Answers in Genesis

Answers in Genesis
Formation 1994
Type Fundamentalist Christian apologetics organization
Legal status Non-profit
Purpose Young Earth creationism
Christian apologetics
Biblical inerrancy
Evangelicalism
Headquarters Petersburg, Kentucky, United States
President
 Ken Ham
Revenue
$27,119,236 USD (2014)[1]
Expenses $20,978,162 (2014)[1]
Website www.answersingenesis.org

Answers in Genesis (AiG) is a fundamentalist Christian apologetics parachurch organization. It advocates a literal or historical-grammatical interpretation of the Book of Genesis, with a particular focus on a pseudoscientific promotion of young Earth creationism, which rejects those results of scientific investigation which do not conform to their literal interpretation of the Genesis creation narrative. The organization sees evolution as incompatible with the Bible and believes anything other than the young Earth view is a compromise on biblical inerrancy.

AiG began as the Creation Science Foundation in 1980, following the merger of two Australian creationist groups. Its name changed to Answers in Genesis in 1994, when Ken Ham founded the organization's United States branch. In 2006 the branches in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa split from the US and UK to form Creation Ministries International. In 2007, AiG opened the Creation Museum, a facility that promotes young Earth creationism, and in 2016 the organization opened the Ark Encounter, a Noah's Ark themed amusement park. AiG also publishes websites, magazines, and journals.

Organization

Answers in Genesis resulted from the merging of two Australian creationist organizations in 1980, one led by John Mackay and Ken Ham and the other by Carl Wieland. The organization later become known as Answers in Genesis. Following turmoil in 2005,[2] the AiG network split in 2006. The US and UK branches retained the AiG name and control of the AiG website under Ham's leadership. The Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, and South African branches rebranded themselves as Creation Ministries International (CMI). In 2007, CMI filed suit against AiG-USA alleging a variety of wrongdoings, including publicly defaming their organization.[3]

In June 2006, Answers in Genesis launched Answers magazine in the United States and United Kingdom, followed by the Answers Research Journal in 2008, which was widely criticized in the media[4][5] and scientific circles.[6] Also in 2006, the National Religious Broadcasters awarded Answers in Genesis their Best Ministry Website award.[7] In May 2007, AiG launched the Creation Museum in the United States. The museum received criticism from the National Center for Science Education and petitions of protest from the scientific community.[8]

Views and activities

From the outset, Ken Ham did not share the interest of other creation science groups in aiming to produce science supporting young Earth creationism,[9] instead Answers in Genesis presents evangelicalism as an all-out battle of their biblical worldview against a naturalistic scientific worldview.[10] Ham's message has had three central points. Firstly, teaching of evolution is an evil causing terrible damage to society, secondly, the first eleven chapters of the Book of Genesis give direct instruction on the creation of the universe and human social behavior, and thirdly that proper Christians must engage in a total conflict battling against atheistic humanism. Answers in Genesis promotes central young Earth creationist doctrines, including literal Creation of the Earth in six 24-hour days and effects of the global flood, but their main focus is acceptance of the authority of their particular literal reading of the Bible as a precondition for eternity in heaven. They present this as a choice between the word of God and human reason, with those choosing the latter liable to dire eternal punishment.[9]

Answers in Genesis rejects key scientific facts and theories as established by archeology, cosmology, geology, paleontology and evolutionary biology and argues that the universe, the Earth and life originated about 6,000 years ago.[11][12][13] Since their beliefs reject natural causes and events in scientific explanations of nature and the origin of the universe in favor of the supernatural, creation science is considered to be a religion by the National Academy of Sciences.[14]

A book published by one of AiG's employees in 2006 accused Hollywood of using subtle tactics to slip "evolutionary content" into SpongeBob SquarePants, Lilo & Stitch and Finding Nemo, affirming that "As Christians we need to reflect the Bible's standards and not Hollywood's perverted version of reality."[15]

