A secular group is demanding that tourism groups stop promoting a ‘creationist’ zoo which questions the traditional view of evolution.
The Noah’s Ark Zoo is accused by the British Humanist Association of misleading tens of thousands of visitors annually and ‘threatening public understanding’.
The BHA says the zoo farm, run by husband and wife Anthony and Christina Bush in Wraxall, near Bristol, promotes creationism – the belief that all life was created by God – and seeks to discredit scientific facts such as carbon dating, the fossil record and the speed of light.
BHA director of education and public affairs, Andrew Copson, said: ‘As they are public bodies, we believe it is inappropriate that tourist boards should support establishments that seek to urge religious or ideological beliefs upon people.’
Noah’s Ark research assistant Jon Woodward said: ‘We are offering our visitors the chance to look at the evolution/creation debate. As it is a free country, that is within our right.
‘We are slightly different from popular creationism. We hold a view that the natural world around us is the product of both God and evolution.
‘We do not hold the stereotypical creationist views that the world was created in 6,000 years.’
Daily Mail (thanks, Tammy)
UPDATE: The following excellent articles just came in from Paul at the Humanist.
Bless This Tiger
And there was me worrying about Creationism
This is the same zoo as recently spawned this Daily Mail headline “Controversial Christian zoo skinned tiger Tira and stored her head in freezer” – what a fine example of Christian Morals they provide.
Is this not the zoo that was also letting some of their animals be used in the circus?
So not only misinformed, but arguably cruel too
Last time I was in Bristol I was thinking of going along just to see what all the fuss was about.. But I decided it would make me too cross!
Alex
They’re perfectly within their rights to promote their “zoo”. We atheists have plenty of places where one can go to study natural history, including evolutionary biology.
Besides, with any luck, visitors will see how moronic their beliefs are!
woah! they’re actually saying they believe in God and also evolution -that’s hardly radical – only a view shared by over a billion Christians?
‘We do not hold the stereotypical creationist views that the world was created in 6,000 years.’ –
Yeah because that would be a stupid thing to believe:-
‘The animals went in two by two hurrah hurrah……………………’
Torch the place with the mentalists inside
….eesh
My view of this place keeps going up and down:
Creationist Zoo (down)
“We hold a view that the natural world around us is the product of both God and evolution.” (up)
“Is this not the zoo that was also letting some of their animals be used in the circus?” (down)
“We do not hold the stereotypical creationist views that the world was created in 6,000 years.” (up)
“Controversial Christian Zoo Skinned Tiger Tira and Stored Her Head in Freezer” (DOWN. THEY’RE NUTTERS!)
How can you discredit the speed of light, ffs?
I’m sure their god is so proud that they have caged his creations purely for entertainment. He must be creating a lovely sudden disease for them as we speak
Have you been? It’s hilarious. the worst arguments ,made on posters, against evolution… ’10 reasons why man is not descended from apes’ is a particular favourite.
Nevertheless, as a random sight, a pair of Rhinos chewing the North Somerset cud it’s pretty great!
Ahh Christian fundamentalists !
Why is this so outrageous? If it was a zoo promoting Darwinist beliefs it would be celebrated and promoted and yet it’s just a different belief system. How ridiculous.
Why is it acceptable to believe what Darwin said, but unacceptable to believe in creation? What kind of equal society do we live in where it’s ok to believe the popularist ideas but not ok to believe a religion which is thousands of years old just because we’re all fed up of having been spoon-fed it at school?
- one that believes you need scientific evidence to back your claims? – Phillis
Come see our petting zoo, lay all your sins on our scapegoat and let it forth into the wilderness!
@bunny nice attitude!
Not as outrageous as the Creation Museum in America that has animatronic stegasaurus’s getting onto Noah’s ark, and a T-Rex eating from a tree behind Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden
Hilarious though isnt it? It would boil my blood but I would totally go simply through morbid curiosity and to see the nutjob belivers in creationism agrue with the museum curator that the world is 6000 years old! it’s be the arguement of the centuary – raising their voices then turning the other cheek and beggin forgiveness. Deluded twats…
God said to Noah theres gonna be a floody floody…..
As with many things, the flood myth was an Egyptian creation:
Epic of Gilgamesh: – 2700 BC
“When a seventh day arrived
I sent forth a dove and released it.
The dove went off, but came back to me;
no perch was visible so it circled back to me.”
Genesis 7 – 600BC (Or 400AD if you wish.)
