A visit to the Creation Museum

The Creation Museum in Kentucky is arguably one of the most controversial museums in the United States. It can be described as either a defensive fortress for Biblical truth or a museum dedicated to dangerous pseudo-science, depending on who you ask. Founded in 2007 by Ken Ham it's the worlds most famous manifestation of Young Earth-creationism. The Australian born Ken Ham (1951-) have been involved in creationism since the 1970's and founded in 1994 Answers in Genesis-ministry that later would start the Creation Museum. Ham is still the leader for both the ministry and the museum and remains an active defender for a literal interpretation of the Bible. Ham believes that the earth was created around 6000 years ago in six 24 hour days and see all forms of a more symbolic interpretation of Genesis as a capitulation to secular science, something that have placed Ham in opposition to other Christians several times. For Ham is evolution and the idea of a millions of years old Earth not just a scientific issue but one that touches upon the moral foundation of society, with the acceptance of evolution have faith in God and the Bible been undermined and this have lead to a widespread social decline in his opinion.

Last september I had the opportunity to visit the Creation museum with two friends as we were driving across the American South. Being located in basically the middle of nowhere at the border between Kentucky and Indiana, and as we showed up on a Monday morning, I was expecting the place to be more or less deserted. That was however far from the case, when we came people were already lining up and we could see busses from different churches on the parking lot. Going out of the car we followed the footprints of dinosaurs to the museum entering a world that for a secular mind almost feelt like a visit to a scientific version of Alice in Wonderland.

Two sides of a debate

A common form of argumentation at the museum is that secular and Biblical interpretations is of equal scientific value, both scientists agree on the facts but come to different conclusions about origin. In order to understand this one has to be aware that creationists often only see observational science as ”real science”, while historical is open to interpretation. For them evolution comes in the later category and as none of us were there when man evolved and as we can't observe it it's just a ”theory”. This is also a common argument for why the Bible must be true because while no human were present at the beginning of time, God was.

Dinosaurs and man

This is the most famous (or infamous) idea presented at the museum, and one that have given way to endless jokes from opponents to it, man and dinosaurs living side by side. The museum even speculates that dinosaurs can still be alive. Further dragons are identifies as dinosaurs and descriptions of dragons from around the world is seen as proof that dinosaurs was alive side by side with man well into historical times. 

For those who wants to enjoy some music the idea is explained by Buddy Davies, from the Creation Museum, in his song “D is for Dinosaur”.

In the garden of Eden

Here we see Adam and Eve surrounded by animals that later would become the species we know today. Also the snake is here, threatening the serene scene.

It's because of the sin of Adam that the world fell and the whole of creation became brutal and vicious as seen in this carnivorous dinosaur and Cain slaying Abel.

The ark

The flood is of course a literal event and how Noah could get all the animals on board is explained by imagining that there was some form of prototype for most animals that later developed to different forms. So below we have a prototype of a dog and a horse

While some creationists believe dinosaurs died with the flood Ken Ham is clear that they also went on the Ark.

Decline of civilization

Evolution takes away all hope from mankind and the result is general decadence and immorality. Man can do whatever, there is no solid foundation of truth or morality. We see first what the Word of God offer mankind.

But the Devil, always being a smart ass, of course ruined everything by asking questions. A lesson kids should take to their heart.

And so the decline begins, especially after the Scopes trial.

Even the churches are falling for the lies of evolution and millions of years, so not even there is any hope to be found.

Shopping for creation

The museum has of course a rather large shop were you can find both DVDs, books, clothes, magnets, toys and so forth. It is quite clear that they are mainly oriented towards kids in their products. Children are the future and the museum will do all that it can to not lose the next generation.

When we were visiting the museum was Ray Comforts movie Evolution vs. God the big thing. If you are prepared "to have your faith shaken" or have around 40 minutes to see the rather confused looks of biologists when asked by Ray Comfort if they take the Lords name in vain (a perfectly rational question to ask a non-Christian) then you can find it free on youtube.

Finally if you get hungry there is of course a dinner and cafe with fitting names for their products.

As we were driving away from the museum I was happily listening to Buddy Davis singing about dragons, platypus, Noah, creation and sin until my friends finally more or less forcibly removed the CD and my mind was back in the hopeless world of evolution, but as we were driving towards the place of the King of Kings (or as it is also known, Memphis) there was still some hope .

It's alive!

A Visit to Papa Jim's Botanica

Botanicas, for those unfamiliar with the term, refers broadly speaking to retail stores that sell a variety of items and services, often related to Latin American folk magic and alternative medicine. San Antonio have several, most of them located in the southern, mostly Mexican, part of the city. The largest one in San Antonio is Papa Jim's Botanica. Visiting Papa Jim's is a bit of a strange experience. You get the feeling that you are in a esoteric supermarket with rows of incense, candles, statues, oils and anything else you might need. In contrast to many other botanicas most of the items and services are provided in English. This is probably not mainly to court the non-hispanic people who visit the store, but because a rapidly growing section of Mexicans in San Antonio no longer speak Spanish.

In the sale section some things stand out. The most obvious being the enormous popularity of Santa Muerte, a personification of death who can help her devotees with a variety of requests. 

Santa Muerte is a Mexican folk saint, who by various people will be described as an angel, saint or even a goddess (the later based on a probably erroneous identification of her with the Aztec goddess of the underworld Mictecacihuatl). The cult around her have grown rapidly in the last decade in both Mexico and in the United States. 

The saint is highly controversial due to her popularity among drug cartels and people connected to it. Still most people who consider themselves her devotes are ordinary people, mainly poor urban workers and people regarded as social outcasts in various forms. Today her cult is starting to spread outside these groups and there is also a growing interest in her outside Mexican communities. There is, as we can see here also a large commerce around her.

The other notable thing is the syncretism, the items sold come from a variety of traditions one would expect to find like Santeria, Bruja, Curandero and Catholicism, but there is also items and books related to Wicca, Satanism, New Age and Western Esotericism. For example, one of the most popular items at the store is The Witches Calender by Llwellyn. In contrast to what one will find in most Western Magical traditions the focus is very practical. The main question is if it works, not spiritual development or a re-enchantment of the world. Neither are there any moral concerns as to what you need the items for. You want to get your boyfriend back or ruin his life, get more money or make the law stay away, regardless, there is something here to help.

Papa Jim's is a good place to start if one happens to be in San Antonio and want to start exploring the world of Mexican folk magic. The people who work there are friendly and very helpful and most of the items very cheap. There is also a large variety of items to chose from. For academics like myself the place is almost like a smorgosbord when looking for examples of cultural syncretism and the problematic division of the sacred and the profane. 

And if when you have finished visiting Papa Jim's Botanica feel to buy a pet-fish on the way home, right next to the botanica is Papa Jim's Tropical Fish.