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Home , Answers In Genesis, Creation Museum, Ken Ham

FEATURE

THE SCIENTIFIC HERITAGE OF CHRISTIANITY —by Peter Hammond

“The devastating effect that evolutionary his quote by clearly talk show guests. Ken Ham is heard daily high-tech and filled with animatronic dis- has had on society, explains the need for Christians to on the radio feature ‘Answers…with Ken plays. It includes the spectacular Stargaz- Scientific identify the scientific heritage of our Ham’, broadcast in more than 900 stations ers Planetarium where each seat is turned and even the Church, makes it Tfaith. Because of this need, he developed worldwide. Ken and his wife, Mally, have into a rocket launching pad as the digital clear that everyone – including the Creation near Cincinnati in five children and four grandchildren. projector showcases a gravity-defying space America. It is absolutely magnificent. As a science teacher in Australia, Ken flight into vast outer regions of the universe. Christians – needs to return I spent two days exploring, examining came to appreciate the foundational The breathtaking images and in- to the clear teachings of and experiencing it. It was not nearly enough importance of Genesis to every area of life, conceivable distances make this cos- time. As one who has visited all over and why Creation is often under attack in mic journey a very engaging experience. Scripture in Genesis and the world, I must rate the the World War of . acknowledge Christ as as one of the very best. The museum is God- An exciting heritage our Creator and Saviour. honouring, -based and Christ-centred. Showcasing Creation The special effects theatre includes rumbling Ken Ham launched ‘’ seats and rising mists as it takes visitors on Genesis has the answers Science and the Bible? in 1994. His best selling book ‘The Lie: a fantastic quest to find the real to many of the The Creation Museum is effective both in ’ shows how compromise on purpose and meaning of life. The education and evangelism. Not only is it Genesis has opened dangerous doors 70 000 square foot museum is located on problems facing the extremely well thought out and laid out, but to undermine Biblical authority and a 47 acre property which includes three » compromising Church it is inspired and inspiring. It is a modern subvert the culture. In hundreds of and the questioning equivalent of the nailing of the ’95 Theses public meetings Ken Ham has shown on the church door in Wittenberg. Future how the breakdown of society and the world today.” generations may look back at the opening of family, school violence, gay ‘marriage’, the Creation Museum as significant an event abortion and lawlessness all relate to the for reformation in our day as Luther’s bold humanist rejection of the . protest was in the 16th Century. ‘Answers in Genesis’ is dedicated to The museum is the brainchild of Ken providing Biblical and scientific answers Ham of ‘Answers in Genesis’. Australian to some of the most difficult questions born Ken has become one of the most in- people ask about the Christian Faith. demand Christian conference speakers and The state of the art Creation Museum is

All photographs taken at the Creation Museum 48 JOY ! MAGAZINE JOY ! MAGAZINE 49 FEATURE

