The subject of a proposed religious theme park in Kentucky brings up an issue near and dear to the heart of libertarians: the sanctity of private property.
There is some controversy over the proposed construction of a $150 million Noah’s Ark theme park on 800 acres near Interstate 75 in Kentucky. The theme park – to be called Ark Encounter – is a joint venture between Answers in Genesis and Ark Encounter LLC. The former group already opened a $27 million Creation museum in Petersburg, Kentucky, in 2007.
The proposed park, to be completed by 2014, will feature live animals, event venues, a children’s play area, a replica of the biblical Tower of Babel, a 500-seat special effects theater, a reproduction of a first-century Middle Eastern village, an aviary, and a 500 by 75 foot wooden ark to replicate the biblical Noah’s Ark. The project is expected to create more than 900 jobs, attract 1.6 million visitors in the park’s first year, and have an economic impact of $214 million in the first year alone.
As expected, religious groups generally hailed the project even as other groups that focus on church-state issues had a problem with the project. Contrary to critics of the theme park who think the educational message of the park is “unscientific” and “embarrassing for the state” or that any jobs created would be “low-paying” and “transient,” Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, seemed to raise two main arguments against the proposed park: First, Lynn pointed out that when Noah launched the Ark the first time, he was not looking for government funding. Second, he said that while the Constitution doesn’t prevent someone from putting up a water park, it does prevent people from putting up a religious one, such as Noah’s water park.
But both of Lynn’s points are misguided.
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11 comments:
I'm am not religious, but I would have no problem with the park being built. If the people in the area where it is to be located do not protest, then let them build. I disagree with a muslim temple being built near ground zero in New York, but agree that the Muslims have the right to build as big of a center for "whatever" they claim it is to be. Few things in life can be done without there being some minority of people that will disagree with it. We vote and elect with a majority, then why do we allow a small group of protesters govern what we are allowed to do day to day. Politically correct is a misnomer. There is nothing truly political about it, if the majority approves then it should be okay.
Just don't ask these guys about the dinosaurs.
12:30- your comment: "...We vote and elect with a majority, then why do we allow a small group of protesters govern what we are allowed to do day to day. Politically correct is a misnomer.." fly's right in the face of your opinion that the Mosque shouldn't be build near ground zero.
You cant have cake and eat it too- either the Mosque AND the Arc are allowed to dis allowed to exist near secular landmarks.
1:01, I think you missed the point. They are saying that while they personally disagree with it, they still have the right to build it.
@1236pm
i work with a "religious nut". she says the dinosaurs are faked. so take that! lol
HAHA yeah i looooove how the Earth is supposedly only a "few thousand years old" and dinosaur bones were placed in the earth by god to "test our faith"... It would be more funny if there wasn't so much death and war waged in the name of these naive beliefs.
listen to Marc Marons podcast WTF where he goes to the creationist museum... its hilarious and shocking.
HEY 2:32! how come youre science cant prove that the earth is milions of years old? If the earth is that old how come there is still water and dirt huh smart guy? If dinosaurs are real then why are they all gone now?
God made this eastern shore mysterious for a reason. Lets not offend him by questioning what our spiritual leaders say.
Amen/
If the group really wanted to make an impact, all they would have to do is put a church on the property and pay no taxes.
When you stir up crap to fast it tends to get on you.
How would it offend a god to question what spiritual leaders say?
I just don't get that. Most gods wouldn't care at all. The spiritual leaders are human after all - or not?
I have no problems with a Noah's Ark water park as long as 1) it does not get any taxpayer/government support or money and 2) does not try to get a tax exempt status.
I do find it troubling that a theme park would be used for indoctrination of madness and misinformation... but it is the right of the property owner to build it and I support that right.
7:41- watch yourself heathen!
it IS a sin to question a priest or a pastor. they are the face of GOD in our communities. They are closer to the love of GOD than us and therefore if we worship them they will share it with us. It what being a christian or catholic is all about.
if you dont like it go be a muslin!
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