Ken Ham is spittin’ mad. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear made a statement in support of LGBTQ+ people and the importance of inclusion…but he didn’t plug Ken Ham’s little roadside attraction! How dare he? He’s supposed to advertise the stupid wooden “boat” with every breath!
Can someone help me here? I want to know what Kentucky Gov Beshear means by “more equal and inclusive.” The reason I as is that the Ark Encounter @ArkEncounter is the biggest themed attraction in Kentucky and the biggest Christian themed attraction in the world.
Also the Ark Encounter and @CreationMuseum are the two leading Christian themed attractions in world and they have had billions of dollars of positive impact on the state of Kentucky.
I’ve been to both of Ham’s sideshows, and if those are the leading Christian themed attractions in the world
, then Christianity has a problem. Those are boxes full of lies and nonsense, distortions of scientific facts that promote foolish myths that they can’t support with evidence. You could say that of every religious center for every religion, but most of them, unlike Answers in Genesis, try to promote myths that support their beliefs — AiG is dedicated to lying about science and the nature of the universe outright. That is their sole purpose, to tear down the reality that exposes their folly.
Even if we ignore their lack of a dignified intent, they are a bad attraction. There is nothing inviting about the Ark Park, unless you’re desperate for displays that prop up your ignorance. They’re fucking weird. You’ve got a few animatronic displays of Adam & Eve, or Noah speaking with a heavy Yiddish accent, and unanimated baby dinosaurs in crates, and lots and lots of hectoring signs explaining why the Bible is true and you’re going to hell if you don’t believe it. It’s boring.
If I were to compare it to anything, it’s the Mormon Temple in Salt Lake City, which trust me, is not appealing to non-Mormons. Lots of empty space, paintings and sculptures and dioramas promoting LDS history, and hugely grandiose buildings. It’s much more elaborate than the Ark Park. The Ark Park is an embarrassingly gauche red-neck version of what some particularly ignorant set of anti-science gomers think a temple should look like, and they failed to even build an impressive facade for the whole thing.
And yet when Gov Beshear is giving talks on Tourism and listing tourist facilities he never mentions the Ark (or Creation Museum). And the Ark is not mentioned in most State promotional materials.
Also Gov Beshear calls his administration “Team Kentucky.” AI sums up “Team Kentucky” as “”Team Kentucky” refers to a broad concept encompassing different initiatives and programs under the leadership of Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. It’s used to promote unity, economic, development, and various state-wide efforts.”
Beshear is probably trying to promote Kentucky as a beautiful state with great economic potential, and the citadel of stupidity Ken Ham has built is an embarrassment. Ken Ham had to go to ChatGPT to interpret Beshear’s slogan, and it came back with an accurate explanation that Ham just ignores. Unity is not promoted by a narrow religious sect. Economic development is not going to be built on the back of an egregiously idiotic theme park.
So Gov Beshear uses terms like “inclusive,” “equal,’ and “Team Kentucky” to promote unity, but the Ark and Creation Museum are basically excluded.
Now I understand an LGBTQ group would never employ me as a bible believing Christian who builds his thinking on God’s Word and thus adamantly believes that there’s only one marriage, that of a man and woman (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-7) and only two genders of humans (Genesis 1:27). Now that is not hate speech. It just means we have different worldviews. I wouldn’t expect an LGBTQ group to hire a Christian who believes as I do based on the bible. But they have the freedom to exist as a group. And the Governor has the freedom to promote them if he wants. But how about promoting the Ark and Creation Museum as well to be truly inclusive and a team working for unity?
Impressive. He somehow brags about his regressive views on homosexuality and trans issues (it’s only his “belief”), and then requests that he get more free advertising for his theme park under the banner of inclusivity. If you were truly inclusive, you’d be promoting his exclusionary views. It’s the paradox of intolerance, but there’s no point in explaining it to him because Ken Ham is to narrow and bigoted to comprehend it.
Now the Ark and Creation Museum employ Christians who adhere to our statement of faith. A Federal judge in Kentucky ruled we have a right to do this according to the law and freedom of religion. But everyone is welcome to come to the Ark and Creation Museum and we’ve seen people from all sorts of backgrounds visit, including LGBTQ people. We publicly promote the attractions to everyone as all are welcome.
Now Christians are persecuted around the world and in some places much worse than others. In some countries Christians can’t meet publicly or distribute bibles. How about a Christian month to promote unity and thus be inclusive of Christians to send a message to the world?
It is true that everyone is welcome to visit his grossly overpriced dreary carnival sideshow, and I think a few LGBTQ+ people (also some atheists!) have actually visited it, but they have not been there because they found it inviting. It’s more to witness the freak show. Or to protest it.
And of course he concludes with his martyr myth, that somehow endorsing the existence of LGBTQ+ people is equivalent to persecuting Christians, and Ken Ham in particular. He says this in a country that has allowed him to con hundreds of million dollars to propagandize Christian lies, with a government that is dominated by the Christian right, in a state that gave him millions of dollars in tax breaks to subsidize his Christian cult, and goes further to ask that a month be dedicated to honoring his weird version of Christianity.
