The people who gave America the Creation Museum are planning to give another gift to the world. Answers in Genesis is planning to construct a replica of Noah’s Ark in Kentucky. According to Mike Zovath, a senior vice president of Answers in Genesis, the exhibit will “present accurate, factual biblical information to people about a subject that they’re really interested in.”
According to a news report published in The New York Times, the full-size replica of Noah’s Ark will have real animals and actors who will portray what happened at the time of the flood. The animals, including small giraffes, will be kept inside the Ark. According to Mr. Zovath, there is a reason why they will have only young giraffes:
“We think that God would probably have sent healthy juvenile-sized animals that weren’t fully grown yet, so there would be plenty of room. We want to show how Noah would have taken care of them, taken care of waste management, taken care of water needs and food needs.”
In addition to a replica of Noah’s Ark, “The park will include a 100-foot Tower of Babel, a first-century Middle Eastern village and a journey through the Old Testament, with special effects depicting Moses, the 10 plagues and the parting of the Red Sea.”
The project will cost $150 million and will be completed by 2014.
The people who sponsor the Creation Museum believe that the world is six thousand years old and that creation took six actual days of twenty-four hours each. This commitment to the literal interpretation of the creation story in Genesis 1 is commendable, but it is a misguided commitment.
The people of Answers in Genesis are committed to the literal interpretation of the Bible but they are also committed to the almighty dollar. No one spends $150 million without expecting a profit in return.
Personally, I believe that projects such as the Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter bring ridicule to the community of faith. People who reject the message of the Bible do not need a theatrical presentation to convince them to give their life to Christ.
Claude Mariottini
Emeritus Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary
NOTE: Did you like this post? Do you think other people would like to read this post? Be sure to share this post on Facebook and share a link on Twitter or Tumblr so that others may enjoy reading it too!
I would love to hear from you! Let me know what you thought of this post by leaving a comment below. Be sure to like my page on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, follow me on Tumblr, Facebook, and subscribe to my blog to receive each post by email.
If you are looking for other series of studies on the Old Testament, visit the Archive section and you will find many studies that deal with a variety of topics.
Dr. Claude Mariottini - Professor of Old Testament 
>Do you disagree that the earth was created 6,000 years ago during the time span of six, twenty four hour days?Does not your own university take cost and revenue into consideration when undertaking projects?
LikeLike
>How do you define "redicule?" Have you ever been "rediculed" for speaking the Truth? If not, you probably need to examine yourself.Of course the project will be expensive. Praise the LORD that a Christian organization is determined to do things first-class, just like the creation museum.You also said, "This commitment to the literal interpretation of the creation story in Genesis 1 is commendable, but it is a misguided commitment." You never explain why this is "misguided." Surely as a professor you are willing to substantiate your claim.Also, in addition to the Bible, please explain how you would best communicate the facts of the Ark to a lost and dying world. Personally, I am sick of the bath tub-shaped boats with giraffe and elephant heads sticking out the top. Surely as a professor you have a recommendation!I look forward to the Ark Encounter, as well as the "redicule" it will bring. The Truth is unavoidably offensive.
LikeLike
>What biblical authority does your department stand on in regards to Genesis 1-11? Just curious to know what is being taught to the generation going through your school?I'm excited not just for the creation museum (visited last summer) but looking forward to visiting the Ark Encounter in 2014. Our family now has a better understanding of creation thanks to the resources avialable that we are willingly to pay to visit versus taking our family to see Disney or even a secular museum that takes God out of the picture entirely.I'm afraid that your blog on this subject is no different than those that oppose AinG, more opinion type statements rather than fact base arguements. I bet tution costs a pretty penny to get an education at NBS.
LikeLike
>Dr. Mariottini,I hope you will re-think the statements in your blog. My recommendation is that you visit the Creation Museum and meet with Ken Ham or another person in leadership there…. and have an in-depth discussion about both the museum and the planned Ark Encounter. Rather than rely on the New York Times as a valid information source, it would be so much better to get facts directly from those involved in both Kentucky projects, where you can discuss all the questions and issues. I know they would be very happy to meet with you and be gracious and accommodating to your schedule.OmaBob
LikeLike
>Ken Ham has said that several people were converted to Christianity as a result of going through the museum. I have yet to visit it, but I met Ken Ham and his then-partner, John Mackay, back in 1985. I was enrolled in a course in evolution when someone told me about these two Australian men who were visiting Kansas City and were giving an all-day seminar regarding creation. I went and all I could say, throughout the day, was "That's it! That's IT!!! Their explanations for geologic phenomena that had been explained has having occurred millions or billions of years ago made perfect sense and harmonized with the Bible, rather than clashing with it. In my opinion, the biggest obstacle to Christianity today is seminary professors and pastors who believe that atheistic scientists have the correct answers as to origins. I much prefer the explanations given by those who believe in God, and take Him at His Word. To disbelieve the Word of God is to call God a liar! Perhaps you think He was merely unable to convey the "'truth' of evolution" to ignorant beings who wrote the Bible. That, of course, is to call God something less than omnipotent. I agree with the writer who said you should visit the museum. Truth told, Christianity is ridiculed by those who are perishing. They are to be pitied and prayed for, not to be listened to and obeyed.
