Editing Answers in Genesis (section)

==Views and activities==
From the outset, [[Ken Ham]] did not share the interest of other groups promoting [[creation science]] in aiming to produce evidence supporting [[young Earth creationism]],<ref name="Trollinger"/> although Answers in Genesis still maintains that "creation science is real science".<ref>{{cite web | title = Creation Science |url= https://answersingenesis.org/creation-science/ |website= Answers in Genesis |access-date= April 12, 2019 | quote = Creation Science Is Real Science}}</ref> Instead, Answers in Genesis focuses on presenting evangelicalism as an all-out battle of their biblical [[world view|worldview]] against a perceived [[Naturalism (philosophy)|naturalistic]] scientific worldview.<ref name="Fletcher">{{cite book |last1= Fletcher|first1= John|title= Preaching to Convert: Evangelical Outreach and Performance Activism in a Secular Age|date= 2013|publisher= University of Michigan Press|isbn= 9780472119158|page= 193|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=BZe4AQAAQBAJ&pg=PA193|language= en}}</ref> Ham's message has had three central points:

* that teaching of [[evolution]] is an evil causing damage to society;
* that the [[Primeval history|first eleven chapters]] of the [[Book of Genesis]] give a precise description of the process of creation of the universe and provide direct instruction on the organization of society;
* that proper Christians must engage in a total conflict battling against [[atheism|atheistic]] [[humanism]].

Answers in Genesis messages promote central young-Earth creationist doctrines, including the concepts of literal Creation of the Earth in six 24-hour days and [[Flood geology|effects of a global flood]]. Still, they focus mainly on accepting the authority of their particular [[Biblical literalism|literal reading of the Bible]] as a precondition for eternity in heaven. They present this as choosing one's personal ultimate authority for truth, with God's Word and human reason being the two possible options, and those choosing the latter over the former liable to perishment.<ref name="Trollinger">{{cite book|last1= Trollinger|first1= Susan L.|last2=Trollinger|first2= William Vance Jr.|editor1-last= Gutjahr|editor1-first= Paul|title= The Oxford Handbook of the Bible in America|date= 2017|publisher= Oxford University Press|isbn= 9780190258856|pages= 223–225|chapter-url= https://books.google.com/books?id=23o7DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA223|language= en|chapter= Chapter 31:The Bible and Creationism}}</ref> They hence introduce the concept of "biblical reasoning", where one is "never to attempt to reason in opposition to the Word of God", and thus claim that this biblical reasoning and biblical faith "work very well together".<ref>{{cite web |title= Faith vs. Reason|url= https://answersingenesis.org/apologetics/faith-vs-reason/ |website= Answers in Genesis |access-date= April 12, 2019}}</ref>

The Answers in Genesis organization rejects key scientific facts and theories as established by [[archeology]], [[cosmology]], geology, [[paleontology]], and [[evolutionary biology]] and argues that the universe, the Earth and life originated about 6,000 years ago.<ref>{{cite news|last1= Kennerly|first1= Britt|title= Paleontologists brought to tears, laughter by Creation Museum|url= https://phys.org/news/2009-06-paleontologists-brought-laughter-creation-museum.html|work= Phys.org|date= June 30, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1= Bielo|first1= James S.|editor1-last= Gutjahr|editor1-first= Paul|title= The Oxford Handbook of the Bible in America|date= 2017|publisher= Oxford University Press|isbn= 9780190258856|page= 489|chapter-url= https://books.google.com/books?id=23o7DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA489|language= en|chapter= Chapter 31:Performing the Bible}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last1= Ohehir|first1= Andrew|title= Archaeology from the dark side|url= https://www.salon.com/2005/08/31/archaeology/|work= Salon|date= August 31, 2005}}</ref> (Creationism beliefs reject [[Naturalism (philosophy)#Methodological naturalism|natural causes and events in scientific explanations]] of nature and of the origin of the universe in favor of the [[supernatural]], and the [[Supreme Court of the United States]] has ruled that creationism is religion.<ref>[[#NAS 1999|National Academy of Sciences (1999)]], [https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/6024/chapter/1#viii p. ix]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512112205/https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/6024/chapter/1#ii|date=2024-05-12}}. "In 1987 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that creationism is religion, not science, and cannot be advocated in public school classrooms."</ref>)

A book published by one of AiG's employees in 2006 accused [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]] of using subtle tactics to slip "evolutionary content" into ''[[SpongeBob SquarePants]]'', ''[[Lilo & Stitch]]'' and ''[[Finding Nemo]]'', affirming that "As Christians we need to reflect the Bible's standards and not Hollywood's perverted version of reality."<ref>[[#Kerby 2006|Kerby 2006]], [https://books.google.com/books?id=yZjtCxxUk4AC&pg=PT10 pp. 9–10]</ref>

