Would you take your children to visit the Ark in Kentucky?

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I’d go! PURELY for the…umm…what do they call it… “kitsch” factor?

I can imagine a couple good greeting cards for photos.

I have to say, uoi Americans can truly come up with the most bombastic and yet sometimes quite spectacular roadside attractions - World’s Largest Clam Box, Pencil, Thermometer, Rotating and Revolving Globe…

The only thing that would actually hold me back would be a.) Kentucky is Pretty far from where I am and b.) Ken Ham.

Although I don’t work in the field of evolutionary biology, i am quite sympathetic to my colleagues who have had to put up with his antics… Definitely would not want to “Feed the beast” so to speak. 😉

Ah well - i’m sure there’s another roadside attraction out there that has my name on it.
 
What, no Jackalopes?

More seriously, I and my sis are heading cross country in a week or so. We plan to see it. Should be interesting. My son is grown, so I agree with the poster who said they can take themselves. I see no conflict. As Catholics, we are free to understand the historical perspective of the Ark does not have to follow scientific “accuracy”.

Blessings,
Stephie
 
TheAtheist said:
I’d go! PURELY for the…umm…what do they call it… “kitsch” factor…
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This Ark is a one hit wonder. Once you see it, even if you believe in this stuff, there’s really no reason to come back. What they should have build was an awesome waterpark. They could have a “Fountains of the Deep” wave pool and a “Waters of the Firmament” waterslide. I mean, why hasn’t this been done already, amiright?
 
I would not puposely travel that far just to see this. Other than this ark, what is there to do?

If it was closer like a day trip,and the kids were younger, I would,and explain that the unicorns and fantasy creatures are there to make it more enjoyable for people.
 
phil_at_dayboro said:
Dinosaurs died off 6000 years ago ?
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Well, if they were on the Ark, as the man who built this contends, and they’re not around now … Draw your own conclusions. I’ve seen some pictures of the inside, and there’s a pen with young dinosaurs in it. (Presumably not velociraptors.)
 
JustaSinner said:
While I certainly wouldn’t claim to agree with everything taught and believed by Ken Ham and Answers in Genesis, they have explicitly disavowed many of the views of Kent Hovind. As far as the worldwide flood is concerned–this was the Church’s standard interpretation of the relevant Scripture passages for the vast majority of its 2000 year existence and of the Old Testament Church–so it can hardly be described as a strange Protestant novelty. It certainly appears to be the most natural reading of St. Peter’s commentary in 2 Peter 3:1-7, and St. Peter doesn’t look too kindly on denials of a universal flood. The Catholic Encyclopedia insists that it must have at least been sufficiently universal to destroy every single person on earth other than Noah and his family.

The existence of dinosaurs at the time of Noah is hardly a matter worth getting worked up about. The Thunder Bird which was an intricate part of Native American legends clearly resembles the Pterodactyl. And there are many other examples.

Also, someone said that they thought this lumber could have been used for housing. No doubt, however, the same could be said for money that goes into building and maintaining almost any religious oriented building. If it eternally impacts souls towards trusting in Christ (I have no idea if it will or not), than it may well be worth every penny put into it and then some. As for whether I’ll ever go there–I don’t see myself and my wife and kids getting up there anytime soon. I would like to see it someday.
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Exactly. I’m a Catholic who believes the flood was worldwide. Jesus even spake of the flood as a real event so I’m definitely on board with that.
 
Catholic_farmer said:
I would be sure to explain how our views differ from the ‘bible alone, literal translation’ version presented at this theme park.
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Exactly. You are the teacher here and will be able to discern the false protestant stuff and lead the discussion to solid Catholic teaching. For example you could focus the whole visit on how Catholics from the beginning have always seen the ark as the Catholic Church…

catholicexchange.com/ten-ways-noahs-ark-prefigured-church
 
Maybe in a year or so. We have some family up in Kentucky, they usually come down here but we might go visit them and stop by on the way. I’d certainly like my kids to see it. I’m a Catholic that believes in a worldwide flood.