LikeLike
>Dear Pastor Adam,The problem with creation being 6,000 years old is that Ussher’s chronology, that the world was created in 4004 B.C., is just not acceptable when confronted with facts. The city of Jericho (Neolithic Jericho) is dated to 8,000 B.C. The site of Gobekli Tepe in Turkey is dated to 12,000 B.C.Since a day of 24 hours is marked by the relationship between the earth and the sun (the rotation of the Earth around its own axis), how could day 1, 2, and 3 of creation be 24 hours when there was no sun until day 4?Our seminary is a non-profit organization whose mission is to prepare people for the ministry. The Ark project is a for-profit organization.Have a happy Christmas and a blessed New Year.Claude Mariottini
LikeLike
>Dear Carl,Thank you for reading my blog and for your comment about my post on Noah’s Ark in Kentucky. First, let me say that I am a firm believer in the Bible. I believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and that through God’s Word people come to saving faith in Christ.Let me explain about the issue of creation. People who accept that creation happened 6,000 years ago, do so based on the chronology of Bishop James Ussher. The problem with Ussher’s chronology is that concluded that the world was created in 4004 B.C. To be precise, Ussher said that creation occurred on October 23, 4004 B.C. at 9:00 A.M. Now, let me ask you: do you believe this? Ussher came to this date using the data found in the Bible.However, creation in 4004 is just not acceptable when confronted with facts. For instance, the old section of the city of Jericho, called Neolithic Jericho, is dated to 8,000 B.C. The ancient site of Gobekli Tepe in Turkey is dated to 12,000 B.C. Do some research on these two sites and read how old they are.Take, for instance, the days of creation. Since a day of 24 hours is marked by the relationship between the earth and the sun (the rotation of the Earth around its own axis), how could day 1, 2, and 3 of creation be 24 hours when there was no sun until day 4? Since a day with the Lord is like a thousand years ( 2 Peter 3:8), the 7 days of creation could have been one thousand years each.I wish I had more time to explain the Bible to you. If you visit my blog today, you can learn more about the Messianic promise of the Old Testament.Have a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year.Claude Mariottini
LikeLike
>Dear John,Northern Seminary is committed to the authority of the Bible. We believe that the Bible is the Word of God and that through it we came to know God in Christ.I am glad that you are happy with the Ark Encounter. I will contend that the best understanding of how God created the world comes from the Bible itself. Since the Creation Museum is the work of men, it is possible that men have misinterpreted what the Bible says.Northern Seminary is a non-profit organization that depends on God’s people for support. Our seminary soon will be 100 years old. We have been faithful in teaching God’s Word to our students. They have to pay tuition. However, people come to us because they know we are faithful to God’s Word. You are welcome to attend one of my classes and see first hand the commitment of our school to God’s Word.Have a blessed Christmas and a happy New Year. Read my blog today to know more about the Messianic promise of the Old Testament.Claude Mariottini
LikeLike
>OmaBob,Thank you for you comment. I may visit the Creation Museum next Summer. If I do, I would like to meet Ken Ham and discuss the Ark project with him. If you know Ken, let him know that I would like to meet him.Have a blessed Christmas and a happy New Year.Claude Mariottini
LikeLike
>Mary,Thank you for reading my blog and for your comment about my post on Noah’s Ark in Kentucky. First, let me say that I am a firm believer in the Bible. I believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and that through God’s Word people come to saving faith in Christ.I know several Christian scientist who believe that many geological phenomena occurred millions of years ago. One of my professors, a committed believer, was one of them. The problem is that many Christians are unwilling to accept the fact that the universe is more than 6,000 years old. Many seminary professors and many pastors believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and also believe that the universe is old. I do not believe that science and the Bible contradict each other since science is also the work of God. The problem between science and the Bible is that many scientists leave God out of the process. I do not. I believe that God is the creator and that he was in control of every thing that happened.Have a blessed Christmas and a happy New Year. Visit my blog today and learn more about the Messianic promise of the Old Testament.Claude Mariottini
LikeLike