NEW YORK TIMES
By LAURIE GOODSTEIN
Facing a rising tide of joblessness, the governor of Kentucky has found one solution: build an ark.
The state has promised generous tax incentives to a group of entrepreneurs who plan to construct a full-size replica of Noah’s ark, load it with animals and actors, and make it the centerpiece of a Bible-based tourist attraction called Ark Encounter.
Since Gov. Steven L. Beshear announced the plan on Wednesday, some constitutional experts have raised alarms over whether government backing for an enterprise that promotes religion violates the First Amendment’s requirement of separation of church and state. But Mr. Beshear, a Democrat, said the arrangement posed no constitutional problem, and brushed off questions about his stand on creationism.
“The people of Kentucky didn’t elect me governor to debate religion,” he said at a news conference. “They elected me governor to create jobs.”
The theme park was conceived by the same Christian ministry that built the Creation Museum in Petersburg, Ky., where dioramas designed to debunk evolution show humans and dinosaurs coexisting peacefully on an earth created by God in six days. The ministry, Answers in Genesis, believes that the earth is only 6,000 years old — a controversial assertion even among many Bible-believing Christians.
Although the Creation Museum has been a target of ridicule by some, it has drawn 1.2 million visitors in its first three years — proving that there is a sizable paying audience for entertainment rooted in a literal interpretation of the Bible.
On Friday, The Lexington Herald-Leader, Kentucky’s second-largest newspaper, criticized Mr. Beshear in an editorial for a plan that it said would result in low-wage jobs and a poor image for the state.
“Anyone who wants to believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible has that right,” the editorial said. “However, the way the Beshear administration handled this makes it appear Kentucky either embraces such thinking or is desperate to take advantage of those who do.”
The developers of Ark Encounter, who have incorporated as a profit-making company, say they expect to spend $150 million, employ 900 people and attract 1.6 million visitors from around the world in the first year. With the Creation Museum only 45 miles away, they envision a Christian tourism corridor that would draw busloads from churches and Christian schools for two- and three-day visits.
“It’s our opportunity to present accurate, factual biblical information to people about a subject that they’re really interested in,” said Mike Zovath, a senior vice president of Answers in Genesis.
But some advocates of separation of church and state say that by providing tax incentives to an explicitly Christian enterprise, Kentucky is violating the constitutional prohibition on government establishment of religion.
Erwin Chemerinsky, a constitutional scholar and founding dean of the School of Law at the University of California, Irvine, said: “If this is about bringing the Bible to life, and it’s the Bible’s account of history that they’re presenting, then the government is paying for the advancement of religion. And the Supreme Court has said that the government can’t advance religion.”
He added, “The fact that it’s an economic development plan doesn’t excuse it.”
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I think that they are making the Noah's Ark too big of a deal. I mean, if you want to go to the Ark, go. If you don't want to go, then don't go. It's simple as that. People are making harmless things like this too big of a deal. Everyone just needs to sit down and relax.
ReplyDeleteMy understanding is kind of like Kaley's. Why are they too serious about this new park? To the tourist, it's just a park, if you are interested in it, you can just go there as going to Disney land or other amusement parks. I know their argument is about religion and politic. But what's the problem? It's just a park, by the way, people need to work. It's good for both Christianity and the society. I don't understand why they think about it in a so complicated way.
ReplyDeleteI agree with kaley they should not worry about this park. This park is for their enjoyment and entertainment. People should not get worked up over something like this. The religious factor should not be an issue, it is just a theme park.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Why should people care if the government builds another park? Maybe it is a violation of separation of church and state but i don't think this park would hurt anyone. It is giving the people of the area much-needed jobs and a place to go to have fun.
ReplyDeleteI think the government should be able to support and help raise money for the Noah's Ark Theme Park. Even though the government is not suppose to aid a certain religion, I agree with steve L. Beshear in saying this park will help create new job opportunities. Also I don't think they should be making a big issue about his because i do not believe the government is favoring a religion but instead they are looking for new ways to bring in tourists and money.
ReplyDeleteI agree also. I think this park is an amazing idea! I don't see why people have to make such a big deal;if you don't want to go then don't go. Plain and simple. Jusst saying. And it will open up jobs and people will have lots of fun(as Ryan said).
ReplyDeleteOur science text books teach us about evolution which is part of the Humunism Religion. Humanism is an approach in study, philosophy, or practice that focuses on human values and concerns. Modern meanings of the word have therefore come to be associated with a rejection of appeals to the supernatural or to some higher authority. So why does the government pay for our schools to teach about the humanism religion? To be completely accurate, this country was founded on Christian principles. The separation of church and state was referring to the denominations. (Please see wallbuilders.com for more info.) Our paganistic society has twisted separation of church and state to mean what it wants it to mean. jussst saying. :)
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the governor is really right when he says: “The people of Kentucky didn’t elect me governor to debate religion,” he said at a news conference. “They elected me governor to create jobs.”