Creation Museum

The Creation Museum

AiG's Creation Museum is a museum displaying a Young Earth creationist worldview and pseudoarchaeology. The facility has received much criticism from the scientific and religious communities, as well as cultural commentators.[16][17] The Creation Museum opened May 27, 2007, at a cost of $27 million raised entirely by private donations. The displays were created by Patrick Marsh, known for work on Universal Studios Florida attractions for King Kong and Jaws.[18]

A. A. Gill, a British writer and critic, described the museum as "battling science and reason since 2007", writing: "This place doesn't just take on evolution—it squares off with geology, anthropology, paleontology, history, chemistry, astronomy, zoology, biology, and good taste. It directly and boldly contradicts most -onomies and all -ologies, including most theology."[19]

In 2012, it was reported that the "public fascination" with the Creation Museum was "fading."[20] In November 2012, the AiG reported that attendance for the year ended June 30 came to 254,074, which was a 10 percent drop from the previous year and is the attraction's "fourth straight year of declining attendance and its lowest annual attendance yet."[20] By mid-2015, 2.4 million people had visited the museum [about 340,000 visitors over seven years].[21]

Ark Encounter

Noah's Ark at Ark Encounter

Answers in Genesis opened the Ark Encounter theme park in Grant County, Kentucky on July 7, 2016.[22] The centerpiece of the park is a full-scale model of Noah's Ark at 510 feet (160 m) long and 81 feet (25 m) high. After his visit to Ark Encounter,[23] Bill Nye, who had previously debated Ham, described his experience as "much more troubling or disturbing than [he] thought it would be" and stated that "on the Ark's third deck, every single science exhibit is absolutely wrong".[24] In December 2016, for the holiday season, AiG lit the Ark with rainbow colors, the purpose being to "reclaim the symbol from the gay rights movement" and remind viewers of the Noahic covenant.[25]

By late October 2016, over 400,000 people visited the attraction, continuing to exceed projections.[26] This is in contrast to a state study that projected the attraction to receive 325,000 to under 500,000 visitors in the first year.[27][28] In its first year of operation, AiG reported that the Ark Encounter attracted over 1 million visitors and 1.5 million total visitors for both the Ark and the Creation Museum.[29]

Criticism

Creation science, which is promoted by AiG, is a pseudoscience that "lacks the central defining characteristic of all modern scientific theories".[30][31][32] Scientific and scholarly organizations, including the National Academy of Sciences, Paleontological Society, Geological Society of America, Australian Academy of Science, and the Royal Society of Canada have issued statements against the teaching of creationism.[33] The National Center for Science Education, a science advocacy group, criticize AiG's promotion of non-science.[34][35][36] In direct response to AiG, No Answers in Genesis is a website maintained by members of the Australian Skeptics and retired civil servant John Stear for the purpose of rebutting claims made by AiG.[37]

Astronomer Hugh Ross's organization Reasons To Believe, a progressive creationist organization, is a critic of Answers in Genesis.[38] The BioLogos Foundation, which promotes evolutionary creationism, has stated that the views of Answers in Genesis have "force[d] many thoughtful Christians to lose their faith," while The Biologos Foundation "protect[s the Christian] faith.".[39]

Controversies

Richard Dawkins interview

In 1998, Answers in Genesis filmed an interview with Richard Dawkins, a prominent evolutionary biologist at Oxford University, resulting in a controversial video that AiG posted on its website.[40] Dawkins addressed it in the essay: "The 'Information Challenge'", published in A Devil's Chaplain in 2003. The "suspiciously amateurish" interview included, according to Dawkins, "the kind of question only a creationist would ask in that way" (namely, to "give an example of a genetic mutation or an evolutionary process which can be seen to increase the information in the genome"). Realising that he had been duped, Dawkins, at his own admission, was angry at the thought and initially refused to answer the question, but relented and continued the interview. Dawkins wrote: "My generosity was rewarded in a fashion that anyone familiar with fundamentalist tactics might have predicted. When I eventually saw the film a year later, I found that it had been edited to give the false impression that I was incapable of answering the question about information content. In fairness, this may not have been quite as intentionally deceitful as it sounds. You have to understand that these people really believe that their question cannot be answered!"[41]

