Creation Museum Misrepresents Science
CorporateWhore
Posts: 1,890
http://www.vertpaleo.org/news/permalinks/2007/07/17/
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 17, 2007
The Society of Vertebrate Paleontology on the Creation Museum
Professional paleontologists from around the world are concerned about the misrepresentation of science at the newly opened Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky. The Creation Museum has been marketed to the public as a “reasoned, logical defence” for young-earth creationism by Ken Ham, the President and CEO of Answers in Genesis, which runs the Creation Museum. The Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, a world-wide scientific and educational organization concerned with vertebrate paleontology, contends that the museum presents visitors with a view of earth history that has been scientifically disproven for over a century.
The Creation Museum’s fossil exhibitions, though artistically impressive, include a vast number of scientific errors, large and small. These errors range from implying that the Earth’s sedimentary rocks were deposited by a single biblical Flood, to claiming that humans and dinosaurs lived alongside one another, to denouncing the reality of transitional fossils.
"Ken Ham is not recognized as a scientist or educator among experts in the fields of geology and paleontology, and his views on the interpretation of Biblical texts are extremist. Visitors to his ‘museum’ may arrive knowing little about these sciences, but they will leave misled and intellectually deceived,” said Dr. Kevin Padian, Professor and Curator, University of California, Berkeley and President of the National Center for Science Education.
The fossil exhibits at the Creation Museum discount the last 150 years of paleontological and geological discovery. Not only are transitional fossils, including snakes with limbs and dinosaurs with feathers, abundant in the fossil record, but radiometric dating allows paleontologists to pinpoint the timing of major events in the ancient history of the earth.
For example, Tyrannosaurus rex existed over 65 million years ago, whereas modern humans didn’t show up on the scene until 200 thousand years ago. They never walked side by side. The Creation Museum neglects to include this critical data in its analysis of the history of life on earth. “Most of us in the public view museums as places to get the latest information on scientific discovery. In this case, the Creation Museum is using the disguise of science museums and centers without including an iota of science inside,” said Dr. Kristi Curry Rogers of the Science Museum of Minnesota.
“That’s the real danger of such a place – undermining the basic principles of science, eroding the public's confidence in science, and causing a general weakening of science education in the country,” commented Dr. Glenn Storrs of the Cincinnati Museum Center.
Dr. Catherine Badgley, a professor at the University of Michigan and president of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, remarked, “according to the Creation Museum, the history of life is short, sin-ridden, and laden with moralizing imperatives. In contrast, the real fossil record shows that this long history is brimming with discoveries of new kinds of animals, plants, and environments, inviting people to use their unusual minds to question, to reason, and to wonder at life’s remarkable variety.”
Founded in 1940, the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology is the leading North American scientific and educational organization concerned with vertebrate paleontology. The society has 2,200 members from 40 countries; members include professionals, students, artists, preparators, and others interested in vertebrate fossils. The purpose of the society is to advance the science of vertebrate paleontology, including the history, evolution, comparative anatomy, and taxonomy of vertebrate animals, as well as the field occurrence, collection, and geological context of fossil vertebrates. The society is also concerned with the conservation and preservation of fossil sites. It publishes The Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, a leading journal in the field.
God does not ask us to ignore obvious common sense in order to believe in Him. Arguing for unscientific claims only undermines people's faith in God once they realize that those unscientific claims are untrue. This is needless when you realize that the Bible does not require us to believe all of its historicity or scientific claims.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 17, 2007
The Society of Vertebrate Paleontology on the Creation Museum
Professional paleontologists from around the world are concerned about the misrepresentation of science at the newly opened Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky. The Creation Museum has been marketed to the public as a “reasoned, logical defence” for young-earth creationism by Ken Ham, the President and CEO of Answers in Genesis, which runs the Creation Museum. The Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, a world-wide scientific and educational organization concerned with vertebrate paleontology, contends that the museum presents visitors with a view of earth history that has been scientifically disproven for over a century.
The Creation Museum’s fossil exhibitions, though artistically impressive, include a vast number of scientific errors, large and small. These errors range from implying that the Earth’s sedimentary rocks were deposited by a single biblical Flood, to claiming that humans and dinosaurs lived alongside one another, to denouncing the reality of transitional fossils.
"Ken Ham is not recognized as a scientist or educator among experts in the fields of geology and paleontology, and his views on the interpretation of Biblical texts are extremist. Visitors to his ‘museum’ may arrive knowing little about these sciences, but they will leave misled and intellectually deceived,” said Dr. Kevin Padian, Professor and Curator, University of California, Berkeley and President of the National Center for Science Education.
