I found Hemant again, who was just outside the room, and we decided that we wanted to try to go see the “Ultimate Proof of Creation” presentation that was supposed to start in about fifteen minutes. Because of that I didn’t really pay much attention to the last bit of the exhibit, since we were trying to hurry. A guard with a dog popped around the corner (trying to sniff out the brown people, we said). My friends (who had abandoned me at the antibiotics display) pulled me aside to point out one last bit of hilarity, which I got on video. Mark is Jewish (well, and an atheist, you know how that works) and had a bone to pick about some of the museum’s Hebrew:
Apparently it’s a little more complicated than that, and Mark has a more in depth explanation at the end of his post about the Creation Museum. There are also people at Pharyngula saying all of the other languages are messed up, too. Good quality control, Ken Ham!
You pop out into the gift store (how strategic) but I didn’t look around much because we wanted to get in line – a giant freaking line. Hemant and I knew we probably weren’t going to get in, but we felt obligated as bloggers to try, especially since PZ was even farther behind us. We snaked around the museum and saw some random nice exhibits about different gem stones and rocks and fossils, and I just enjoyed them without reading the signs telling me they were only thousands of years old. Then the entrance to the theater was in sight, but they closed the doors with only about 25 people in front of us…so no Ultimate Proof of Creation for us. I’m sure I would have converted if only I had seen it.
Having failed, my group of friends went to eat in Noah’s Cafe. I brought a bagged lunch because I couldn’t bare to spend a penny more on the place. The napkin holders here had this delightful advertisement for some sort of toy/game/thing:
Apologetics for kids. Barf. I almost lost my lunch.
After lunch I wanted to go check out the petting zoo with some people in the group. On the way out, we happened to walk by right when the only incident of the trip happened. PZ has the full story at his blog – the part I saw was Derek getting a stern talking to by a Creation Museum staff member. I agree that Derek was being peaceful and really just trying to defend himself from this guy accusing him of doing bad things. There was another guy who was shooting film for a documentary the entire trip, and he tried to film their discussion. When they asked him to stop and he didn’t, they asked him to leave and he peacefully did. That’s all. I was going to stick around, but then I saw Pastor Tom again (still lurking around the entrance!) so we decided to leave and go to the petting zoo.
The petting zoo was alright. It made me sad because I knew the whole point they had one was yet another reason to attract kids. What little kids don’t like a petting zoo? Hell, I was flailing gleefully about going there. It was pretty typical except for two animals. One, they had a camel:
And two, they had a Zorse:
Wtf is a Zorse, you ask? Apparently it’s a cross between a Zebra and a Horse – and yes, this isn’t just another lie from the Creation Museum, they have a Wikipedia article that confirms their existence. Why the hell did they have a Zorse, you ask? Well, it’s supposed to be proof of their “Kinds” idea I talked about earlier. They claimed that Horses and Zebras aren’t really different species because they can breed, which is utter bull crap for multiple reasons. Now what defines a species is a complicated topic in biology, but they violate even the most basic of definitions, so let’s just go with that right now.
“A common definition [for a species] is that of a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring, and separated from other such groups with which interbreeding does not (normally) happen.”
I instantly guessed that Zorses were sterile, but the keeper was busy talking to someone else, so I didn’t ask. But yep, they are. When two species mate and produce a sterile hybrid, that’s means that they’re two different species. Also, Zorses do not occur naturally in the wild, which is a major part of the definition. They only occur when humans forcibly breed a Horse and a Zebra – this is an example of interbreeding not normally happening. Often times the barrier between reproduction isn’t so much incompatible sperm and eggs, but incompatible behavior. Honestly, the whole species concept thing is so much more complicated than that, but it’s annoying how the Creation Museum just lies about it (again).
At this point Mark called me to tell me to come join him and Hemant again (they were busy in the gift shop instead of the petting zoo). When we got back they were following a crowd of atheists including PZ, and not wanting to miss any potential excitement, I followed. It was during this time where three older atheists in the group informed me that they had been watching the parking lot, and that security guards were going around photographing the license plates of all the cars with liberal bumper stickers. That almost certainly included mine since I have a Darwin Fish, an Obama sticker, and a Republicans for Voldemort sticker (though they may not have understood that last one). I didn’t see it myself, but I don’t see why they’d lie about it. Not quite sure if anything will come out of that, who knows.
