Is creation or evolution on the rise in the United States?

[Archeuland and Baughistan]

Ken Ham, Answers in Genesis

Many of us have heard about the controversial Ark Encounter project, which, according to Ken Ham of AiG, has just broken ground. The project, which is to cost over $70,000,000 in the first stage, is privately funded, and, obviously being good for tourism, it has received some tax credits so the tax burden can be lifted off so they can focus totally on construction.

To support this,Answers in Genesis' chosen tagline for the Ark Encounter blog, 'something big is coming'. Indeed, something big is coming! The park, once completed, will be over 700 acres in size.

Ken Ham surveys a model of the project as will appears in stage one of construction

This is one of many stories that give evidence that Biblical creationists are on the rise here in the United States, like it or not.

A 2012 Gallup poll, meanwhile, shows that 46% of Americans hold a creationist view of origins. When the next poll is held, do you think that there will be more or less creationists? What about when the Ark Encounter theme park is built? Will there be more or less creationists?

Here's an admittedly quite biased article from the website Slate.com. It has a map which shows where creationism is allowed to be taught in public schools. Will there be more or less schools that teach creation and people that believe in it in the future?

In addition, another poll (sourced from ncse.com, see below reference) shows that 44% of people endorse the teachings of young-earth creation.

What does this mean for evolutionists, secularists, and those opposed to teaching Biblical doctrines in public schools? Better phrased, is creationism facing a revival in the United States? Are people rebelling against evolutionary doctrines?

My personal opinion:
* I prefer to call myself a Biblical creationist -- meaning I accept the 6000 year old earth and universe to be true.
* I think the Ark Encounter project, Creation Museum, and others are really good things. Even for those who disagree with what is taught there, it can't be denied that they bring in lots of tourists and lots of money for local businesses. New hotels and restaurants, more transportation, and the like, will spring up when the Ark Encounter is built. It will have a positive impact on the economy. It will create 500 jobs, but the jobs that will be created from the new businesses will be a lot more. All in all I love the Ark Encounter project and I'm happy to assume creationism is indeed having a revival in the United States.
* I am also opposed, personally, to evolutionary doctrines. I do not intend to have a scientific debate in this thread, I just want to debate whether or not Creation or Evolution is on the rise in the US.

http://ncse.com/blog/2013/11/just-how-m ... us-0015164

The completed Ark Encounter project courtesy of Answers in Genesis and Kentucky Transportation

This is what the Ark Encounter will look like when it is totally completed (probably around 2020). The first state of the project is done in 2016, however. What do you think about the environmental impact on this construction project? Answers in Genesis and the Kentucky Government both have opinions.

https://arkencounter.com/blog/2011/05/2 ... x-rebates/
http://transportation.ky.gov/Profession ... educed.pdf

Here are some sources and interesting articles/videos from both perspectives
http://www.crossmap.com/news/ark-encoun ... tion-11875
https://answersingenesis.org/ministry-n ... -of-money/
http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Creation_Museum
http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/m ... ition.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRo2sK4rO6s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDa48z5G5VY
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Answers_in_Genesis

Hopefully I put in a bunch of different sources from different viewpoints. I wanted to keep it fair.

Lots of things to discuss! What is your opinion?

[Archeuland and Baughistan]

I wanted to ask an honest question:

Evolutionists and others claim the Ark Encounter project, as well as the Creation Museum, are not good for America and for science. However, evolutionary thinking is a majority, not a minority, and it has the confidence of at least 55% of Americans. If evolutionists think that everyone is so confident in evolution, what difference does it make if a creationist theme park or museum opens? They would assume that evolution, believing it to be true, would not be affected and no one would leave the evolutionary viewpoint.

Are they not confident in their own flock?

I would argue that some evolutionists (like Bill Nye) are worried that evolution does not have the confidence of the American people, not seriously at least. If evolution really is true and if most Americans really do accept it, then this theme park will have absolutely no affect on anyone.

That's my standpoint, on dat, type deal.

[Blazedtown]

Brett Farve, why did you go so crazy?

[Geilinor]

Building an arc doesn't mean support for creationism is increasing.

[Archeuland and Baughistan]

Brett Farve, why did you go so crazy?