The fossil exhibits at the Creation Museum discount the last 150 years of paleontological and geological discovery. Not only are transitional fossils, including snakes with limbs and dinosaurs with feathers, abundant in the fossil record, but radiometric dating allows paleontologists to pinpoint the timing of major events in the ancient history of the earth.
For example, Tyrannosaurus rex existed over 65 million years ago, whereas modern humans didn’t show up on the scene until 200 thousand years ago. They never walked side by side. The Creation Museum neglects to include this critical data in its analysis of the history of life on earth. “Most of us in the public view museums as places to get the latest information on scientific discovery. In this case, the Creation Museum is using the disguise of science museums and centers without including an iota of science inside,” said Dr. Kristi Curry Rogers of the Science Museum of Minnesota.
“That’s the real danger of such a place – undermining the basic principles of science, eroding the public's confidence in science, and causing a general weakening of science education in the country,” commented Dr. Glenn Storrs of the Cincinnati Museum Center.
Dr. Catherine Badgley, a professor at the University of Michigan and president of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, remarked, “according to the Creation Museum, the history of life is short, sin-ridden, and laden with moralizing imperatives. In contrast, the real fossil record shows that this long history is brimming with discoveries of new kinds of animals, plants, and environments, inviting people to use their unusual minds to question, to reason, and to wonder at life’s remarkable variety.”
Founded in 1940, the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology is the leading North American scientific and educational organization concerned with vertebrate paleontology. The society has 2,200 members from 40 countries; members include professionals, students, artists, preparators, and others interested in vertebrate fossils. The purpose of the society is to advance the science of vertebrate paleontology, including the history, evolution, comparative anatomy, and taxonomy of vertebrate animals, as well as the field occurrence, collection, and geological context of fossil vertebrates. The society is also concerned with the conservation and preservation of fossil sites. It publishes The Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, a leading journal in the field.
God does not ask us to ignore obvious common sense in order to believe in Him. Arguing for unscientific claims only undermines people's faith in God once they realize that those unscientific claims are untrue. This is needless when you realize that the Bible does not require us to believe all of its historicity or scientific claims.
All I know is that to see, and not to speak, would be the great betrayal.
-Enoch Powell
-Enoch Powell
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments
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How could it NOT?"Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States, Barack Obama."
"Obama's main opponent in this election on November 4th (was) not John McCain, it (was) ignorance."~Michael Moore
"i'm feeling kinda righteous right now. with my badass motherfuckin' ukulele!"
~ed, 8/70 -
sweetpotato wrote:How could it NOT?
Creationism in and of itself does not have anything to do with science.
Personally, I believe in intelligent design. God creating evolution.All I know is that to see, and not to speak, would be the great betrayal.
-Enoch Powell0 -
gotta love ignorance
*puts blinders on and heads to creationism museum*..and you will come to find that we are all one mind, capable of all that's imagined and all conceivable0 -
Oh not this house for whacknuts again...Progress is not made by everyone joining some new fad,
and reveling in it's loyalty. It's made by forming coalitions
over specific principles, goals, and policies.
http://i36.tinypic.com/66j31x.jpg
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( o.O)
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This museum is simply putting forth information that most Americans believe in. It is absolutely shameful that these scientists are attacking them simply for not agreeing. Science, by definition, is never certain. What are these people afraid of?
++++++++
I could never have said that outloud with a straight face. The people that are afraid are these particular creationists that are scared that science is going to bring their religion tumbling down. It won't I agree with one of the board's most relgious people (who I rarely agree with). Science and evolution do not negate inteligant design, for the lord, as they say, works in mysterious ways. Who's to say god did not want to design through long, evolutionary procedure.
At any rate, these people are just making themselves look silly to most and they only people that will be buying in were already pretty much anti-science to begin with.I cannot come up with a new sig till I get this egg off my face.0 -
This thread has me craving a brontosaurus burger."Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States, Barack Obama."
"Obama's main opponent in this election on November 4th (was) not John McCain, it (was) ignorance."~Michael Moore
"i'm feeling kinda righteous right now. with my badass motherfuckin' ukulele!"
~ed, 8/70 -
Noah's ark for Dinosaurs.....yay!....but totally fucking impossible....although not for everyone apparently. (dear lord!)
