So I really did it. I went to the Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky. It is real. Not just Richard Dawkins’ horrible nightmare. For full disclosure, I am a jaded, fresh from undergrad Anthropology and Women’s Studies major, East Coast liberal, atheist, science loving female. And no, I’ve never read the Bible. Except for the children’s version with the pictures of white people.
But this so-called museum is offensive not just to me, but offensive on a whole other level. It takes scientific theory and does what it wishes to dismiss it. Let’s be real-you cannot mix the two worlds of science and religion. They do not belong together. And yes, I believe this was a last ditch effort by extreme fundamentalists to bridge the gap. By attempting to combine the two is an insult to both worlds.
I am going to be frank again, I believe this museum is an insult to many Christians. There are many Christians out there who believe in evolution. I can only assume that the homophobic, sexist, and racist rants that take place in the exhibits only further to polarize many within the Christian faith.
Now let me get started.
I pulled into the museum with Nikolay. The parking lot was full. FULL. A statue of a dinosaur is located in the front. You know….because dinosaurs were(NOT) in scripture and everything. On the front entrance there was a sign specifically detailing what can get you thrown out of the museum. I didn’t take a picture of things LOL moment mainly because arising too much suspicion can be grounds for removal.
ANYWAY. Getting to the ticket counter we had to provide our zipcode. I thought a East Coast woman with skanky hoop earrings, and a 6’6” Russian/Bulgarian plaid-wearing man ToTTTAlllYY count as godless individuals. Pretending I was really interested in the museum’s work, we were allowed in. After the $21.95/rip-off was handed over of course.
This place was packed. I was hoping to see crazy-looking people…or whatever that means, but no - they looked just like you and me! AHHHAhhHHHHhh. Forgive me, and I know it is going to sound blunt, but I believe teaching children ONLY about creationism is a huge disservice. Their critical thinking skills will be greatly impaired. 60% of Americans believe the Earth was created in a week. No wonder why the U.S. lags behind the majority of developed nations in science…and reasoning…*MMHMMMMM*. Okay, I know you can reserve the right to believe in what you wish after being presented with the evidence. Times change, homie. Does is reallllllllly make sense that the Grand Canyon was created in a few hours?
We went through the beginning segments that tried to make the argument for Creationism. No dates. No scientific backing. Only the American interpretation of a book written thousands of years ago. Alright, how can we think advice written a mere 50 years ago is considered barbaric while something written THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO is seen as something we can literally apply to our daily lives?
The literal interpretation is what is really terrifying. Someone needs to start paying attention to SYMBOLISM in literature. Let’s have poetry readings at church and maybe these extreme contradictions will end. Forbidden fruit? The authors didn’t really mean fruit. Get it?
And the racism. Seriously. Let’s pretend for a second that this stuff really happened. Do you think Adam and Eve would really look Caucasian? Even if paradise was real, you think the lovebirds had proper shelter from the skin-browning sun? You know…science, agriculture, and communities really help that out. And no….THERE WERE NO PENGUINS IN PARADISE, contrary to what this ‘museum’ says.
This place also promotes the Hamite theory of racial origins. Yeah, the one that claims “black people were the cursed offspring of Ham”*. Beautiful, huh? The cute section of the museum that tried to display how terrible the world has become used an urban setting. STRIKE ONE. The displays attempted to sow how these TeriirBBlle things like gay marriage, and sex before marriage was entering into the SUbbbuurrRRbbbbsss…..that means WHITE PEOPLE. Yeah, there were no people of color in these displays. FUCK YOU CREATION MUSUEM.
And the sexism. I wanted to puke. It was over the top. I know that the Bible was never a nice place for women (madonna/whore complex). Do you think this had anything to do with the fact that women’s’ contributions to society and culture have been systematically removed from history? Mary Wollstonecraft** I need you nowwwwwwwww.
And the ego. Really now, in my personal belief I think that believing your creation story trumps the rest is a little uppity. If you look to the history of Christian diaspora, it is steeped in colonialism. Now I am not going to go deep into that but I high recommend that reflection. Just for giggles, I’m going to list all the creation stories (Wikipedia has to offer):
Fon, Kaang, Kintu, Mande, Mbombo, Ngai, Unkulunku, Yoruba, Coatlicue, Mayan, Popol Yuh,Anishinaabeg, Cherokee, Choctaw, Creek, Plains Apache, Navajo, Raven in Creation, Chilean, Incan, Monogloian, Tungusic, Ainu, Chinese, Dangun, Izanagi, Nuwa, Pangu, Sanseonghyeol, Hiranyagarbha, Greek cosmogonical, Pelasgian, Finnish, Norse, Ancient Egyptian, Babylonian, Islamic, Mashya and Mashyana, Sumerian, Kumulipo, Māori, Rani and Papa, Sureq Galigo
I am sure that there are more than a few that are missing in this list. I am positive that there are some misspellings or misconceptions about these stories. If you find any or wish to elaborate more please feel welcome. Typically, when a cultural belief is so dominant, many others become marginalized.
This is the point of our adventure that I was feeling a little defeated. Seriously. $27,000,000 donated to this place? I don’t see how this is progressive. As I already mentioned, I am far from religious. But don’t you think this is neglecting significant amount of Christians? What about everyone else interested in exploring religion? Fear doesn’t work. Or maybe it works TOO well.
All I am saying is that this place is ridiculous. Couldn’t $27 million be used in a more inclusive way? That is my story.
*http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2009/08/the_creation_museum_1.php
**http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Wollstonecraft