Wow! Ken Ham has a doppelganger! How cool is that!

[Archeuland and Baughistan]

Building an arc doesn't mean support for creationism is increasing.

Good thoughts. However, we can't deny that advocacy for creationism is indeed increasing. Creationists are more vocal, it seems.

(And as a creationist, I'm happy with that!)

[Ulrenon]

Looks like a giant badass theme park to me.

[Murkwood]

Actually, that Ark sounds kinda cool. I'd visit.

It doesn't change any fundamental facts about science, but it does sound cool.

[The Althing Confederacy]

As an outsider to the US climate I see both on the rise, both in population, and militancy.
Personally I hope the "Evolutionists" win. They have a more believable & consistent ideology; scratch that, evolutionists can back their claims so it isn't an ideology any more than a religion despite the "christian right" ( as opposed to intellectual christians) claiming that they are.

[Silent Majority]

There doesn't appear to much of a trend in either direction. There's a small uptick in people who believe in evolution since the early 1980s , and a somewhat larger shift from people who believe God had a hand in evolution to people who believe he did not, in the last few years.

[Mavorpen]

The hilarious part here, of course, is that if we accept the premise that belief in creationism is on the rise, that would mean this is occurring as the United States lags behind other developed nations in teaching science. And if you're "proud" of it taking ignorance and lack of adequate scientific teaching to accomplish that, that says a lot about you.

[Archeuland and Baughistan]

(Image)

There doesn't appear to much of a trend in either direction. There's a small uptick in people who believe in evolution since the early 1980s , and a somewhat larger shift from people who believe God had a hand in evolution to people who believe he did not, in the last few years.

I would have to disagree, personally I see the Ark Encounter, Creation Museum, and other projects, as well as all the criticism of evolution, as proof that we are slowly but surely having a rise in belief in creation. If evolution really has a solid fanbase, let's wait and see if it can hold its own for the next few years. If people really are confident in evolution, then this Ark Encounter will do nothing more than boost the economy. But, if people are not confident in evolution, then, this Ark Encounter will be a major boost of the Biblical creation cause.

[NERVUN]

Oh joy... more chances of having to explain this to very confused Japanese...

[Mavorpen]

(Image)

There doesn't appear to much of a trend in either direction. There's a small uptick in people who believe in evolution since the early 1980s , and a somewhat larger shift from people who believe God had a hand in evolution to people who believe he did not, in the last few years.

I would have to disagree, personally I see the Ark Encounter, Creation Museum, and other projects, as well as all the criticism of evolution, as proof that we are slowly but surely having a rise in belief in creation. If evolution really has a solid fanbase, let's wait and see if it can hold its own for the next few years. If people really are confident in evolution, then this Ark Encounter will do nothing more than boost the economy. But, if people are not confident in evolution, then, this Ark Encounter will be a major boost of the Biblical creation cause.

Then I suppose I'll have to leave the United States, because the country's international competitiveness is already waning, and a population that ignores basic science like this is only going to disrupt that even further.

[Benuty]

So much Ham in this thread...will you Kenly stop?

[Rhodevus]

(Image)

There doesn't appear to much of a trend in either direction. There's a small uptick in people who believe in evolution since the early 1980s , and a somewhat larger shift from people who believe God had a hand in evolution to people who believe he did not, in the last few years.

I would have to disagree, personally I see the Ark Encounter, Creation Museum, and other projects, as well as all the criticism of evolution, as proof that we are slowly but surely having a rise in belief in creation. If evolution really has a solid fanbase, let's wait and see if it can hold its own for the next few years. If people really are confident in evolution, then this Ark Encounter will do nothing more than boost the economy. But, if people are not confident in evolution, then, this Ark Encounter will be a major boost of the Biblical creation cause.

Evolution does have a strong base. In other countries where creationism is not as strongly present. What I mean by this, is in other countries, there is much less religion involved and much more science. Creationism is not taught in every school and parents do not raise their kids to believe in god creating the world 6000 years ago, even when we have scientific evidence that the Earth is MUCH older than that. (let alone the universe)
So, I think that these projects are completely fine in the US. But, it is when people start trying to convince people it is the truth, in front of the entrances to those places, that is where the problem will start

[Archeuland and Baughistan]

The hilarious part here, of course, is that if we accept the premise that belief in creationism is on the rise, that would mean this is occurring as the United States lags behind other developed nations in teaching science. And if you're "proud" of it taking ignorance and lack of adequate scientific teaching to accomplish that, that says a lot about you.