My kids are going to see plenty of things that are not explicitly Catholic growing up, doesn’t mean they are all bad things. At least the Ark Encounter isn’t having gay days.
 
mommy_k said:
I would not puposely travel that far just to see this. Other than this ark, what is there to do?

If it was closer like a day trip,and the kids were younger, I would,and explain that the unicorns and fantasy creatures are there to make it more enjoyable for people.
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Maybe another one will be built in your area, and called the “New Ark”. :):)🙂

ICXC NIKA
 
johnnyc176 said:
Exactly. You are the teacher here and will be able to discern the false protestant stuff and lead the discussion to solid Catholic teaching. For example you could focus the whole visit on how Catholics from the beginning have always seen the ark as the Catholic Church…

catholicexchange.com/ten-ways-noahs-ark-prefigured-church
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misspriss said:
My kids are going to see plenty of things that are not explicitly Catholic growing up, doesn’t mean they are all bad things. At least the Ark Encounter isn’t having gay days.
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^ My thoughts exactly!

As for the dinosaurs & unicorn - Noah did not create a species by species list for the Bible of what he brought on board therefore I will tell my children the truth which is no one knows for sure. But the dimensions of the ark are clearly recorded and I can tell them this is exactly the size recorded in the Bible. Plenty is to be gained from that visualization alone. The ark was real, the flood was real, the Bible is real, Moses was real, God is real. I think it would be good for my children to see this. It is halfway across the country though so I don’t know when we’ll get there.
 
GEddie said:
Maybe another one will be built in your area, and called the “New Ark”. :):)🙂

ICXC NIKA
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Or maybe a different idea based on the Ark of the New Covenant and you could call it MaryLand…oh wait
 
Just like fantasy land, my kids would definitely dig this place.
 
misspriss said:
Maybe in a year or so. We have some family up in Kentucky, they usually come down here but we might go visit them and stop by on the way. I’d certainly like my kids to see it. I’m a Catholic that believes in a worldwide flood.

My kids are going to see plenty of things that are not explicitly Catholic growing up, doesn’t mean they are all bad things. At least the Ark Encounter isn’t having gay days.
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Perhaps we could go on the same day and our children enjoy the ark together. I promise to not be too gay on that day. 🤷
 
Yes, I would… or rather my nieces and nephew, but they are going to beat me there. I believe they are going down to see it next week. The Ark is the only part of the new park done right now, but there’s much more they are planning.

Just as an aside, the Unicorn mentioned isn’t the Unicorn of man made myth, but rather the “unicorn” (translated of course from the original) mentioned specifically in the Bible, as explained here; answersingenesis.org/extinct-animals/unicorns-in-the-bible/

Also, as far as the money goes, there always an outcry when large sums are spent by all Christians, such as the Catholic Church, on structures, or events, that support and promote faith in God. The money spent in service of God and faith isn’t wasted. As for the economics, Kentucky needs economic boosts, and this Ark will bring tourists to the area, as has their Creation Museum (which is a very short distance away) and it put a lot of people to work building it.

I neither agree nor disagree with Ken Ham on everything he teaches, but I don’t doubt his sincerity.
 
Is the founder of the Ark from a specific denomination? Is he a pastor? I do wish he presented the views from different faith traditions. It would have more appeal. It would also be fascinating to compare the views side-by-side. We will pass on this exhibit.
 
I don’t understand why many Catholics have the whole idea of creationism in general under fire. If it’s not disruptive to faith, if it’s in both Scripture and Tradition, if it has the historical beliefs of Christians behind it, and it does have all of that, why could it be bad?

Think that practically every Christian and Jew before the early 1800’s or so believed in creationism!
 
Unicorn? Maybe it’s a really misshapen Rhino.

If the price was right and the distance was close, I’d consider it.

I’d take the family from the angle like someone else said -

It’s a roadside attraction.

Thus, the only way I go is if I find myself driving the family through Kentucky and the price, distance, and timing are right for a rest stop.
 
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