We went outside the gates, and that’s where PZ underwent a debaptism by Edwin Kagin (legal director for American Atheists) and was then made a Kentucky Colonel! Good thing I tagged along!
After that, a lot of people started to go home. I could have gone back and poked around the gift shop and probably found tons more to laugh and cry about, but by that point I had had enough. In the parking lot I formally introduced myself to PZ (“the crazy person who drew that cartoon”) and got a photo before heading home:
All of the Creation Museum staff and guards were very nice (even with the tasers and glocks and dogs…). I was oddly surprised that they never really talked about Jesus, but I guess they were focused on Creation, not really modern Christianity. Honestly, typing this up and thinking about everything with a clear mind was more horrible than walking through the museum. When I was there I treated it like Disneyland – all fantasy, nothing true, just something to giggle about. But now that I can take a step back and think about it, it depresses and horrifies me. These people are blatantly anti-science and anti-reason, and their sole purpose is to brainwash children (well, and to make money). The Creation Museum was literally mind numbingly stupid: it took nearly two hours of philosophical and scientific discussion in the car ride to Columbus until I could form grammatically correct sentences again.
Hopefully my recount of the trip was detailed enough that you guys won’t feel the need to go there and suffer through it. However, I am glad I went. People were criticizing our decision, but I think hearing about this craziness is just what people need. This isn’t just some private belief system. These people are out to convert, to warp the minds of children, to slander scientists and spread lies about the world, to instill archaic morals into the minds of many. These religious extremists may be a minority, but they are a vocal minority. We need to step up, be activist atheists, and keep working hard to make sure this rubbish doesn’t get spread around anymore.
And that was an incredibly depressing ending. Here, have a photo of us before we went in, back before we had died a little inside:
(Thanks to Vanessa and Josh for extra photos)
Part1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9
What a lot of angst that stuff can cause. Really great write ups, including the factual details with the (rational) human responses. Thanks for posting!
What a lot of angst that stuff can cause. Really great write ups, including the factual details with the (rational) human responses. Thanks for posting!
This series of posts has inspired me to be more active in denouncing this kind of thing more than any other event I've experienced. You did a great job with these, Jen, and – although this kind of phrase is tossed around a lot – you've done a great service for atheists everywhere.
This series of posts has inspired me to be more active in denouncing this kind of thing more than any other event I’ve experienced. You did a great job with these, Jen, and – although this kind of phrase is tossed around a lot – you’ve done a great service for atheists everywhere.
Well, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, Jen. Thanks for the sacrifice you undertook on behalf of all us faceless blog-followers.
Well, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, Jen. Thanks for the sacrifice you undertook on behalf of all us faceless blog-followers.
If you guys liked this, please upvote it at reddit so more people can see it: http://www.reddit.com/r/atheism/comments/99r9o/detailed_9_part_review_of_the_creation_museum/
If you guys liked this, please upvote it at reddit so more people can see it: http://www.reddit.com/r/atheis…
Now that, Jen, is a shameless plug. I'll upvote if I can get my internets to work.
Now that, Jen, is a shameless plug. I’ll upvote if I can get my internets to work.
Yes, yes it is. That took a lot of time, I deserve a shameless plug ;P
Yes, yes it is. That took a lot of time, I deserve a shameless plug ;P
Among many other things!
By which I *clearly* only mean beer.
Among many other things!By which I *clearly* only mean beer.
Beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing this. I gave the link to my 13 year old. He also appreciates that you took one for the team, if you will.
Beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing this. I gave the link to my 13 year old. He also appreciates that you took one for the team, if you will.
Thanks, everyone. And Mina, hope your 13 year old doesn't mind my occasional bouts of swearing. It was hard to control =P
Thanks, everyone. And Mina, hope your 13 year old doesn’t mind my occasional bouts of swearing. It was hard to control =P
Are you kidding? 13 year olds are tops at swearing. It's like their favourite passtime, after texting lols to their friends and wondering what the tingly feeling is when the good looking classmates of the preferred sex get too close.
Are you kidding? 13 year olds are tops at swearing. It’s like their favourite passtime, after texting lols to their friends and wondering what the tingly feeling is when the good looking classmates of the preferred sex get too close.