I used to hate science until I started learning about how it all tied in with the Bible. When I found about about the brilliant minds at Answers in Genesis, I started to love and appreciate science like never before. Now I call myself with pride a 'Creation scientist'. And the mission of the Ark Encounter, I consider, is a noble one.

People like Bill Nye are just scaring people into opposition -- by saying it will 'impact science education'. No, science education sucks already as-is. No Christian theme park in Cincinatti is going to make it better or worse. It will just educate people on what they believe to be true in accordance with the holy scriptures.

[New Frenco Empire]

One can only hope that evolution is on the rise. Scientific ignorance is nothing to be proud of.

[KAS SRD]

(Image)

There doesn't appear to much of a trend in either direction. There's a small uptick in people who believe in evolution since the early 1980s , and a somewhat larger shift from people who believe God had a hand in evolution to people who believe he did not, in the last few years.

I would have to disagree, personally I see the Ark Encounter, Creation Museum, and other projects, as well as all the criticism of evolution, as proof that we are slowly but surely having a rise in belief in creation. If evolution really has a solid fanbase, let's wait and see if it can hold its own for the next few years. If people really are confident in evolution, then this Ark Encounter will do nothing more than boost the economy. But, if people are not confident in evolution, then, this Ark Encounter will be a major boost of the Biblical creation cause.

Why would evolutionist care about having confidence? The only reason we accept evolution is because hats where the acts are. If you can prove to me Creationilism is true, ill accept it. I expect most people here, Atheist or not, would accept Creationilism if sicentist confirmed it.

[Murkwood]

Oh joy... more chances of having to explain this to very confused Japanese...

I'm a confused American. What do you mean?

[Carbon based lifeforms]

The hilarious part here, of course, is that if we accept the premise that belief in creationism is on the rise, that would mean this is occurring as the United States lags behind other developed nations in teaching science. And if you're "proud" of it taking ignorance and lack of adequate scientific teaching to accomplish that, that says a lot about you.

Creationists despise science and education in general, nothing surprising there.

[Geilinor]

The hilarious part here, of course, is that if we accept the premise that belief in creationism is on the rise, that would mean this is occurring as the United States lags behind other developed nations in teaching science. And if you're "proud" of it taking ignorance and lack of adequate scientific teaching to accomplish that, that says a lot about you.

I used to hate science until I started learning about how it all tied in with the Bible. When I found about about the brilliant minds at Answers in Genesis, I started to love and appreciate science like never before. Now I call myself with pride a 'Creation scientist'. And the mission of the Ark Encounter, I consider, is a noble one.

People like Bill Nye are just scaring people into opposition -- by saying it will 'impact science education'. No, science education sucks already as-is. No Christian theme park in Cincinatti is going to make it better or worse. It will just educate people on what they believe to be true in accordance with the holy scriptures.

Creationism isn't science. It's religion.

[KAS SRD]

I used to hate science until I started learning about how it all tied in with the Bible. When I found about about the brilliant minds at Answers in Genesis, I started to love and appreciate science like never before. Now I call myself with pride a 'Creation scientist'. And the mission of the Ark Encounter, I consider, is a noble one.

People like Bill Nye are just scaring people into opposition -- by saying it will 'impact science education'. No, science education sucks already as-is. No Christian theme park in Cincinatti is going to make it better or worse. It will just educate people on what they believe to be true in accordance with the holy scriptures.

Creationism isn't science. It's religion.

Propaganda.

[Geilinor]

Creationism isn't science. It's religion.

Propaganda.

How can creation "science" exist if it doesn't use the scientific method?

[Avenio]

Oh joy... more chances of having to explain this to very confused Japanese...

I'm a confused American. What do you mean?

"Do people really believe this stuff? Like, honestly believe it?"

You hear that frequently from my fellow Canucks when they hear about things like this.