoschristian]

It could be an application of overly dry Brit wit.

Or it could be an editor going over the top to the fair.

 

[Mallon]

I would love to visit the museum if I ever got the chance. I'd be sure to ask lots of questions.

 

[chaoschristian]

I would love to visit the museum if I ever got the chance. I'd be sure to ask lots of questions.

this place is going to be like Disney . . .

if they find you poking around the edges and past the glitter they escort you to quite room 'backstage' and the next thing you know a picture of your face hangs at the entrance booths with a big sign, NO ENTRY!'

 

[Dannager]

if they find you poking around the edges and past the glitter they escort you to quite room 'backstage' and the next thing you know a picture of your face hangs at the entrance booths with a big sign, NO ENTRY!'

I don't even think the glitter will be palatable at this museum.

 

[shernren]

Maybe we should visit the museum and stick little yellow stickers on the exhibits and articles like the ones they wanted to stick on Biology textbooks. Something along the lines of "Yeah, creationism's a theory too, and guess what - unlike evolution it explains nothing."

Half-joking. But only half.

 

[Dannager]

Maybe we should visit the museum and stick little yellow stickers on the exhibits and articles like the ones they wanted to stick on Biology textbooks. Something along the lines of "Yeah, creationism's a theory too, and guess what - unlike evolution it explains nothing."

Half-joking. But only half.

Actually, young-earth creationism doesn't even get to be called a theory, as it lacks criteria for falsification.

 

[shernren]

Actually, young-earth creationism doesn't even get to be called a theory, as it lacks criteria for falsification.

Depends on how one defines falsification. AiG has explicitly stated (or Tas Walker has, on their behalf) that among other things, paleosols would provide a serious challenge to any form of Biblical geology (sic) if they actually existed in the geological record. I take it as a sign that the creationist community thinks YECism is falsifiable - and if we take them at their word, that makes it a theory. We then throw a whole load of evidence at it and find that it's not a very good theory.

At least, that's my take on it.

 

[picnic]

I don't think the article misrepresents Christians in Britain too much as fundmentalist Christianity is associated with America and the article is in the Americas section. It probably misrepresents the American Christian community though although I proportionally there are probably more YECers in the US.

 

[theFijian]

This will be news to a lot of people in Britain and they will likely think that all Christians believe as those portrayed in the article. Also Fundamentalist Christianity is perceived as being a political movement as much as a religious one, which is why it gets the coverage it does in the UK.