In 2020, AiG launched its own streaming service, Answers.tv, intended as an alternative to [[Netflix]], [[Disney+]], and other streaming platforms.<ref>{{cite web | last1=Klett | first1=Leah MarieAnn | title=Answers in Genesis launches faith-focused streaming service amid COVID-19 shutdown | url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/answers-in-genesis-launches-faith-focused-streaming-service-amid-covid-19-shutdown.html | date=May 1, 2020 | work=[[The Christian Post]] | access-date=January 23, 2021}}</ref>

AiG has objected to the [[James Webb Space Telescope]], saying "Sadly, many in this particular camp (sometimes ignorantly) have actually compromised Scripture by accepting the secular ideas being pushed by the JWST media at NASA (i.e., the big bang and evolution), thus rejecting the plain (biblical) reading of Genesis 1 and instead reinterpreting the days of creation to long ages. This is an unbiblical way of thinking that essentially elevates man's fallible ideas as the ultimate standard (i.e., humanism) over the infallible Word of God".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dickerson |first=Dane |date=2022-04-14 |title=Physicists and Theologians Stir as the James Webb Space Telescope Project Advances |url=https://www.wvnews.com/news/around_the_web/physicists-and-theologians-stir-as-the-james-webb-space-telescope-project-advances/article_a584f7d8-e2e2-5f3b-bf0a-64593d3f26ef.html |access-date=2022-04-15 |website=[[WV News]] |language=en}}</ref>

===Creation Museum===
{{Main|Creation Museum}}
[[File:AIG museum.jpg|thumb|right|The Creation Museum]]
AiG's Creation Museum is a museum displaying a [[Young Earth creationism|Young-Earth creationist]] worldview and [[pseudoarchaeology]]. The facility has received much criticism from the scientific and religious communities, as well as from cultural commentators.<ref>{{cite news |last= Jarman |first= Josh |date= May 25, 2007 |title= Creating a stir |url= http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/faith_and_values/2007/05/25/creation.ART_ART_05-25-07_B6_5J6Q39G.html |newspaper= [[The Columbus Dispatch]] |location= Columbus, Ohio |publisher= Dispatch Printing Company |access-date= October 7, 2014 |archive-date= December 27, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181227133149/https://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/faith_and_values/2007/05/25/creation.ART_ART_05-25-07_B6_5J6Q39G.html |url-status= dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= Lovan |first= Dylan T. |date= May 19, 2007 |title= Educators question Creation Museum |url= http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2007/05/19/met_129149.shtml |newspaper= [[The Augusta Chronicle]] |location= Augusta, Georgia |agency= [[Associated Press]] |access-date= October 7, 2014}}</ref> The Creation Museum opened May 27, 2007, at a cost of $27&nbsp;million raised entirely by private donations. The displays were created by Patrick Marsh, known for work on [[Universal Studios Florida]] attractions for [[Kongfrontation|King Kong]] and [[Jaws (ride)|Jaws]].<ref>{{cite news |last= Rothstein |first= Edward |author-link= Edward Rothstein |title= Adam and Eve in the Land of the Dinosaurs |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/24/arts/24crea.html |newspaper= [[The New York Times]] |type= Museum review |date= May 24, 2007 |access-date= April 6, 2008}}</ref>

[[A. A. Gill]], a British writer and critic, described the museum as "battling science and reason since 2007", writing: "This place doesn't just take on evolution—it squares off with geology, anthropology, paleontology, history, chemistry, astronomy, zoology, biology, and good taste. It directly and boldly contradicts most {{nowrap|-onomies}} and all {{nowrap|-ologies,}} including most theology."<ref>{{cite magazine |last= Gill |first= A. A. |author-link= A. A. Gill |date= February 2010 |title= Roll Over, Charles Darwin! |url= http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2010/02/creation-museum-201002 |magazine= [[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |location= New York |publisher= [[Condé Nast]] |issn= 0733-8899 |access-date= November 30, 2012}}</ref>

In 2012 a report noted that "public fascination" with the Creation Museum was "fading".<ref name="AttendanceDrops">{{cite news |last= McNair |first= James |date= November 7, 2012 |title= Creation Museum Attendance Drops for Fourth Straight Year |url= http://citybeat.com/cincinnati/article-26546-creation_museum_atte.html |newspaper= [[Cincinnati CityBeat]] |location= Nashville, Tennessee |publisher= SouthComm |access-date= October 7, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141013092325/http://citybeat.com/cincinnati/article-26546-creation_museum_atte.html |archive-date= October 13, 2014 |url-status= dead }}</ref> In November 2012 AiG reported that attendance for the year ended June 30 came to 254,074, which represented a 10 percent drop from the previous year and the attraction's "fourth straight year of declining attendance and its lowest annual attendance yet".<ref name="AttendanceDrops" /> By mid-2015, 2.4&nbsp;million people had visited the museum (about 340,000 visitors over seven years),<ref>{{cite book
|last1= Trollinger
|first1 = Susan L.
|last2 = Trollinger
|first2 = William Vance Jr.
|year= 2016
|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=lOf-CwAAQBAJ
|title= Righting America at the Creation Museum
|publisher= JHU Press
|page = 13
|isbn = 9781421419534
}}</ref> and in 2017, AiG reported that in the year since its other attraction, the Ark Encounter, opened, the Creation Museum saw over 800,000 visitors, nearly triple the annual average of 300,000 visitors.<ref>{{cite news | last1=Wartman | first1=Scott | title=Creationist Parks Still a Potent Draw for Visitors and Controversy | url=http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2017/07/07/creationist-parks-still-potent-draw-visitors-controversy/425293001/ | date=July 7, 2017 | newspaper=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]] | access-date=July 9, 2017 | quote=Answers in Genesis, the nonprofit ministry that operates both the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter, claims the Creation Museum has averaged 300,000 visitors a year since it opened in 2007. More than 800,000 have come since the Ark Encounter opened last year, said Ken Ham, founder of Answers in Genesis, based in Petersburg in Boone County. But there's no way to fact check these claims since AiG is a private organization.}}</ref>

