Creation Science Theme Park in Florida

[brooklynite]

Darwin-Free Fun for Creationists
By ABBY GOODNOUGH

Published: May 1, 2004

PENSACOLA, Fla., April 29 — Robert and Schön Passmore took their children to Disney World last fall and left bitterly disappointed. As Christians who reject evolutionary theory, the family scoffed at the park's dinosaur attractions, which date the apatosaurus, brachiosaurus and the like to prehistoric times.

"My kids kept recognizing flaws in the presentation," said Mrs. Passmore, of Jackson, Ala. "You know — the whole `millions of years ago dinosaurs ruled the earth' thing."

So this week, the Passmores sought out a lower-profile Florida attraction: Dinosaur Adventure Land, a creationist theme park and museum here that beckons children to "find out the truth about dinosaurs" with games that roll science and religion into one big funfest with the message that Genesis, not science, tells the real story of the creation.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/01/arts/01DINO.html

[brainshrub]

1. Fundies are weird

From the article:

<snip>

"Somewhat more creationist in approach is the Nerve-Wracking Ball: a bowling ball on a rope, dangling from a tall tree branch. A child stands before the ball, and then a park guide gives it a shove from a specific angle, so that it comes careering back at the child's face only to stop just in front of it. The child wins if he does not flinch, proving he has "faith in God's laws" — in this case, that a swinging object will never come back higher than the point from which it took off."

<snip>

[jobycom]

3. Oh, so they trust "god's laws" with bowling balls, but not carbon dating?

You're right. Weird.

[jobycom]

2. Alright, this gives me a great idea. What does Bush believe?

I mean, i don't believe for a second that Bush's religion is real. He doesn't believe what he says, it's just a con job. He's trying to make his murderous actions appeal to Christians. He's like the devout preachers who run off with their church secretaries and the church funds.

But fundies seem to believe him. (If they believe these goofy creationist ideas, I guess we all see why they are easily fooled). Why don't we find out how fundie W is? Does he believe in dinosaurs? Does he believe the world is 6000 years old?

Who can ask him? How can we get him to answer it? Start a rumor that he's a creationist so that he has to defend himself? I'm not only trying to embarrass him before his core worshippers (or before the rest of America), but I'm also curious what he believes. How wacko is bunnypants? Enquiring minds want to know! (Oh wait, the Enquirer editor died of anthrax poisoning after publishing embarrassing photos of Jenna Bush, so maybe that's the wrong phrase to use.)

Hey media folk, how do we get that question asked?

[Skinner]

4. Dumbest. Pseudo-science. Ever.

From the article:

At Dinosaur Adventure Land, visitors can make their own Grand Canyon replica with sand and read a sign deriding textbooks for teaching that the Colorado River formed the canyon over millions of years: "This is clearly not possible. The top of the Grand Canyon is 4,000 feet higher than where the river enters the canyon! Rivers do not flow up hill!"

:eyes:

[Sir Craig]

5. I was going to make a sarcastic remark about this...

...but this whole article is sarcasm enough.

My favorite line:

"We've been to museums, discovery centers, where you have to sit there and take the evolutionary stuff," Mr. Passmore said. "It feels good for them to finally hear it in a public place, something that reinforces their beliefs."

Yeah, what good is science and facts and stuff when the Bible tells us otherwise? Let's hear it for reasoned thinking...

[NJ Blue Collar]

12. <Roll Eyes>

"We've been to museums, discovery centers, where you have to sit there and take the evolutionary stuff," Mr. Passmore said. "It feels good for them to finally hear it in a public place, something that reinforces their beliefs."

Who needs facts when you can have an echo chamber? I'm a Christian and I believe that God created the universe, but I doubt He did it in 7 24 hour periods. Even if God was sitting down and talking with the guy who wrote the Bible how could God explain Quasars to a nomadic Jew who probably didn't know the Earth was spherical?

[bkcc]

6. I was JUST about to make a post about this article.

Thanks for pointing this out to everyone.

My favorite line in the article:
"You're missing 98 percent of the population if you only go the intellectual route."

(Ain't that the understatement of the year!)

I am in awe of how ignorant these assholes are. More than anything, though, I feel bad for the kids who are growing up believing that this sham is real.

Once they're old enough to vote, I feel sorry for the rest of the country.

[rasputin1952]

7. And yet, people wonder why we are falling behind every other country...

when it come to science.For cryin' out loud...x(

[ComerPerro]

8. I loved this part:

There are a lot of creationists that are really smart and debate the intellectuals, but the kids are bored after five minutes," said Mr. Hovind, who looks boyish at 51 and talks fast. "You're missing 98 percent of the population if you only go the intellectual route."

I'm sorry, but what kind of intellectual blindly puts his faith in one book without any evidence while arrogantly dismissing any other scientific claims without consideration.

Sounds like a simple, small-minded bigot to me...

I love how creationists always see themselves as intellectuals, and then try to hold high level conversations using fairy tales as their basis for argument...

[amber dog democrat]

9. Kinda reminds me of the Scopes Trial

Fundamentalist psuedo-science won't go away. What I wonder is to what extent it represents religious thinking ? I keep hoping they are just one extreme of the bell shiaped curve.

They are so juvenile in a slavish devition to creationism.

[yellowcanine]

10. "You're missing 98 percent of the population if you only go the

intellectual route."

And the Creationists think the scientists are condescending." I am speechless.

[Heero]

11. No wonder we're behind...

...other countries in science.

[BushCheatey]

13. Funny thing

They DO<\i> believe in SOCIAL<\i> Darwinism!:shrug:

[jeff30997]

14. Flaws?

"My kids kept recognizing flaws in the presentation...You know — the whole `millions of years ago dinosaurs ruled the earth' thing."

If that statement was being made by Ned Flanders it would be
hilarious,but in this case i find that pretty sad and pathetic.

[Dark]

15. Who wants to play "Create a Creationist Ride"?

I'll go first:

To start off, we have the "Evil Serpent Water Slide" Afterwards, people can listen to a nice fundamentalist (This week it's Pat Robertson!) while dining on a nice forbidden fruit salad in the Tree of knowledge cafe!

Then, if they want, they can go to Noah's water park and petting zoo, where they can sit on an ark and relive all forty days and nights of Noah's harrowing adventure, cleaning up animal feces and throwing pigeons overboard.

Finally, they can go to the Tower of Babylon, and learn why they shouldn't try to communicate with people of other races and religions! Fun for the whole family!

[LibertyorDeath]

16. She sounds completely Retarded

"My kids kept recognizing flaws in the presentation," said Mrs. Passmore, of Jackson, Ala. "You know — the whole `millions of years ago dinosaurs ruled the earth' thing."

[LastDemocratInSC]

17. Hey, you should be grateful instead of scornful ...

... because these are the people who are sacrificing their lives, and the lives of their children, to keep all of us on the right side of every important bell curve.

God bless 'em.

[GOPBasher]

18. How long will it be before I have to teach this shit in school?

That's what I'm wondering. :scared: