Last time, we took a brief look at some of the positive reasons to visit the Ark Encounter in Williamstown, KY. It is most certainly worth a visit! Be prepared, though, since it's somewhat out of the way. You have to make it a destination. 

Also, the whole facility is essentially a theme park that is quite commercialized. This did not particularly bother us, but some people have been offended at this concept. The thinking is that it "cheapens" God's Word. These are issues that can be debatable as to the wisdom and advisability of that approach. Of more concern to us, though, are the following ~

A large amount of artistic license has been used in the portrayal of not only the ark itself, but in many aspects of life inside the vessel. This is not necessarily a bad thing, or a wrong thing. And there are several signs that inform the viewer that artistic license has been used. The problem is that many people don't read those signs (we watched many people pass right by). Many therefore often think that the way things are portrayed is in fact the way they were. The signs indicating that artistic license has been used are very few compared to the many depictions of various aspects aboard the vessel which are presented as though they were fact. Pictures and scenes have become worth thousands of words. 

We heard one person saying, "Wow! I didn't know that's how they fed and watered the animals!". Later on, while looking at a depiction of the interior of the ark using an elevator, I heard another man say, "You see?! I told you that they used an elevator on the ark!".

This is dangerous. The point is, we don't know these things. They are possibilities, but some people are believing it just as though it was in the Bible. One sign goes so far as to say, "Driven by a desire for adventure and a love for construction, Noah traveled to a small port city where he became an apprentice shipwright. He learned blacksmithing and shipbuilding and eventually married the daughter of his employer." (!?) 

There are numerous detailed descriptions about life aboard the ark, also written as if these things are fact -- Signs telling us how food was grown on the ark. Signs telling us that Noah's wife knew more about animals than anyone else. Signs describing various rooms, and what they did to relax, etc. 

It's one thing to add some "artistic" interest and try to "fill in the blanks", but this goes way beyond that. When extra-biblical information is portrayed as fact, the ice we're skating on becomes thin.

contnued....

In Christ,

PS - I will be presenting seminars this weekend, Thursday - Saturday (May 2-4) at the TTD (Teach Them Diligently) homeschool conference in Pigeon Forge, TN.