The Australian Skeptics wrote that the film was edited to give the appearance that Dawkins was unable to "give an example of a genetic mutation or an evolutionary process which can be seen to increase the information in the genome" and that a segment that shows him pausing for 11 seconds was film of him considering whether to expel the interviewer from the room for not revealing her creationist sympathies at the outset. Dawkins reported to the Australian Skeptics that the interviewer shown in the finished film was not the same person as the person who had originally asked the questions. Dawkins and Barry Williams also said that the question had been subsequently changed to make it look like Dawkins, who was answering the original question put to him, was unable to answer.[42] Dawkins discussed the interview in the essay published in A Devil's Chaplain.[41]

On May 31, 2007, Creation Ministries International filed a lawsuit in Supreme Court of Queensland against Ken Ham and Answers in Genesis seeking damages and accusing him of "unbiblical/unethical/unlawful behaviour" in his dealings with the Australian organization.[3] Prior to the split, the Australian group had been producing periodicals, Creation magazine and Journal of Creation, which were then distributed within other countries by local groups. The Australian group had no access to the list of subscribers in the US. AiG discontinued the distribution arrangement, and produced a new magazine of their own, called Answers, and represented that to subscribers as a replacement.[43] Creation Ministries International was claiming $252,000 (US) in damages for lost revenue by misleading and deceptive conduct in relating to lost subscriptions.[44]

In comments to news reporters, Ken Ham dismisses CMI's accusations as "totally preposterous and untrue".[45] Creation Ministries has made a large collection of documents available detailing their side of the case. An editorial analysis of the situation, including reference to estranged co-founder John Mackay's allegations in 1986 of necrophilia and witchcraft against Ken Ham's personal secretary is offered in an account in the Reports of the National Center for Science Education.[46] In February 2009, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ordered Australian-based Creation Ministries International into arbitration with Answers in Genesis over copyrights and control of affiliates in other countries.[47] In April 2009, the ministries reached a settlement and ended their dispute.[48]

Anti-atheism billboards

In the spring of 2009, Answers in Genesis posted a billboard in Texas with a young boy aiming a gun towards the camera with the words "If God doesn't matter to him, do you?" The same image was used in a TV ad.[49] In 2014, the organization purchased space in Times Square to run a 15-second video advertisement addressed "To all of our intolerant liberal friends". According to AiG, the goal of the billboard was to "challenge the secularists who are increasingly intolerant of the Christian message". The Christian Relevant Magazine described the ad as "passive-aggressive" and "weirdly combative".[50]

Great Homeschool Conventions

In March 2011, the Board of Great Homeschool Conventions, Inc. (a young Earth Christian group) voted to disinvite Ken Ham and AiG from future conventions due to Ham's words about other Christians making "unnecessary, ungodly, and mean-spirited statements that are divisive at best and defamatory at worst". The controversy stemmed from Ham's commentary on the position expressed by Peter Enns, of The BioLogos Foundation, who advocated a symbolic, rather than literal interpretation of the fall of Adam and Eve. Writing on his blog, Ham accused Enns of espousing "outright liberal theology that totally undermines the authority of the Word of God", which led to his invitation being revoked.[51]

