Model display of Noah's ark as seen at the Creation Museum in Petersburg, Ky. The biblical apologetics ministry, Answers in Genesis, plans to build a life-sized replica of the ark in Williamstown
Posted on 03/03/2014 9:52:18 AM PST by SeekAndFind
A day after Ken Ham, president and CEO of the creationist organization Answer in Genesis announced he would be moving forward with plans to build a life-sized replica of Noah's ark, Bill Nye, his former debate opponent, said he hopes "the Ark Encounter goes out of business."
On Thursday, Ham announced in a live web stream from the Kentucky-based Creation Museum that his organization has been able to come up with funding for the project, despite its financial viability being questioned last month.
AiG said in a statement that it has raised the first $73 million for its project, which is expected to cost more than $120 million.
"Several million dollars in donations and Ark boarding passes (memberships) had been raised prior to the bond offering, and most of that amount has already been used to pay for the Ark's land, secure expensive permits and licenses, clear the property, draw architectural plans, design the exhibits, etc.," it stated.
The organization also said that it is still looking to raise an additional $15 million in donations in order to "provide additional attractions, like the special high-tech and interactive exhibits that guests have come to appreciate at our museum."
In 2013, Williamstown, the city where the park will be located, offered $62 million in municipal bonds, a debt which AiG would repay through park revenue. AiG's statement did not say how much the organization had raised through the bond selling, however, news coverage from last month said that the organization had to sell $29 million in unrated municipal bonds by Feb. 6 to avoid triggering the redemption of the $26.5 million of bonds that have already been sold.
A Bloomberg report from January suggested that concerns about repayment might have been one of the reasons why investors had been slow to buy. It noted that not only are the AiG "industrial-development bonds…considered the riskiest municipal debt, but because the city "issued the bonds without a rating…prospect of repayment [are] even less clear."
The report also stated that offering documents "cite at least 39 risks to buyers, including that AiG has no obligation to back the debt. Bondholders' sole revenue stream would come from money spent by visitors."
According to a Kentucky Courier-Journal story, "State development studies have predicted that Ark Encounter would draw hundreds of thousands of visitors and bring in a net fiscal impact of $119 million over 10 years, including sales and income taxes."
The article also noted that Kentucky has lucrative financial incentives for projects geared toward increasing tourism.
"In 2011, the Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority granted approval for up to $43.1 million in sales tax rebates over 10 years. State tourism law allows developers to recover up to 25 percent of a project's cost through a return of the sales tax paid by visitors on admission tickets, food, souvenirs and other expenses," it stated.
Ham took to his blog on Friday to defend AiG against "bloggers [who] are trying to claim that my recent debate with Bill Nye 'the Science Guy' is what brought in the necessary bond amounts."
"Actually, that's not true at all. The registration for bonds had already closed for people wanting to purchase them before the Nye debate. No new bond registrations could have occurred after the debate," wrote Ham.
He also quoted an Associated Press article that had asked Nye's opinion about the project. Ham's debate opponent was quoted as saying that he hoped the project "goes out of business."
"If he builds that ark, it's my strong opinion, it's bad for the commonwealth of Kentucky and bad for scientists based in Kentucky and bad for the U.S. And I'm not joking, bad for the world," said Nye.
"I have a message for Bill Nye: 'You can't stop something God is doing!'" wrote Ham, who added that Nye's reaction had reminded him of Acts 5:38-39.
"And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God."
Ham has unapologetically interpreted many of the Ark Encounter's fundraising difficulties through a lens of spiritual warfare. In a fundraising letter last month, he called their financial woes "an indication of the immense spiritual battle we are in," he said.
"Please be aware that the associated complications and struggles have been beyond our control," Nye wrote.
Park construction is expected to start in May.
No matter where you stand on the debate, Nye has become a real jerk.
Didn’t have to scratch Bill Nye too deeply to find a hate-filled leftie.
I don’t know what’s worse, a scientist trying to use science to disprove the Bible or a new earther trying to turn the Bible into a science book.
Way to take the high road and prove you were the good guy, Bile Nye the stupid guy
IMHO, it will fail big time.
I don’t hope it does but I’m pretty sure it is doomed.
Faith is not about building monuments to God.
king Solomon, one of Israel’s richest kings said:
“All is vanity and chasing after wind”
RE: IMHO, it will fail big time.
Well, looks like Bill Nye gets his wish in the end then...
The more I read about this Nye person he sounds like a very angry, mean spirited individual. Or in other words, a liberal.
And just exactly why would anyone give a ***t about Mr Nye’s opinions? We’re not exactly getting criticism from Einstein here.
Well I think the first one is much worse. I do agree the Bible is not a science book. Would be interesting however to see what a replica would actually look like.
I think it would be awesome to visit. My kids would get a kick out of it.
Become? He’s been a jerk ever since his days at Seattle’s “Almost Live” TV show. He’s an ass always been an ass and will always be an ass.
The Bible will not lie to us, but it does have some veeeery interesting lessons.
Your statement begs the questions:
If God is real and He inspired the men who wrote the Bible, then that makes the Bible a science book. Or at least a book that does not conflict with science...since God is, well, God, with the inherent implication that if He created everything then He also created the laws of nature, physics, etc.
I guess Nye has decided he lost that debate, huh?
Meant to reply to “plain talk”
RE: I guess Nye has decided he lost that debate, huh?
Actually, “hoping” for an endeavor to fail is different from FORCING one’s opinion on the person attempting the endeavor through the power of coercive government ( Like gay activists are doing ).
Nye is well within his rights to wish what he wants. And we are all well within our rights to call him a jerk.
It contains the writing of prophets and apostles and covers more history & theology than science. It describes what happened and not the details of how it was done. I am not sure how one would view it as a science book and if so how one would arrive at such a conclusion.
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