Veritas, that last line nearly made me gush out the nonexistent beer I wasn't drinking. XP
Veritas, that last line nearly made me gush out the nonexistent beer I wasn’t drinking. XP
What is wrong with you, man! Get yourself a beer!
What is wrong with you, man! Get yourself a beer!
Nope – any and all alcohol and fizzy drinks … all taste like rat piss to me. -_-
*Free and sober on water, juice and milk since 1991*
Nope – any and all alcohol and fizzy drinks … all taste like rat piss to me. -_-*Free and sober on water, juice and milk since 1991*
What is wrong with you, man! Get yourself a juice!
What is wrong with you, man! Get yourself a juice!
Holy heck, you're fast. Give 'em fingers some time to whirr down and cool off, man!
And I ain't thirsty – at the moment. Though it's a bad idea to drink (or have anything in one's mouth) whilst reading that horrid crap.* For obvious reasons.
*Note that I refer to the subject, not the writing itself.
Holy heck, you’re fast. Give ’em fingers some time to whirr down and cool off, man!And I ain’t thirsty – at the moment. Though it’s a bad idea to drink (or have anything in one’s mouth) whilst reading that horrid crap.* For obvious reasons.*Note that I refer to the subject, not the writing itself.
Yeah, I'm subscribed to the topic. So I suppose I am fast. I promise, I'm doing other things.
And yes, I was at work reading most of it with one of my co-workers. We kept having to mute or hold customers to laugh and be sad.
Yeah, I’m subscribed to the topic. So I suppose I am fast. I promise, I’m doing other things.And yes, I was at work reading most of it with one of my co-workers. We kept having to mute or hold customers to laugh and be sad.
Am I the only one who read that stuff and just remained stony-faced throughout, neither laughing nor feeling the urge to break down crying and suckling my thumb?
(Understandable urges, though.)
Am I the only one who read that stuff and just remained stony-faced throughout, neither laughing nor feeling the urge to break down crying and suckling my thumb?(Understandable urges, though.)
Probably. I think most of us were turning to alcohol as a method of release. I don't know…it was one of those laugh or cry things. And then I read the bit about venom. Then it was a laugh and cry thing.
Probably. I think most of us were turning to alcohol as a method of release. I don’t know…it was one of those laugh or cry things. And then I read the bit about venom. Then it was a laugh and cry thing.
So there was a stupefied pause in between the two segments of "laugh and cry" during which you read (or tried to read) the venom thing with your neurons apoptosing*?
* Fancy-schmancy medical term for neurons that literally kill themselves. Nothing like neuronal suicide to indicate what you're reading … shouldn't be read by any moderately intelligent entities.
So there was a stupefied pause in between the two segments of “laugh and cry” during which you read (or tried to read) the venom thing with your neurons apoptosing*?* Fancy-schmancy medical term for neurons that literally kill themselves. Nothing like neuronal suicide to indicate what you’re reading … shouldn’t be read by any moderately intelligent entities.
Yeah, it was kinda like…"I get what they're trying to say, I think. But it's so completely wrong. Utterly and truly false in every possible sense."
Yeah, it was kinda like…”I get what they’re trying to say, I think. But it’s so completely wrong. Utterly and truly false in every possible sense.”
A Herculean effort, indeed. Thanks for the whole story with all tne gritty details. Now I just have to hope it won't give me nightmares…
A Herculean effort, indeed. Thanks for the whole story with all tne gritty details. Now I just have to hope it won’t give me nightmares…
Jen,
I read your series with interest. I happen to believe very differently and I believe with at least as much credible evidence. I won't however defend the museum.
Just wanted to pass along a site where you may find a bit more scientific and well reasoned thought. This comes from a National Science Foundation Fellow with a PhD from MIT. He was a evolutionist however after studying the evidence, he decidedly reasoned that the evolutionary theory was not supported.
He has challenged evolutionists over many years to debate with the stipulation that religion and the Bible be excluded from the debate. Only scientific evidence can be discussed. Very few will take him up on the challenge.