Workforce

In 2007 about 160 people including a chaplain worked at the Creation Museum (a division of AiG, so these were AiG employees) and another 140 people worked at the attached AiG headquarters.[52][53][54] Each permanent employee of AiG including people who work at the museum must sign a statement of faith "in order to preserve the function and integrity of the ministry", indicating that he or she believes in young Earth creationism and the other teachings of Answers in Genesis. These include "Scripture teaches a recent origin for man and the whole creation", "the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman", "the great Flood of Genesis was an actual historic event" and "no apparent, perceived or claimed evidence in any field, including history and chronology, can be valid if it contradicts the Scriptural record".[55] When applying for work a written statement of one's beliefs is required along with résumé and references.[56][57] In 2007, The Kentucky Post reported that the Creation Museum employed between 10 and 20 security guards armed with .40 caliber Glock handguns and three certified law enforcement canines.[58]

Creationist geologist Andrew A. Snelling starting working with AiG in 2007[59] as its director of research.[60]

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 "Charity Navigator Rating - Answers in Genesis". Charity Navigator. Glen Rock, NJ: Charity Navigator. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  2. ↑ "Answers in Genesis in legal turmoil". Berkeley, CA: National Center for Science Education. June 21, 2007. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
  3. 1 2 McKenna, Michael (June 4, 2007). "Biblical battle of creation groups". The Australian. Surry Hills, Australia: News Corp Australia. Retrieved 2014-09-30.
  4. ↑ Randerson, James (January 27, 2008). "God's journal". The Guardian (Blog). London: Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 2014-09-30.
  5. ↑ Goldstein, Bonnie (February 13, 2008). "Peer-Reviewing the Bible". Slate. Washington, D.C.: The Washington Post Company. Retrieved 2014-09-30.
  6. ↑ Brumfiel, Geoff (January 23, 2008). "Creationists launch 'science' journal". Nature. London: Nature Publishing Group. 451: 382–383. doi:10.1038/451382b. ISSN 0028-0836. PMID 18216813. Retrieved 2014-09-30.
  7. ↑ "NRB 2006 Media Award Winners". NRB Convention & Exposition. Manassas, VA: National Religious Broadcasters. Archived from the original on 8 August 2006. Retrieved 2014-09-30.
  8. ↑ "Reactions to creation 'museum'". Berkeley, CA: National Center for Science Education. May 25, 2007. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
  9. 1 2 Trollinger, Susan L.; Trollinger, Jr., William Vance (2017). "Chapter 31:The Bible and Creationism". In Gutjahr, Paul. The Oxford Handbook of the Bible in America. Oxford University Press. pp. 223–225. ISBN 9780190258856.
  10. ↑ Fletcher, John (2013). Preaching to Convert: Evangelical Outreach and Performance Activism in a Secular Age. University of Michigan Press. p. 193. ISBN 9780472119158.
  11. ↑ Kennerly, Britt (June 30, 2009). "Paleontologists brought to tears, laughter by Creation Museum". Phys.org.
  12. ↑ Bielo, James S (2017). "Chapter 31:Performing the Bible". In Gutjahr, Paul. The Oxford Handbook of the Bible in America. Oxford University Press. p. 489. ISBN 9780190258856.
  13. ↑ Ohehir, Andrew (31 August 2005). "Archaeology from the dark side". Salon.
  14. ↑ NAS 1999, p. R9
  15. ↑ Kerby 2006, pp. 9–10
  16. ↑ Jarman, Josh (May 25, 2007). "Creating a stir". The Columbus Dispatch. Columbus, OH: Dispatch Printing Company. Retrieved 2014-10-07.