magnificent gardens celebrating God’s Creation. amazing design is seen in the chameleon’s oactive dating methods. The Creation Over 6 000 plants surround the three acre lake, rapid-fire tongue which accelerates five times Museum is dynamic and continually with 500 varieties of flora filling the gardens. faster than a fighter jet and shoots twice as growing and expanding. The mile long walkway takes one across far as the length of its body. A cartilage rod I was fortunate to hear a arching bridges, through a rainforest garden, past forms the catapult while a special muscle in lecture from Ken Ham on the humming birds and butterflies. Turtles rest on its tongue helps cock, trigger and catapult days that I visited. His Australian logs in the lake and carnivorous plants, like the the tongue. The core of the tongue telescopes accent, keen sense of humour, Venus Fly Trap and the Spider Lily, introduce us outward; a suction cup tip catches the prey. captivating stories and exceptional to species of plants most of us have never seen. Each of these complex parts are useless illustrations, have made him one without the others. of North America’s most effective Fabulous fauna and flora How could all of these parts come Christian communicators. The botanical gardens and lake surrounding the together by chance? It only makes sense museum are a delightful location for picnics and that all these parts were designed to work walks. The museum includes in its live exhibits together – right from the beginning. Christians do not need to be afraid of debate. In a petting zoo featuring such exotic animals as the free market place of ideas, it is clear that there miniature donkeys, a zonkey and a zorse. It The splendour of Creation is no con!ict between scienti"c, biological, provides a rich and varied experience for its guests. displayed for all to see astronomical, geological and physical truth and Since its opening, in 2007, over 600 000 visitors The chameleon’s skin can change colour have enjoyed the Creation Museum. – to communicate with other chameleons, the Scriptures. The Creation Museum goes The Bible speaks for itself at the Creation to show off its mood and to adjust to heat beyond presenting the compelling facts of Museum. The exhibit halls are gilded with Truth and light. A chameleon’s eye has a unique Creation and takes us on a walk through history and the gardens teem with life. It is unique in adjustable lens which can calculate the to proclaim the Bible as the supreme authority. presenting the scientific evidence for Creation distance of a moving target using only alongside the obvious lies of the evolutionist one eye – much like a modern telephoto propaganda. Clearly Christians do not need to camera lens. The Museum regularly hosts guest lecturers, Creation and takes us on a walk through be afraid of debate. In the free market place of Since it only needs one eye to judge and often presents concerts and workshops. history to proclaim the Bible as the ideas, it is clear that there is no conflict between distance, the chameleon can move and focus Some of the live programming has included supreme authority over all areas of life. scientific, biological, astronomical, geological and each eye separately, seeing two different ‘Snakes Alive!’ a Genesis Creation musical physical truth and the Scriptures. images at the same time. Its brain can adventure, ‘In Search of ’s Ark’ and Well worth a visit process two completely difference images a Noah’s ark based theatrical presentation For more information about the Creation Dinosaurs simultaneously and its two independently ‘Let the Rain Come’. Numerous polished Museum visit www.creationmuseum.com The Creation Museum is literally breathtaking. It rotating eyes can look 360 degrees at the film productions complement the themes You may also want to subscribe to the ‘Answers’ includes exceptional fossil and mineral collections, same time. of the exhibits including: ‘Six Days of magazine www.answersmagazine.com  a reconstruction of the building of Noah’s ark Then there is the Poison Dart frog. Creation’, ‘Dinosaurs and Dragons’ and and eye-blinking, mouth-chewing, tail-swinging A single frog has enough poison to kill ‘The Last ’. dinosaurs. A 40 foot long Tyrannosaurus Rex, a 20 000 mice; just one drop can stop your DR. PETER HAMMOND is a pioneer missionary of Frontline Fellowship. www.frontline.org.za huge Triceratops and Velociraptors stand in the heart beating. Ipibatidine, taken from the A victory for Christianity Dino Centre. Some studies have suggested that poison of this frog, is 200 times more potent The Creation Museum cost $27 million Velociraptors could run 60kms per hour. The T than morphine as a pain killer, yet without the to build. Considering that ‘Answers in Rex stood 4.5 to 5 metres high, weighing from addictive side effects. Poison Dart frogs raised Genesis’ is a not-for-profit Christian 5 400 to 6 800 kilograms. Lifesize figures retain in captivity don’t have poison – the poisons organisation and that the building of the authenticity. come from a food that they eat in the wild. construction of the museum was entirely financed by private donations, it is an Random chance? No, Creation Showcasing Biblical events extraordinary achievement. This privately is God’s handiwork! There is a broad wall display highlighting funded museum is vastly superior to the The Creation Museum not only showcases the research on sedimentary much better funded state museums. large animals, but many of God’s smaller creatures layers in the - a formation The Creation Museum goes beyond too. The chameleon is a masterpiece of . The of petrified forests, carbon dating and radi- presenting the compelling facts of

A Biblical scene of and Creation Museum founder: Ken Ham Aaron depicted in the museum

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