Creationist Ken Ham’s Noah’s Ark theme park opens this summer
A 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, 8 stories high recreation of Noah’s Ark is under construction in central Kentucky.
Jimmy Carter Tours Noah’s Ark Theme Park, Opening in Two Weeks[/tweetthis]
Creationist Ken Ham is the designer of the for-profit park, and he says that “this is the most authentic recreation of Noah’s Ark in the world.”
Perhaps this comes as no surprise as Ham and other Creationists practice a literal interpretation of the book of Genesis, including a belief that God created the Earth in 6 days and 6 nights, and they reject scientific evidence supporting that the Earth is 4.5 billion years old.
Some people say that the state of Kentucky’s support of the project is a violation of the separation of church and state.
Former President Jimmy Carter recently visited the Ark, which will be the main attraction at the Ark Encounter theme park. Carter stated that the Ark contained “some of the best woodworking I’ve ever seen.”
Plan a visit to the Ark Encounter this summer – Christian Index https://t.co/y1yk5KYi1m via @christianindex
— Brannon Rice (@Brannon_Rice) June 22, 2016
The state of Kentucky supported the Ark Encounter with $18 million, stating that it is not in support of any religious views as some have argued, but as economic support for Williamstown. The park is expected to attract over 2 million visitors annually.
Also controversial is the requirement that Ark Encounter employees must sign a “Statement of Faith” supporting the notion that “sexual intimacy” should “only occur between a man and a woman who are married to each other.” Furthermore, the document also requires employees to accept Jesus Christ as their savior, noting “those who do not believe in Christ are subject to everlasting conscious punishment, but believers enjoy eternal life with God.”
Ham acknowledged that this would exclude Jews and Muslims from working at the park, which is slated to open on July 7 of this year.