If They Build It, Will You Go?

      Not a day goes by that I don’t wish I knew more about the “scientific” claims in the book of Genesis. You know what I mean by scientific claims… claims about the “days” of creation and the mass extinction due to rising Flood waters. Luckily, my thirst for such knowledge will soon be quenched. A museum dedicated to what some might call Creation Science is slated for the near future in Wisconsin Dells. This museum will feature displays depicting all land animals living together pre-Noah’s Flood and post-Divine Creation, one example: Dinosaurs and Humans living side by side a few thousand years ago.

      And why shouldn’t the Old Testament’s scientific claims get museums? Faith alone in the Bible’s infallibility is great and all, but this museum represents something substantial, objective, and real. Because religious claims are often seen as lacking these things, a museum makes sense. We’re all familiar with the Intelligent Design movement and its attempts to introduce alternative perspectives into the high school’s biology curriculum; although this movement is gaining supporters, its success has been minimal. Thus, a museum could be viewed not just as a great idea, but also as a necessary reaction to the attack on Judeo-Christian beliefs and the unchallenged acceptance of the dogmatism of Darwinism and the fallacy of historical geology.

      Now I know what some of you are thinking. What about geology’s virtual denial of Genesis’ single act of creation and a world-wide flood? This anti-Literal position has been strengthened (the second floor of Philips would contend) a billion-fold during the last several decades thanks in part to very “accurate” dating techniques. What about evolution, you may be wondering. Darwin may not have known about DNA (of course, no one did back then), but we do now. The biology of today not only has tremendous experimental support, it has a mechanism for evolution that Darwin lacked.

      Both sides of this debate feel themselves entirely justified. But neither side seems to be able to settle the issue or convince the other side. Why can’t this issue be simply resolved, or can it?

      Let me leave you with a few more questions. Is opposition to this museum a violation of the proponent’s free speech? Is support a violation of truth, and if so, should this matter? If you oppose such a museum on the basis of factuality, should more of the Bible’s claims (scientific or not) be rejected? Can Christianity survive without a literal reading of the Bible?



The Flip Side is a publication dedicated to providing an alternative media outlet and forum on the UW-Eau Claire campus by welcoming the writings, views, and involvement of all students and community members. By reporting on news, perspectives, and opinions on all issues, we seek to develop and maintain our freedom of speech.

All published material remains the property of the individual contributors. Opinions of the writers and contributors are their own. Articles found within, in no way reflect the opinion of The Flipside Press as a whole. The Flipside Press rserves the right to reject any advertising, articles, letters, images, or other material submitted for publication.