Hooh-boy....talk about let's go somewhere and pay money to dumb down...Progress is not made by everyone joining some new fad,
and reveling in it's loyalty. It's made by forming coalitions
over specific principles, goals, and policies.
http://i36.tinypic.com/66j31x.jpg
(\__/)
( o.O)
(")_(")0 -
I think, it is extremely difficult to convey to the general public the degree to which certain well-established theories have been corroborated and substantiated (by empirical evidence or otherwise), without delving into overly technical details. My willingness to accept the results of mainstream science that I don't have the background knowledge to fully understand is based on an understanding that no one is more careful or skeptical of new ideas and theories than the scientists themselves. If it has survived the intense scrutiny of the peer-review process, if the evidence in support of it has only mounted over the last 150 years, if no one has ever been able to show significant findings to the the contrary...well, you get my point.
In contrast, many people don't understand that scientists are held to such standards. This problem is compounded by the oft-mentioned discrepancy between the colloquial and scientific use of the word "theory". In common parlance, a theory is akin to a hypothesis in science, an as yet untested educated guess. In light of all this, I can see how the scientists are fighting an uphill battle, and it is relatively easy for the creationists to claim that scientists are guilty of obfuscation by resorting to overly technical jargon and using it to claim intellectual superiority (or even supremacy) in a given field of knowledge.
The problem with the 'Creation Science' folks is that they do NOT employ the scientific method. They start with the conclusion that they want to be true, and then use certain scientific evidence to justify that conclusion. Scientists, on the other hand, don't start with any preconceived notions about what they 'should' find. They just go where the evidence leads.The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance,
but the illusion of knowledge.
~Daniel Boorstin
Only a life lived for others is worth living.
~Albert Einstein0 -
CorporateWhore wrote:Visitors to his ‘museum’ may arrive knowing little about these sciences, but they will leave misled and intellectually deceived,”
God does not ask us to ignore obvious common sense in order to believe in Him. Arguing for unscientific claims only undermines people's faith in God once they realize that those unscientific claims are untrue. This is needless when you realize that the Bible does not require us to believe all of its historicity or scientific claims.
surprisingly, i agree with you. i kept that quote becos part of me feels like... what do we expect when our schools are so miserable most americans are totally ignorant of science? it certainly makes the creationists' job easier.
now im going to try to figure out just how big noah's ark would have to be to hold 2 of every animal for 40 days... think of the largest zoo you've ever been to and how many animals actually fit in there. that is one big boat. especially when you add t-rex into the equation. speaking of, what happened to dinosaurs? god just decided he didn't like them anymore and wiped them out? cos if evolution and natural selection are flawed, natural extinction seems equally implausible. let's hope he decides to do the same to creationists, or at least smite their funhouse.0 -
I really, really, really want to go to this place. The museum itself sounds great, and the people-watching has just gotta be top notch. I bet it's a riot
"Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." ~ MLK, 19630 -
hippiemom wrote:I really, really, really want to go to this place. The museum itself sounds great, and the people-watching has just gotta be top notch. I bet it's a riot
ive thought that too. maybe we can head down together next time im home!
ps. im interviewing with your employer next week. is it one of those 70 hour a week sweatshops for new employees? im trying to be selective about my interviews (i have 30, i can afford it) and was considering dropping them.0 -
But Conor, don't you understand? It was God's ark! If God wanted all the animals to fit, they would fit. You know how the when the wizards in the Harry Potter books go camping, and they pitch their tents and they look like ordinary tents, but inside they're like a full-sized house? I mean really ... if Harry Potter can do it, then God can certainly do it too!soulsinging wrote:surprisingly, i agree with you. i kept that quote becos part of me feels like... what do we expect when our schools are so miserable most americans are totally ignorant of science? it certainly makes the creationists' job easier.
now im going to try to figure out just how big noah's ark would have to be to hold 2 of every animal for 40 days... think of the largest zoo you've ever been to and how many animals actually fit in there. that is one big boat. especially when you add t-rex into the equation. speaking of, what happened to dinosaurs? god just decided he didn't like them anymore and wiped them out? cos if evolution and natural selection are flawed, natural extinction seems equally implausible. let's hope he decides to do the same to creationists, or at least smite their funhouse."Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." ~ MLK, 19630 -
Why aren't there Kangaroo's in Israel?I necessarily have the passion for writing this, and you have the passion for condemning me; both of us are equally fools, equally the toys of destiny. Your nature is to do harm, mine is to love truth, and to make it public in spite of you. - Voltaire0
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soulsinging wrote:speaking of, what happened to dinosaurs?