===Ark Encounter===
{{Main|Ark Encounter}}
[[File:ArkEncounter.jpg|thumb|right|Noah's Ark at Ark Encounter]]
Answers in Genesis opened Ark Encounter, a [[Amusement park|theme-park]], in [[Grant County, Kentucky]] on July 7, 2016.<ref>{{cite news |last= Lovan |first= Dylan |title= Noah's ark of biblical proportions ready to open in Kentucky |agency= Associated Press |date= July 5, 2016}}</ref> The centerpiece of the park is a full-scale model of [[Noah's Ark]] at {{convert|510|ft|m}} long and {{convert|81|ft|m}} high. After a visit to Ark Encounter,<ref>{{cite AV media |last1= Nye|first1= Bill |last2= Ham |first2= Ken |name-list-style=amp|title= Nye/Ham: The Second Debate Premiere |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPLRhVdNp5M  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/PPLRhVdNp5M |archive-date=December 22, 2021 |url-status=live|date= March 13, 2017 |work= YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[Bill Nye]], who had previously debated Ham, described his experience as "much more troubling or disturbing than [he] thought it would be" and stated that "on the Ark's third deck, every single science exhibit is absolutely wrong".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/bill-nye-calls-ark-encounter-disturbing-argues-every-single-science-exhibit-absolutely-wrong-after-visit-166624/ |title=Bill Nye Calls Ark Encounter 'Disturbing,' Argues 'Every Science Exhibit Absolutely Wrong' After Visit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029112645/https://www.christianpost.com/news/bill-nye-calls-ark-encounter-disturbing-argues-every-single-science-exhibit-absolutely-wrong-after-visit-166624/ |archive-date=October 29, 2020 |work=[[Christian Post]] |date=July 18, 2006}}</ref> In December 2016, for the holiday season, AiG lit the Ark with [[rainbow]] colors, aiming to "reclaim the symbol from the gay rights movement" and to remind viewers of the [[Covenant (biblical)#Noahic covenant|Noahic covenant]].<ref>{{cite news | last1= Wartman | first1= Scott | title= Kentucky Ark Builder Wants to Take Rainbow Back | url= https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2016/12/23/kentucky-ark-builder-wants-take-rainbow-back/95802416/ | date= December 23, 2016 | work= [[USA Today]] | access-date= January 17, 2017}}</ref>

By late October 2016, over 400,000 people had visited the attraction.<ref>{{cite news | last1= Caproni | first1= Erin | title =Flood of Visitors Lifts Ark Encounter to Unexpected Numbers | url= http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2016/10/25/flood-of-visitors-lifts-ark-encounter-to.html | date= October 25, 2016 | newspaper= [[Cincinnati Business Courier]] | access-date= November 19, 2016 | quote = Answers in Genesis, which created the park, said it expects 1.2&nbsp;million people to visit in the ark's first year.}}</ref> This contrasts a state study that projected the attraction would receive 325,000 to under 500,000 visitors in the first year.<ref>{{cite news | last1= Blackford | first1= Linda | title= Study: Ark Encounter Could Bring Nearly 500,000 Visitors in First Year | url= http://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article44548512.html | date= January 21, 2015 | newspaper= [[Lexington Herald-Leader]] | access-date= November 19, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last1= Loftus | first1= Tom | title= Noah's Ark Park Attendance Projections Cut in Half | url= https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/01/21/noahs-ark-park-attendance-projections-cut-in-half/22131911/ | date= January 21, 2015 | work= [[USA Today]] | access-date= November 19, 2016}}</ref>  AiG reported that the Ark Encounter in its first year of operation attracted over 1 million visitors and aggregated 1.5&nbsp;million total visitors for both the Ark and the Creation Museum.<ref name=oneyear>
{{cite web
 | last1= Smith | first1= Lawrance
 | title= 1 Year After Opening, Ark Encounter's Attendance and Impact is Growing
 | url= http://www.wdrb.com/story/35827195/1-year-after-opening-ark-encounters-attendance-and-impact-is-growing
 | date= July 6, 2017 | work= [[WDRB]] | access-date= July 9, 2017
}}
</ref>