You can read his book online. The topics are brief and assume you will think them through but they are also supported by significant references. There is no need to check your mind at the door and reason is encouraged. The link for both his website and the book are here. http://www.creationscience.com/onlinebook/index.html
Just as you found Creationists to have preconceived notions and biases, I have found evolutionists to have the same. Just check it out with an open mind and see what you think. I believe it will be more intellectually stimulating than your other experience. Also no animatronics.
Jen,I read your series with interest. I happen to believe very differently and I believe with at least as much credible evidence. I won’t however defend the museum.Just wanted to pass along a site where you may find a bit more scientific and well reasoned thought. This comes from a National Science Foundation Fellow with a PhD from MIT. He was a evolutionist however after studying the evidence, he decidedly reasoned that the evolutionary theory was not supported.He has challenged evolutionists over many years to debate with the stipulation that religion and the Bible be excluded from the debate. Only scientific evidence can be discussed. Very few will take him up on the challenge.You can read his book online. The topics are brief and assume you will think them through but they are also supported by significant references. There is no need to check your mind at the door and reason is encouraged. The link for both his website and the book are here. http://www.creationscience.com…Just as you found Creationists to have preconceived notions and biases, I have found evolutionists to have the same. Just check it out with an open mind and see what you think. I believe it will be more intellectually stimulating than your other experience. Also no animatronics.
Brilliant series, and I'm kind of reading backwards. I only wish I could have a memory like yours to recount events I've attended and reflect on them at length later on. So glad you went, and I wish I'd been there.
Brilliant series, and I’m kind of reading backwards. I only wish I could have a memory like yours to recount events I’ve attended and reflect on them at length later on. So glad you went, and I wish I’d been there.
TimL, I know you are well meaning, but I clicked through the first couple pages of his online book and found the same old creationist arguments that have been refuted over and over again.
TimL, I know you are well meaning, but I clicked through the first couple pages of his online book and found the same old creationist arguments that have been refuted over and over again.
Apparently it's a little more complicated than that, and Mark has a more in depth explanation at the end of his post about the Creation Museum. There are also people at Pharyngula saying all of the other languages are messed up, too. Good quality control, Ken Ham!
Jen, it's not just the Chinese and the Hebrew that's fucked; I took a shot of the Greek that Paul was writing because it was, as far as I can tell, at least partially nonsense. Some of the words were words and then some were…something else.
Once I get around to translating it, we'll find out. Hopefully I'm right. As screwed as all the other languages are, I figure I am.
Apparently it’s a little more complicated than that, and Mark has a more in depth explanation at the end of his post about the Creation Museum. There are also people at Pharyngula saying all of the other languages are messed up, too. Good quality control, Ken Ham!Jen, it’s not just the Chinese and the Hebrew that’s fucked; I took a shot of the Greek that Paul was writing because it was, as far as I can tell, at least partially nonsense. Some of the words were words and then some were…something else.Once I get around to translating it, we’ll find out. Hopefully I’m right. As screwed as all the other languages are, I figure I am.
Why would these people give a damn about other languages? As far as they're concerned, the ultimate and true translation of the Bible is the KJV, a Bible politically motivated 400 years ago. The various other languages there are just to add to the "mystery" of the thing. I bet they can count on one hand the amount of people who actually read ancient Greek who've passed through there.
Why would these people give a damn about other languages? As far as they’re concerned, the ultimate and true translation of the Bible is the KJV, a Bible politically motivated 400 years ago. The various other languages there are just to add to the “mystery” of the thing. I bet they can count on one hand the amount of people who actually read ancient Greek who’ve passed through there.
I can't believe you made it through all that — not to mention all these blog posts. I think I'd have exploded after 5 mins or flattened my face from continuous facepalming!
I can’t believe you made it through all that — not to mention all these blog posts. I think I’d have exploded after 5 mins or flattened my face from continuous facepalming!
I made it into the talk by Lisle. All you missed was some more opportunities to pound your head against a wall. Things like him pointing out that Appeal to Authority is fallacious, then immediately making an appeal to authority.
I made it into the talk by Lisle. All you missed was some more opportunities to pound your head against a wall. Things like him pointing out that Appeal to Authority is fallacious, then immediately making an appeal to authority.
The video on Pharyngula very nicely demonstrated that. They didn't take any video of the talk but the main guy interviewed the speaker afterwards, who was completely smiling when they said that an argument from god is an argument from authority. I wanted to punch him (the speaker) through the internet.