Creationist viewpoint (I'm not making this up):
You know how so many different cultures managed to concoct stories about dragons? You know how the knights used to fight off dragons in the old days and legends? Well, those dragons were really just dinosaurs and we killed them all. They didn't become extinct millions of years ago: they were killed off by human beings like Lancelot and Prince Charming.All I know is that to see, and not to speak, would be the great betrayal.
-Enoch Powell0 -
soulsinging wrote:
now im going to try to figure out just how big noah's ark would have to be to hold 2 of every animal for 40 days... think of the largest zoo you've ever been to and how many animals actually fit in there. that is one big boat. especially when you add t-rex into the equation. speaking of, what happened to dinosaurs? god just decided he didn't like them anymore and wiped them out? cos if evolution and natural selection are flawed, natural extinction seems equally implausible. let's hope he decides to do the same to creationists, or at least smite their funhouse.
It was much longer than 40 days. It was almost a year, and don't forget room for all the food, and, how many people would be required to feed and shovel all the waste overboard given the amount to available hours in a day. Did the urine just soak into the floor, or was there hay bedding which was replaced regularly to avoid rampant disease and inevitable illness? Also the food would rot sitting that long. Not all animals can survive on dried grasses.
It would take several fleets of arcs, and a staff of at least 30-100+ people.
I can't even believe anyone could get anywhere close to fathoming this as reality. Omg...Progress is not made by everyone joining some new fad,
and reveling in it's loyalty. It's made by forming coalitions
over specific principles, goals, and policies.
http://i36.tinypic.com/66j31x.jpg
(\__/)
( o.O)
(")_(")0 -
CorporateWhore wrote:Creationist viewpoint (I'm not making this up):
You know how so many different cultures managed to concoct stories about dragons? You know how the knights used to fight off dragons in the old days and legends? Well, those dragons were really just dinosaurs and we killed them all. They didn't become extinct millions of years ago: they were killed off by human beings like Lancelot and Prince Charming.
All they have to do is provide evidence of that. Like some sediment with human and dinosaur remains.
I wonder what kind of weapon would be needed to kill a T-Rex.I necessarily have the passion for writing this, and you have the passion for condemning me; both of us are equally fools, equally the toys of destiny. Your nature is to do harm, mine is to love truth, and to make it public in spite of you. - Voltaire0 -
CorporateWhore wrote:Creationist viewpoint (I'm not making this up):
You know how so many different cultures managed to concoct stories about dragons? You know how the knights used to fight off dragons in the old days and legends? Well, those dragons were really just dinosaurs and we killed them all. They didn't become extinct millions of years ago: they were killed off by human beings like Lancelot and Prince Charming.
that's pretty good. im definitely telling that story to my kids.
doesn't seem very christian though. perhaps it serves a twofold purpose... explaining away dinosaurs and implying that it's ok for us to pollute and destry the planet becos we've already done it and god gave us this place anyway to do with as we please.0 -
God created man, then the animals, right? Why did he create dinosaurs? Reminds me of that scene from Star Wars with the Jabberwakee.I necessarily have the passion for writing this, and you have the passion for condemning me; both of us are equally fools, equally the toys of destiny. Your nature is to do harm, mine is to love truth, and to make it public in spite of you. - Voltaire0
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RolandTD20Kdrummer wrote:It was much longer than 40 days. It was almost a year, and don't forget room for all the food, and, how many people would be required to feed and shovel all the waste overboard given the amount to available hours in a day. Did the urine just soak into the floor, or was there hay bedding which was replaced regularly to avoid rampant disease and inevitable illness? Also the food would rot sitting that long. Not all animals can survive on dried grasses.
It would take several fleets of arcs, and a staff of at least 30-100+ people.
I can't even believe anyone could get anywhere close to fathoming this as reality. Omg...
and didnt they get all excited to top it off when someone found a boat on a mountain somewhere and they said it was noah's ark? wasn't the thing pretty tiny? hippiemom has to be onto something. it's harry potter magic.0 -
soulsinging wrote:and didnt they get all excited to top it off when someone found a boat on a mountain somewhere and they said it was noah's ark? wasn't the thing pretty tiny? hippiemom has to be onto something. it's harry potter magic.
Mt. Ararat in Turkey.I necessarily have the passion for writing this, and you have the passion for condemning me; both of us are equally fools, equally the toys of destiny. Your nature is to do harm, mine is to love truth, and to make it public in spite of you. - Voltaire0
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