North Dallas (Biblical) museum on fire

[WhiteTara]

So what do you think? God is angry?

Dallas Fire-Rescue personnel battled a five-alarm fire at the Biblical Arts Center museum and theater near NorthPark Center shopping mall in North Dallas.

snip

We have unique and additional challenges with this fire," Lavender said. "Not only do we have sensitive material inside, we also have a building that's not sprinklered. The building was built before the code required sprinklers."

Lavender added that the challenges were multiplied by the temperature, which was approaching 100 degrees.

http://www.khou.com/news/state/stories/khou050628_mh_dallasmuseum.54417eff.html

[UpInArms]

1. maybe they need some holy water

:evilgrin:

[earthboundmisfit]

2. Was it started by a bolt of lightning?

n/t

[nine30]

11. Yes, and out of the blue too...

..God's own wrath..for preaching hatred and intolerance !

[VegasWolf]

26. Told them to get rid of the burning bush where the 10 cc's were found.nt

[CottonBear]

3. Biblical arts? n/t

[VegasWolf]

27. It's damn sure not Biblical Science. nt

[Xipe Totec]

4. She's Not Angry,

She just has a wicked sense of humor.

That's why I love her.

[realcountrymusic]

5. Burn, baby, burn! EOM

[nine30]

18. lol.

[queeg]

6. Worst part was

That one of their bible coloring books still hadn't even been colored in and now it's all gone---and both their vegie-tales tapes melted---so sad.

[VegasWolf]

28. Heard the school only had two crayons, black and white. nt

[Dr.Phool]

7. Tom DeLay pissed off the Fire God!!!!!

[olddad56]

8. its the devil, the biblical museum has gone to hell.

[daleo]

9. Testing people's faith.

That's the standard answer.

[Enraged_Ape]

This was actually a neat place

It really focused on the history and significance of the Bible in today's culture. It was not a wing-nut, fundie thing at all. There were some terrific artifacts and works of religious art there.

They had some of the earliest versions of the Bible ever printed, including those that were ONLY meant for Kings, Queens and the otherwise "privileged" to see. It was a terrific museum of the history of the Judeo-Christian traditions in society today.

The mural of the Pentecost was quite impressive--and even touching, in a way. The message was that, for a very short time, all of God's people could speak the same language. We all were on the very same page.

I am saddened by this news.

[Fridays Child]

13. Thanks for the perspective. It's never good when artifacts are destroyed.

And it sounds like these were presented in their proper context.

[Enraged_Ape]

19. This really was a historical museum...

not some sort of BS "700 Club" operation.

I am, by no means, a fundamentalist Christian, but I found this place truly fascinating, and it is a shame that this has happened. I feel the same about this as I did about the plundering and destruction of the Iraqi museums.

[sam the dawg]

17. thanks

the guy was crucified once already. we don't have to do it again.

[420inTN]

25. Wonder if its a burglary cover-up?

If they had such rare (and expensive) books, I wouldn't rule out burglary with arson to hide the evidence.

[rainbow4321]

33. Looks like the Pentecost one you refer to...

may have been the source of the fire

(see post #32)

[LiberalFighter]

34. Then they had museum type artifacts...

and as such should had provided the necessary environment.

They probably didn't have insurance as I am sure that an insurance company would had required proper precautions.

[Sequoia]

10. Fire Marshall Bill, where are you?

[Richard Steele]

12. No sprinklers? So much for their "faith-based" fire prevention systems!

I'll take MY safety equipment in "reality-based" form, thank you very much!

Like the Prophet said: "Trust God, but tie up your camel."

[Taxloss]

14. It was probably the atheists.

When oh when will the atheist majority end its relentless persecution? This string of arson attacks must be brought to a halt.

[The_Casual_Observer]

15. Holy Smokes

[Judi Lynn]

16. We could be entering the Advent of the Martyrs

[Samurai_Writer]

20. That is absolutely my favorite painting of all time

I have a print of it hanging in my bedroom. I want to go to the Louvre so badly to see the real thing.

[uppityperson]

21. That's too bad, ironic and too bad.

"spinklered" is now a real word? wow. add it to speellcchek.

[olddad56]

22. if there was ever proof that the judgement day is upon us, this is it.

[johnfunk]

23. God hath smited the polarizing "museum"

As they'd say on FAUX News, she was miffed by their lack of fairness and balance.

[chaumont58]

24. Call Pat Robertson and Jerry Fallwell

And ask them if they think God is angry with something the museum has said or done.
The power of prayer in action.

[IndianaGreen]

29. Here is what happened....

The Biblical Arts Center is a non-denominational, non-profit organization with a mission to help people "more clearly envision the places, events and people of the Bible." The building contains various exhibits and works of art, including an enormous oil painting 124 feet long by 20 feet high, depicting the Miracle at Pentecost.

http://www.khou.com/news/state/stories/khou050628_mh_dallasmuseum.54417eff.html

The "Miracle at Pentecost" is when the Apostles met at the Upper Room after Jesus's execution to await the promised arrival of the Holy Spirit (or Ghost), which appeared to them as tongues of flames over their heads. Perhaps the same thing happened in here, and heavenly tongues of flame descended on the museum incinerating it.

[VegasWolf]

31. My favorite room is the one with T-Rex attacking the Pagan. nt

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

30. Hmmm, where was * while this was going on?

Riechstag, anyone?

[rainbow4321]

32. Update: Started possibly by "Miracle of Pentecost" painting

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/062905dnmetfire.544f016a.html



The flames might have started in the museum's prized possession: a gigantic 36-year-old painting of the New Testament scene of Pentecost. The Book of Acts describes the scene as the Holy Spirit descending on the apostles in "what seemed to be tongues of fire."

As Mr. Peck searched the museum, he noticed flames on the famous Miracle at Pentecost painting, he said. He was unable to put out the fire with an extinguisher.

The museum was founded in 1966 by Mattie Caruth Byrd. The original building was no more than a metal barn built to hold the giant Pentecost painting, by Dallas artist Torger Thompson. The building was renovated and expanded in the early 1980s.

The painting was the centerpiece of a light-and-music show that harked to days before computer-generated special effects. Carefully aimed spotlights and narration took viewers through a tour of the giant canvas.