Ark Encounter Review
I’ve been a pastor and professor for nearly two decades, but I first learned apologetics with my Christian elementary School when Ken Ham did a presentation at the Charleston (WV) Municipal Auditorium. While my academic studies focused on Resurrection apologetics, I attribute much of my apologetic grounding to his work which eventually flourished into Answers in Genesis. Recently, my interest and appreciation for Creation Science has renewed. If you are not familiar, Answers in Genesis is one of the more prominent Creation Science ministries, focusing on evidence for the biblical account of Creation and a global flood. This was my first visit to their massive Ark Encounter exhibit in Kentucky. Here’s a few things I gleaned from the experience:
The Ark Is Huge!
The ark, which is built to the dimensions of the biblical ark, stands out for it’s massive size. It dwarfs the surrounding buildings and illicit a sense of as one approaches from the strategically placed gates. I must say that the combination of friendly staff and layout along with detailed art and layout is on par with Disney parks. The ark itself is 510 feet long (matching the biblical dimensions). They are careful to communicate that the biblical ark was a boat built for a few people and many animals to survive the flood. The Ark Encounter is a building built to accommodate thousands of guests daily while matching the size and look of the original ark. Disclaimers related to artistic license are displayed a few steps from the entrance.
The Displays are Intriguing and Compelling
The first portion of the entrance displays food storage and animal cages, applying rudimentary food, water, and waste applications that could have been employed on the ark. Not only does this show how Noah and his family may have managed animal care, it answers several questions related to animal “kinds” and how a smaller number of animals can account for the multiple species we have now. One common misconception about creation science is related to microevolution. Answers in Genesis affirms change and adaptations (microevolution) while denying the jumps from “kind“ to “kind” that are required for all living beings to come from a single organism (macroevolution). The animal displays are thus creative and beautiful. While the Ark Encounter features information, the immersive setting and fully themed experience deserves attention. The illustrations and art are beautifully done.
The Information is Compelling
The artistic layouts are incredible, but the Ark Encounter (like the Creation Museum) primarily driven by information. The reality is that even among many Christians, short day creation (the belief that God created the earth in six literal days) is often dismissed as “unscientific” and ignored without consideration. As an epistemologist, this frustrates me. The theory of evolution is taught as fact without enduring scrutiny, keeping many from weighing its veracity against the evidence. Regardless of your stance on creation or evolution, you really must give the scientists and theologians at Answers in Genesis an ear. Epistemological consistency requires a weighing of the approaches.
Here are a few key pieces of information that I’ve found to be compelling:
The fossil record has a multitude of realities that evolutionary theory cannot account for, but that match the biblical account of the global flood quite well. For instance, Polystrate Fossils (fossils that protrude though multiple layers of rock) found around the world are unexplainable if the rock layers were formed gradually over millions of years. However, the sudden layering of sediment inherent in a global food accounts for it quite well. Similar issues related to fossils supposedly from different eras found together, fish scales and eyes fossilized before decay, and a variety of other details fit a global flood account much better than a long-term fossilization process.
Cross-continent deposition is another phenomenon that aligns with a global flood. Sediment layers such as coal, limestone, and chalk span continents and oceans reflecting sudden, catastrophic changes rather than slow change over time which would lead to more isolated sedimentary layers.
The Bill Nye vs. Ken Ham debates provide some worthwhile information, though I have mixed feelings about debates (the entertainer often wins the hearers over the scholar). The other issue with debates is that time limitations keep some of the best answers from making the stage. Ken Hamm provides an answer to Nye’s criticism about ice layers by citing the “Lost Squadron” find. The Lost Squadron planes were buried in hundreds of feet of ice in a relatively short time, supporting Ham’s assertion that ice layers are not a reliable means of determining the passing of time.
Biblical flood over ancient myths. One of the criticisms of the biblical notion of the flood is that “flood myth” shows up in a variety of ancient cultures, the Epic of Gilgamesh being the most known. Personally, the fact that the myth shows up in nearly every culture seems to be evidence that such a global event did indeed occur. That aside, the issue of biblical veracity over ancient myth is brought into question. The Ark Encounter includes a display of the boats described in ancient mythology and provides a “seaworthiness” demonstration for each. Notably, the biblical ark did quite well while all of the mythological “arks” failed.
Strength of biblical manuscripts. While not exclusively creation/flood oriented, the Ark Encounter provides a brief overview of historical documentation comparing the biblical manuscripts against other ancient documents. This is indeed one area in which I have expertise, and I must say that they did quite well communicating the fact that the bible stands against all others as a historical document. Further, the display provided illustrations accessible to nearly any layperson.
The Gospel is Central
The fact is that no matter how much evidence and argumentation is brought to the table, it is all for nought apart from a clear presentation of the gospel. I am pleased to say that the Ark Encounter does not just “geek out” on creation and flood evidence. They present the gospel in a beautiful and compelling manner throughout the experience. Additionally, one of the final displays is an account of an apologetic story illustrated as a graphic novel. Not only does it clearly present the gospel of Christ’s atoning death and bodily resurrection, it weaves in an apologetic conversation that equips the reader to defend their faith along the way.
For our Southern California readers, a trip to Williamstown, KY might seem a little out of the way. You may even be tempted to scoff at the notion of a literal flood as passé, but I would urge you to place the Ark Encounter on your list of spots to visit. The scholarship is on point and the theming is superb. Put it on your list of places to visit the next time you are near the east coast.