ReplyDeleteHe's there to create jobs, and if you don't agree or don't like that, don't live in Kentucky
I dont think that putting this Ark up is fine. They are not favoring any particular religion. It is simply a ride. The gov. is opening up more jobs so people can work. This just gives the media something else to write on.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Kaley..People these days are making things a big deal when they shouldn't. If you think about it, if you dont like the idea or anything about it them dont go to it. They are doing it for people who actually like it and care. I mean it's a theme park if you dont think youll like it or even like the fact that they even made it then dont go.
ReplyDeleteI don't agree with the whole project. I think it's just a bad and childish idea for a serious problem. The government should come up with a project that would create decent jobs; that could help people in need to raise money, not just try to cover the issue by creating new bad opportunities. Besides not solving the main problem, it would make another one. This Ark wold definitely cost a lot to be done, and I think it's not as easy as representatives of the project are saying to have profits out of this. The money made would probably not be high enough to cover what was spent in it. This reasons are sufficient for the project to be bad by itself, but there's still the matter of the separation of church and state. Even though USA is mainly a christian country, there is still religius fredom, something that in fact, we are very proud of; therefore, it shouldn't be created a huge park in the name of christianism when there are a lot more people from different faith that probably won't gain a park in tribute to the beliefs of their religion. I completely disagree with this strategy.
ReplyDeleteI think it's awkward that some Americans are very proud of having freedom of reiligion but actually they don't see any problems on prefering certain religion.The First Amendment of U.S. says the government should not prefer of one religion over other religions or non-religion over religion, or vice versa. Although most of Americans are christians, that doesn't mean all American people have same religion. I think people can have different views on building the Noah's Ark, which can be a symbol of a certain religion. Noah's Ark may not be a big deal for some people who have latent ideas which make them to believe christian is the religion for most of people in their country. They would say this is not bad at all. But, how would they react if a new governor wants to build something related to Jewish, which also can solve joblessness. Would people say "sure" right away?
ReplyDeleteAlso the separation of church and state says that there should be some distances in the relationship between organized religion and the nation state. I think if certain religion gains too much power than what it should have, the federal government would have some difficulties to carry on right things for people. In this point, I don't think constructing a replica of Noah’s ark is even a considerable plan.
I think they should make it some other theme park if their really going to do this.Christians are not the only people in america!! It's gonna be expensive, so why make it about religion, from the christian perspective, they say great, but from a buhddist or islamic perspective? I think not so much. I agree with Ana and Youbin. We are preferring the religion and not seeing how this is going to affect others.
ReplyDeletewhy dont they just find another name.the gians from building the park would be better than having all the arguments of religion people should just move on and let the name stay it shouldn't be that big of a deal it ceates more jobs and would make money for the state through taxes.
ReplyDeletei can see both sides, where people that worship God and the Bible wouldn't mind having a theme park like this, but it is technically un-consitutional and in other words wrong. if the government went and started putting up a 150 million dollar theme park around the figure of Buda all the people in America that worship God would freak out on the government. and there is no way it would actually go through.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the Noah's Ark project. I think there is more people in the world that believe in the Bible. I think the entrepeneurs putting this together are doing it to raise money revenue. They are not trying to push anyone into a religion. They are helping their community and the local economy by opening jobs for the unemployed and bringing in business. It will bring more money from people coming from around the world into their communities. Not only will it help that one city, but it may also bring more money into the museum that's 45 miles away. I feel it has nothing to do with separation of church and state. The state of Kentucky has shown this by electing a governor who clearly states he wants nothing to do with other people's religions, but is trying to help create jobs.
ReplyDeleteI think that if the state of Kentucky wants the ark they should be able to have it. If you don't want to see the ark don't go by it. I think if the majority of Kentucky would like the ark there shouldn't be a problem with it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this project. It is making a lot of new jobs and all it is is another theme park, there is already a theme park called Noah's Ark, whats wrong with another one? Yes its going to cost money, but everything does. I think this would be a good use of money, it is creating jobs and a safe place for kids to go and have fun. The government will end up getting its money back anyway so why not do it?
ReplyDeleteI think that at times politicians make a big deal out of nothing. In my opinion the Kentucky govenor had a creative idea for a theme park. I don't think they are trying to advance religion as they have not targeted any one specfic religion. They had a idea based off a book, granted the best most read yet most debated book, that has never been done before. Most theme parks, movies, and songs are based off a book. In my opinion if people want to go visit the ark they will, and if people don't like it they dont have to go at all thats the beauty of America.
ReplyDeleteI think that the Noahs Ark is a good idea. It will give more people jobs and it will give a place for kids and families to have fun. Also I don't think the government should help because it is part of a religion. So I think Kentucky can build it without the help of the government and the other religions dont have to go to the park.
ReplyDeleteI think the Noahs Ark would become a major tourist attraction if bulit. The government should go through with it and help the process even though their not suppose to fund for certain religions. But i can deffineatly see how this could start a huge conflict for the Kentucky major. But if the government wont help with funding then thats there choice and if its built and your not a Christian no ones forcing you to go to it.
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