The video on Pharyngula very nicely demonstrated that. They didn’t take any video of the talk but the main guy interviewed the speaker afterwards, who was completely smiling when they said that an argument from god is an argument from authority. I wanted to punch him (the speaker) through the internet.
Veritas, that is because they didn't allow any pictures during his speech. He didn't support anything he said about creation just attacked evolution. Tried to say that evolutionists borrowed from creationists when it comes to morals, logic and uniformity of nature (induction). It was normal presuppositionalist crap.
Veritas, that is because they didn’t allow any pictures during his speech. He didn’t support anything he said about creation just attacked evolution. Tried to say that evolutionists borrowed from creationists when it comes to morals, logic and uniformity of nature (induction). It was normal presuppositionalist crap.
It was worse than just using the Bible as an authority figure, granting his presupposition the Bible would be fine to use, but he never proved why we should grant him that. Instead he just asserted that the Bible was inerrant and the word of God.
When I say he used appeal to authority, he actually quoted creationists "scientists" to lend authority to his argument. Philosophers talking about science.
It was worse than just using the Bible as an authority figure, granting his presupposition the Bible would be fine to use, but he never proved why we should grant him that. Instead he just asserted that the Bible was inerrant and the word of God.When I say he used appeal to authority, he actually quoted creationists “scientists” to lend authority to his argument. Philosophers talking about science.
Oh the thing that really pissed me off was his claim that Secular scientists and Creationists both started with what they were trying to confirm then looked for data to fit it. That is what creationists do, but not how science works as I am sure everyone here knows.
Oh the thing that really pissed me off was his claim that Secular scientists and Creationists both started with what they were trying to confirm then looked for data to fit it. That is what creationists do, but not how science works as I am sure everyone here knows.
I'm almost positive that creature is a donkey-zebra cross, not a horse-zebra. Similar, in that they don't occur in the wild (and are difficult to breed in captivity) and are sterile hybrids. Yet another example of the creators of the museum not bothering with the details.
PS, why didn't anyone TELL me they had a petting zoo??
I’m almost positive that creature is a donkey-zebra cross, not a horse-zebra. Similar, in that they don’t occur in the wild (and are difficult to breed in captivity) and are sterile hybrids. Yet another example of the creators of the museum not bothering with the details.PS, why didn’t anyone TELL me they had a petting zoo??
Thanks for the review, I wanted to go along but since I live in England it was a bit difficult ;)
Thanks for the review, I wanted to go along but since I live in England it was a bit difficult ;)
The irony is? After the biblical number of "mistakes" that those anti-reality idiots placed in their museum, their cartoonist, Dan Lietha (an apt name if ever I've heard one), has the nerve to make this cartoon.
You know what news report we'd like to see Dan? One that asks just how so many "PhD"s could make so many errors in that place. How many "PhD"s who had PhD's in the relevent fields actually did work in that place, I wonder?
Too bad for the brainless fool that 300 people actually did go to that place…since they're the ones that have picked out all those mistakes.
The irony is? After the biblical number of “mistakes” that those anti-reality idiots placed in their museum, their cartoonist, Dan Lietha (an apt name if ever I’ve heard one), has the nerve to make this cartoon.You know what news report we’d like to see Dan? One that asks just how so many “PhD”s could make so many errors in that place. How many “PhD”s who had PhD’s in the relevent fields actually did work in that place, I wonder?Too bad for the brainless fool that 300 people actually did go to that place…since they’re the ones that have picked out all those mistakes.
Thank you for great coverage! Originally I thought your trip would be just a waste of money, but it seems to have been a genuinely weird experience, also for us readers:)
(Hi, I'm a new one. I write from Helsinki, Finland. Much like southern Alaska, tough not quite as wild.)
Thank you for great coverage! Originally I thought your trip would be just a waste of money, but it seems to have been a genuinely weird experience, also for us readers:)(Hi, I’m a new one. I write from Helsinki, Finland. Much like southern Alaska, tough not quite as wild.)
Very good write-up. I have only been here a few times as I just discoverd it recently, but I really enjoy your writing and humor and plan on coming back often. I'm from Indiana as well and it's nice to know that there are some other skeptics here, it can get kinda lonely sometimes.