  17. ↑ Lovan, Dylan T. (May 19, 2007). "Educators question Creation Museum". The Augusta Chronicle. Augusta, GA. Associated Press. Retrieved 2014-10-07.
  18. ↑ Rothstein, Edward (May 24, 2007). "Adam and Eve in the Land of the Dinosaurs". The New York Times (Museum review). Retrieved 2008-04-06.
  19. ↑ Gill, A. A. (February 2010). "Roll Over, Charles Darwin!". Vanity Fair. New York: Condé Nast. ISSN 0733-8899. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
  20. 1 2 McNair, James (November 7, 2012). "Creation Museum Attendance Drops for Fourth Straight Year". Cincinnati CityBeat. Nashville, TN: SouthComm, Inc. Retrieved 2014-10-07.
  21. ↑ Trollinger, Susan L.; Trollinger, Jr., William Vance (2016). "Righting America at the Creation Museum". JHU Press. p. 13. ISBN 9781421419534.
  22. ↑ Lovan, Dylan (July 5, 2016). "Noah's ark of biblical proportions ready to open in Kentucky". Associated Press.
  23. ↑ Nye, Bill & Ham, Ken (13 March 2017). "Nye/Ham: The Second Debate Premiere (video - 117:04)". YouTube.
  24. ↑ Bill Nye Calls Ark Encounter 'Disturbing,' Argues 'Every Science Exhibit Absolutely Wrong' After Visit, Christian Post, July 18, 2006
  25. ↑ Wartman, Scott (December 23, 2016). "Kentucky Ark Builder Wants to Take Rainbow Back". USA Today. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  26. ↑ Caproni, Erin (October 25, 2016). "Flood of Visitors Lifts Ark Encounter to Unexpected Numbers". Cincinnati Business Courier. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  27. ↑ Blackford, Linda (January 21, 2015). "Study: Ark Encounter Could Bring Nearly 500,000 Visitors in First Year". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  28. ↑ Loftus, Tom (January 21, 2015). "Noah's Ark Park Attendance Projections Cut in Half". USA Today. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  29. ↑ Smith, Lawrance (July 6, 2017). "1 Year After Opening, Ark Encounter's Attendance and Impact is Growing". WDRB. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
  30. ↑ Albert, Leon. ""Scientific" Creationism as a Pseudoscience". Creation Evolution Journal. 6 (2): 27.
  31. ↑ Ruse, Michael (15 July 1982). "Creation Science is not Science". Science and Technology. 7: 10–18. doi:10.1177/016224398200700313.
  32. ↑ Gordin, Michael D. (2012). The Pseudoscience Wars: Immanuel Velikovsky and the Birth of the Modern Fringe. University of Chicago Press. p. 137. ISBN 9780226304434.
  33. ↑ "Statements from Scientific and Scholarly Organizations". Berkeley, CA: National Center for Science Education. Retrieved 2008-09-06.
  34. ↑ "Project Steve". Berkeley, CA: National Center for Science Education. October 17, 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-06.
  35. ↑ Scott, Eugenie C. (January–February 1997). "Anti-evolutionists Form, Fund Think Tank". Reports of the National Center for Science Education. Berkeley, CA: National Center for Science Education. 17 (1): 25–26. ISSN 2158-818X. Retrieved 2008-09-06.
  36. ↑ Branch, Glenn (September 1, 2001). "PBS's "Evolution": The Creationist Backlash" (PDF). Berkeley, CA: National Center for Science Education. Retrieved 2014-10-01.
  37. ↑ "No Answers in Genesis!". No Answers in Genesis. Australian Skeptics Science and Education Foundation. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
  38. ↑ Moore, Greg (August 23, 2007). "Old-Earth Creationism: A Heretical Belief?". Glendora, CA: Reasons To Believe. Archived from the original on 2007-10-12. Retrieved 2008-02-19.
  39. ↑ Giberson, Karl (June 15, 2009). "Saving Faith". Washington, D.C.: The BioLogos Foundation. Retrieved 2014-05-03.
  40. ↑ Herman, David (2004). "Public Intellectuals Poll". Prospect. Retrieved 9 March 2008.
  41. 1 2 Dawkins 2003, p. 91