There is going to be a protest at the Ark Park next month. That is not hate speech. They just have different worldviews. But the AiG worldview is founded on hatred, ignorance, bigotry, and superstition, and must be opposed. Governor Beshear is being political and avoiding talking about the shameful disgrace located in his state, and Ken Ham ought to shut up and appreciate that that is the best he’s going to get.
I think the biggest Christian themed attraction in the world might be the Vatican. Also got much better art than that ark thing or the Mormon temple I guess.
Of course I wouldn’t be surprised if Kenny doesn’t recognise Catholicism or Mormonism as actually Christian…
That may or may not be true.
The bar is however, pretty low here.
The only other large xian theme park in the USA, the Holyland Experience in Florida, closed in 2020.
Ham’s claim is a bit questionable here.
.1. The Vatican in Rome could be considered a xian theme park.
.2. The Old City of Jerusalem could also be considered a xian theme park.
.3. As PZ Myers mentions, Temple Square in Salt Lake City could also be considered a xian theme park.
Strangely enough, I’ve been to 2 of those, Jerusalem and Temple Square in SLC.
Economic potential:
Set up a HP Lovecraft theme park at the opposite side of Kentucky! Make huge dioramas based on the works by H R Giger. Horror fans everywhere will love it.
Include a cinema where the kids can watch Godzilla vs Hedora (aka Godzilla vs the Smog Monster) free of charge – it is beautifully weird.
And for the youngest, you need attractions based on the creepiest of the Dr Who baddies. A robot with compound eyes, the Daleks, the insectoids of The Swarm.
It would be a celebration of real imagination.
(As a counterpoint, include a few miserable-looking scorpion-horse-locusts fron the book written by that Greek dude which still keeps being mistaken for one of the disciples )
Set up a Ned Flanders theme park? It will be as reality-oriented as the others.
Does the Vatican have a zip-line? Check and mate!
Myself @ 3
John of Patmos! I forgot, it is not like I read the bible recently.
When the bible authors tried to come up with scary imagery the result is tame for us who grew up with competently made scary films.
Beside the statue of the creature and the fire-breathing Jews could be a staue of Allah, complete with two right hands (not quite Ned Flanders approved but never mind).
“Billions of dollars of positive impact on the state of Kentucky”?
Why do I find myself thinking of Nate Birge in Thurber’s Bateman Comes Home?
“Look heah, gal, you cain’ set fire to no buildin’ ‘thout you see somebody. Gahd’s love give that truth to this world”
It’s about as sensible as Ken Ham
PZ, you can not possibly write about Ham in 2025 and deprive the young readers here of that dinosaur pic! ;)
“…And of course he concludes with his martyr myth, that somehow endorsing the existence of LGBTQ+ people is equivalent to persecuting Christians.”
Much like being against bombing children in Gaza is called “antisemitic” by the Trump Choir. It trivializes real antisemitism. (Learn about Lizzy Savetsky.)
Myself @ 3
This is the kind of diorama a theme park needs
.Xenomorph versus the killer rabbit of Caerbannog”
.https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16ePmjhCT3/
Why would ANYONE talk positively about Ham in a LGBTQ-related speech? Did he forget they were enemies?
Pretty sure the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro has Ham’s tatty little roadside sideshow beat.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christ_the_Redeemer_(statue)
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g303506-d554128-Reviews-Corcovado_Christ_the_Redeemer-Rio_de_Janeiro_State_of_Rio_de_Janeiro.html
https://artsandculture.google.com/story/sanctuary-of-christ-the-redeemer-congregação-do-santíssimo-redentor/_wVRd1us2c-sLg?hl=en
Between Corvocado & the statue itself, I’m pretty sure it’s bigger.
Bonus: the statute was originally supposed to commemorate Princess Isabel’s emancipation/abolition of slavery. So, commemoration of two actual Christian ideals–mercy & charity. As opposed to Ham’s racism, transphobia & homophobia.
@ ^ silvrhalide : Didn’t know that. Thanks. Neat fact.
Ham on the rocks. A very ..something.. drink. Cocktail?.
@2.raven : “The only other large xian theme park in the USA, the Holyland Experience in Florida, closed in 2020.”
I thought Ned Flanders had build a special XN park somewhere?
What was it called again? SAh yes Praiseland.. Bad but still better than Ken (not the astronaiut) Ham’s one.. (1 min 15 secs.)
I suspect the enterprises built in Kentucky by Jack Daniels and Jim Beam attract more Xians than do the Ham Holies.
Admittedly, I can’t look at Dumb Idiot Ham’s writings let alone any creationist writings past and present without developing tension headaches, resentment, and anger that lingers and lingers for hours on end. All of their writings are incredibly bad, full of lies, slander and hatred, worst emotional appeals, outright bad biblical, historical, and scientific fantasies, distortions and fabrications of myths and folklore, fragmented bible verses, little talk about Jesus, elements ripped from sci-fi movies and comic books, parroting and forceful language, projections, arrogant boasting, and unfounded, made-up claims.
And Dumb Idiot Ham, whose attitude is no different than that of DonOld Dump, proves himself again and again to be among the worst of the bunch of empty headed young earth creationists who created parks and “museums” that are 100% worthless to the core.
No wonder kids visiting the putrid faculties often get bored, whine, and complain about what their parents dragged their little butts to.
Ken Ham is one of those people I wanna be there for when Bowerick Wowbagger the Infinitely Prolonged turns up.