Very good write-up. I have only been here a few times as I just discoverd it recently, but I really enjoy your writing and humor and plan on coming back often. I’m from Indiana as well and it’s nice to know that there are some other skeptics here, it can get kinda lonely sometimes.
That's a commonly used definition of species, but like all definitions of the word, it is problematic. For one thing, it makes no room for organisms that do not reproduce sexually (which if you count microbes, is the vast majority of all species). And even for sexually reproducing organisms, that definition creates a paradox when trying to describe ring species. I like to call it the horse's ass's definition of species because it seems like it was specifically designed so that horses and asses would be separate species. This being the case because mules are sterile … except when they're not. I've not heard of a pregnant zorse, but I feel safe in asserting that it's not that they're sterile, but rather that there's a very high probability that individuals will be sterile.
That’s a commonly used definition of species, but like all definitions of the word, it is problematic. For one thing, it makes no room for organisms that do not reproduce sexually (which if you count microbes, is the vast majority of all species). And even for sexually reproducing organisms, that definition creates a paradox when trying to describe ring species. I like to call it the horse’s ass’s definition of species because it seems like it was specifically designed so that horses and asses would be separate species. This being the case because mules are sterile … except when they’re not. I’ve not heard of a pregnant zorse, but I feel safe in asserting that it’s not that they’re sterile, but rather that there’s a very high probability that individuals will be sterile.
The problems with Hebrew and the other languages seem to fit well with the whole "baramin" thing being wrong. Probably the best argument against the existence of the God of the Old Testament is lightning hasn't come down and struck Ken Ham for his incompetence and disrespect.
The problems with Hebrew and the other languages seem to fit well with the whole “baramin” thing being wrong. Probably the best argument against the existence of the God of the Old Testament is lightning hasn’t come down and struck Ken Ham for his incompetence and disrespect.
The Chinese/Kanji on the bottom left says "Rain, Moon, Night". Since Chinese operates with morpheme instead of alphabets, each character has inherent meanings. But together, they make no recognisable meaning, as far as I can tell. Others on Pharyngula have commented that they used old fonts to make some of the characters look less like Latin alphabets.
The Chinese/Kanji on the bottom left says “Rain, Moon, Night”. Since Chinese operates with morpheme instead of alphabets, each character has inherent meanings. But together, they make no recognisable meaning, as far as I can tell. Others on Pharyngula have commented that they used old fonts to make some of the characters look less like Latin alphabets.
Re quality control, I am given to understand that somewhere in the USA there is a monument made of paper-clips to commemorate the way the Norwegians saved their Jews in the war. Idiotic story goes like this: The Nazis said that Jews had to wear paper-clips on their lapels, so the King said he was going to wear one and so should all loyal subjects, with the result that no one could find the Jews, who all lived happily ever after.
Five minutes' research would have revealed the fact that this story was a muddled hybrid of two or three different stories from two different countries. Fact: Norwegians wore paper-clips to indicate allegiance to the Government-in-Exile; nothing to do with Jews though. Urban legend: the king of DENMARK (different, you know, country thingie) himself wore the yellow star and encouraged his subjects to do likewise. Fact: the Danes smuggled their Jews to safety, as many as they could. Fact: the Norwegians didn't even try, and the Norwegian Jews mostly died in the camps.
Now, what kind of mind goes to all the trouble of creating a labour-intensive monument, without checking the story or being clear on the difference between Denmark and Norway? It is as if I were to spend ten years building a statue of that famous Mexican, Thomas Jefferson, out of matchsticks, bet that 20-foot sombrero would be difficult……
Back to the Creation Museum: Just as this paperclip fuckwit wasn't clear on the difference between countries, I expect that these people are monolinguals who have only the haziest notion of what other languages and writing systems are, and even less interest in them. The displays are thus almost an example of "printer's Latin" — just throw in something that will look cool and "stand for" the human languages. Most of the marks won't know the difference or care.
May they go to Thailand and get a tattoo that says "I am a stupid farang".