  42. ↑ Williams, Barry (1998). "Creationist Deception Exposed" (PDF). The Skeptic. Sydney: Australian Skeptics. 18 (3): 7–10. ISSN 0726-9897. Retrieved 2014-10-09.
  43. ↑ "Fellow Christians Aggrieved by Business Practices of Ken Ham and Answers in Genesis". Christian Faith and Reason Magazine. Spring Hill, TN: Guerrilla Enterprise Management, Inc. May 27, 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-06-27. Retrieved 2014-09-30.
  44. ↑ "Statement of Claim (4690/07 Supreme Court of Brisbane)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-05-13. Retrieved 2007-07-18. Photocopy supplied at the CMI website; official court file summary here.
  45. ↑ Mead, Andy; Farrar, Lu-Ann (June 17, 2007). "Museum group sued by fellow creationists". Lexington Herald-Leader. Sacramento, CA: The McClatchy Company. p. A1. Archived from the original on 2007-06-20. Retrieved 2014-10-07.
  46. ↑ Lippard, Jim (November–December 2006). "Trouble in Paradise: Answers in Genesis Splinters". Reports of the National Center for Science Education. Berkeley, CA: National Center for Science Education. 26 (6): 4–7. ISSN 2158-818X. Retrieved 2014-10-10.
  47. ↑ Lovan, Dylan T. (February 14, 2009). "Court: Creationists should settle outside court". Taiwan News. Taipei. Associated Press. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
  48. ↑ "dispute-settled". Creation.com. Creation Ministries International. Retrieved 2014-10-10.
  49. ↑ Belle, Nicole (June 2, 2009). "Christianist Group's Billboard Compares Atheism To Murder". Crooks and Liars (Blog). Retrieved 2014-10-10.
  50. ↑ Here's the Controversial Billboard 'Answers in Genesis' Is Displaying in Times Square Tonight, Relevant Magazine, 2014
  51. ↑ Blackford, Linda B. (March 24, 2011). "Founder of Creation Museum banned from convention". Lexington Herald-Leader. Sacramento, CA: The McClatchy Company. Retrieved 2014-10-10.
  52. ↑ Slevin, Peter (27 May 2007). "A Monument To Creation". The Washington Post.
  53. ↑ Associated Press (May 26, 2007). "Museum merges God, science". Vindy.com. Archived from the original on September 26, 2007.
  54. ↑ "Dinosaurs, humans coexist in creationist museum". January 15, 2007. Archived January 18, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  55. ↑ Summary of the AiG Statement of Faith. Accessed May 28, 2007.
  56. ↑ Ryan Clark. "Creation Museum touches lives." The (Cincinnati) Enquirer. April 15, 2007
  57. ↑ Jobs at Answers in Genesis. Accessed May 28, 2007.
  58. ↑ Eigelbach, Kevin (May 28, 2007). "God, Guns, Guards & Dogs". The Kentucky Post. p. A1.
  59. ↑ Knight, Cameron (May 12, 2017). "Creation Museum researcher sues feds over Grand Canyon permit". The Cincinnati Enquirer via USA TODAY.
  60. ↑ Zhou, Naaman (July 7, 2017). "Creationist Uses Trump Order to Get Permission to Take Rocks from Grand Canyon". The Guardian. Retrieved July 13, 2017.

References

  • Dawkins, Richard (2003). A Devil's Chaplain: Reflections on Hope, Lies, Science, and Love. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0-618-33540-4. LCCN 2003050859. OCLC 52269209.
  • Denton, Michael (1986). Evolution: A Theory in Crisis (1st U.S. ed.). Bethesda, MD: Adler & Adler. ISBN 0-917561-05-8. LCCN 85013556. OCLC 12214328.
  • Kerby, Carl (2006). Remote Control: The Power of Hollywood on Today's Culture. Green Forest, AR: Master Books. ISBN 978-0-89051-491-7. LCCN 2006934885. OCLC 76904854.
  • National Academy of Sciences (1999). Science and Creationism: A View from the National Academy of Sciences (2nd ed.). Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press. ISBN 0-309-06406-6. LCCN 99006259. OCLC 43803228. Archived from the original on 2007-07-09. Retrieved 2014-10-02.
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