Amid a great deal of media attention, the Answers in Genesis Creation Museum is to have its grand opening on May 28th. Just south of Cincinnati, the Creation Museum is only a 5 hour drive from Detroit. I’m hoping to find some time to take the family down this summer.
The whole world has watched with fascination as the museum progressed. Media outlets from all over the globe came to visit and interview Ken Ham, president of Answers in Genesis – U.S.A. One of the more notable visitors was Dr. Eugenie Scott, director of the National Center for Science Education. Dr. Scott, an atheist, was impressed enough with the sophistication of the museum to issue a call to arms, so to speak, to the Academia of Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky, asking that they support a petition against the Creation Museum.
Dr. Scott’s concern, she says, is that “Students who accept such material as scientifically valid are unlikely to succeed in science courses at the college level. These students will need remedial instruction in the nature of science, as well as the specific areas of science misrepresented by Answers in Genesis.” Dr. Scott’s words, of course, hinge on her assumption that she is right and Answers in Genesis is wrong. Assuming that is so, her comments (evidently intended to scare parents away from the museum and/or creationism) don’t stand up to reason.
Since before they can remember, I’ve been teaching my children Allie and Jonah about creation (and Brooke too, although she’s a little young to grasp it yet). My goal is that they not only know what the Bible teaches about creation. I also want them to be able to evaluate the messages they see on television shows, books, magazines and newspapers. In other words, I don’t just want to fill their heads with concepts. More importantly, I want to train them how to think. As they’ve gotten older and their understanding has become more sophisticated, I’ve been surprised at the critical thinking skills they’ve displayed.
Allie, at nine years old, has a thorough understanding of evolution for someone her age. To evaluate two points of view it is necessary to be well versed in both. I have no doubt that Allie would be fully able to thrive in a college level science course when the time comes. There is no reason to believe that she couldn’t master evolutionary concepts simply because she would disagree with them. In fact, it would be my expectation that her critical thinking skills would make her better equipped to be a successful science student, although it seems as if critical thinking is not valued in science classrooms as it used to be. We have entered an age of indoctrination when it comes to evolution. Alternative viewpoints are neither encouraged nor tolerated.
And such is the case with Dr. Scott and her petition drive. The vast majority of those expected to sign the petition are condemning the Creation Museum sight unseen. Is that the way a scientist should draw conclusions?
Follow this link to read the whole article about the petition drive - click here.
To learn more about the Creation Museum (and to get a $5 off coupon!), visit creationmuseum.org.
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