Re quality control, I am given to understand that somewhere in the USA there is a monument made of paper-clips to commemorate the way the Norwegians saved their Jews in the war. Idiotic story goes like this: The Nazis said that Jews had to wear paper-clips on their lapels, so the King said he was going to wear one and so should all loyal subjects, with the result that no one could find the Jews, who all lived happily ever after. Five minutes’ research would have revealed the fact that this story was a muddled hybrid of two or three different stories from two different countries. Fact: Norwegians wore paper-clips to indicate allegiance to the Government-in-Exile; nothing to do with Jews though. Urban legend: the king of DENMARK (different, you know, country thingie) himself wore the yellow star and encouraged his subjects to do likewise. Fact: the Danes smuggled their Jews to safety, as many as they could. Fact: the Norwegians didn’t even try, and the Norwegian Jews mostly died in the camps. Now, what kind of mind goes to all the trouble of creating a labour-intensive monument, without checking the story or being clear on the difference between Denmark and Norway? It is as if I were to spend ten years building a statue of that famous Mexican, Thomas Jefferson, out of matchsticks, bet that 20-foot sombrero would be difficult…… Back to the Creation Museum: Just as this paperclip fuckwit wasn’t clear on the difference between countries, I expect that these people are monolinguals who have only the haziest notion of what other languages and writing systems are, and even less interest in them. The displays are thus almost an example of “printer’s Latin” — just throw in something that will look cool and “stand for” the human languages. Most of the marks won’t know the difference or care. May they go to Thailand and get a tattoo that says “I am a stupid farang”.
The Greek letters shown in that video are at least all real Greek letters (all capitals, though – maybe this is their idea of New Testament Greek, to fit with the fact that their God seems to be an allcaps troll?). However, none of them are vowels, so they’ve clearly not even tried to make it look like a real word.I feel bad nitpicking when you’ve written so much win on this subject, but the “PZ has the full story at his blog” link goes to a picture, not the promised story, so I’m still left wondering what this incident entailed. Please enlighten me further?
Thanks for posting this. I must admit to some morbit curiousity about the museum, and now I don’t have to go! There’s a Creationist Museum here in Texas too, so maybe I won’t have to go to that one either. :)
Holy crap! I can’t believe you made it out of there alive! I probably would’ve torched the place after 15 minutes! And you made a nine-part blog talking about it! Are you ok?The ignorance of these people is nothing less than overpowering. They are living in a completely different reality than the rest of the civilized world! Thank goodness they’re a dwindling minority!
The 60% of teens the Creation Museum predicts will abandon religion…? Surely not because they’ll realize one day that an elaborate hoax was played on them, with their entire Christian community in collusion. Truly, if I was there, I’d have a hard time seeing children drinking all that in the way kids do.
All your comments are completely consistent with my experience in the Creation Museum, though I also partook in the “Created Cosmos” presentation for an additional $7. That was sure worth it. I was angry for days after leaving the Creation Museum for similar reasons to those that you described. I felt as though I’d paid for an indoctrination session. Luckily, all it did was make me even more certain that I have no use for fundamental Christain-based faiths. I was relieved that the “constructive racism” views were left out of the museum because I don’t think I could have stomached that in addition to all else that I saw there. Though I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get the image of many of the patron’s vapid expressions and vacant eyes out of my head for the remainder of my life.Thanks for posting your experiences.
Just read this….from one hoosier to another, thanks for your sacrifice. I could never handle this
Awesome blog writing & endurance there. Thankyou & well done. :-)Laugh or cry – definitely laugh! But a bit of both really. Additional astronomy fail there for y’all with the stars being created after the Earth – our Sun is what’s called a population I star which is younger and thus thus more “metal” rich than earlier generations. We are all, as Carl Sagan put it, “stardust” most of the elements being produced by stellar nucleosynthesis and supernovae.
I just read the series, and I thank you for posting! I laughed, I sighed, I rolled my eyes, I got a little angry, and I practically cried. It saddens me that there are people who really believe the nonsense exhibited at this “museum.” Seems we have entered the Dark Ages once again.
@Jessica and Teh Gang: I applaud your stamina. I have a Master’s in Marine ecology, and this sort of pseudo-scientific drivel absolutely drives me nuts. I’ve gotten to the point where I don’t even bother to argue.
Wow, reading that made me really happy that there are some thing we do NOT have in Germany. ;)