“8 And he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground. 9 But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him to the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth”
Well, although I can’t say I agree with their views, good for them if they want a creationist zoo- who are we to decide who’s view is of more opinion – who has the right to say what they think and who doesn’t – im sry but i wud be very scared if they didnt have these sort of things – it just proves we live in a democracy. Tho I have to say also, if there really is animal rights abuses then they shud shut the scum down asap… however if not, then leave them to hav they zoo whch has alternative views to urs!
Iv been there and it is a rather bizarre place. They have anti evoltion board in the kids play area and a big model ark with dinosaurs and mammoths boarding two by two.
Wanted to take my nephew to a zoo that wasn’t ‘Bristol’ so had planned to go here. The day before when looking up directions I discovered it was anti Darwin and quickly steered clear. I can’t think of a worse day out for a 3 year old, being surrounded by God bothers!!
It’s not their beliefs that is the problem. It is that the tourist board is also promoting and supporting this. They should be neutral and not promoting things that are only side of the argument are being shown as facts.
Why are so many athiests obsessed with religion. I don’t believe in astrology and all that but I don’t make it my life’s work to try and discredit it, I just ignore it. Bit pathetic all this obsession.
- Astrologers don’t receive millions in tax breaks or get “moved on” when accused of child abuse? – Phillis
ahhh i am reminded of Eddie Izzard bit about fuck off ducks and the ark. The bible is such entertaining fiction.
@Phillis – “one that believes you need scientific evidence to back your claims?”
So what you’re saying is your belief system is sacrosanct and others must be suppressed?
*scratches head*
What *is* the secular word for Jihad, out of interest?
- It’s not a “belief system”. It’s science and it uses lots and lots of facts, evidence and proof to back up it’s claims – Phillis
Are these people serious? Its just a zoo, nothing the nanny brigade should be getting so sweaty about. Take your kid, buy he/she/it an ice-cream and tell he/she/it that the monkeys are either cousins or (God, Thor, Xenu…..insert belief here) play things, it’s your choice. Damn, I feel so sorry for kids today.
I don’t think the tourist board are at all wrong in their publicising of this zoo. It’s a tourist attraction like any other; museums routinely have exhibits about Darwinism and evolutionary theory, and churches, cathedrals and the like are known as ‘tourist attractions’, so why should this zoo be deprived equal publicity solely on religious grounds? As long as the beliefs of the zoo are unambiguous and are not prescribed onto its visitors, I see no harm in a friendly tourist attraction letting people know their beliefs.
However, if the animal cruelty stories are true, then of course they should not be allowed to remain open.
We should have pitty and not mock the afflicted. They need our help, understanding and a place of safety.
If part of the BHA’s argument is that tourism offices as public bodies shouldn’t advertise this ‘zoo’ then surely they should also be asking them to stop advertising churches, cathedrals, sites of religious significance etc etc.
I’m an athiest but I love wandering around such places and admiring the architecture and decoration. I can appreciate the history behind them without suddenly converting to religious zealotry.
As for the zoo, I think it sounds lame but I also think they will A. be preaching to the already converted or B) people will go just to see the animals and will not be swayed by such poor arguments for creationism
Well evolution isn’t really a matter of opinion or a belief is it, it is a proven fact. I don’t need to “believe” in evolution, it is what is happening and has happened for billions of years. I don’t need to believe in something that is clearly a fact.
The problem with a zoo is it is a place children will go to learn, and as children are naturally gullible they are being taught things that are untrue. We’re just conditioned as a society to respect peoples beliefs as long as those beliefs are a few thousand years old. If I went around teaching children that I’m God, I’d probably get put in prison or a nuthouse. Yet there is no difference.
It’s a side issue, but they also have a terrible reputation in the area for trying to close or divert footpaths which go through the farm, by means which are only just legal. Last time I was walking in the area I kept coming across signs saying “we can’t stop you from walking this path but you might like to walk somewhere else for your own safety”, and at the farm itself the path went through a field containing untethered goats.
I think you are living proof that Darwins therories are correct Monkey boy:)
Oh, well .. it wont hurt for childeren to check more ideas … you can show them .. and tell them.. that is what other people think how things developped. Now you do not need to have an opinion yet,, you dont need to see it at all yet .. time enough for that …. Then you notice your childeren aren’t there anymore ….. they decided that the recreation area was more interesting .. their own development ..
Love these types of people. Thank god for them I say. How boring if we all had our marbles.
That American theme park and others are seen in the great movie, Religulous. A bill maher and larry Charles movie. You should all check it out.
@phillis – it was you who used the word ‘believe’, not me.
I’m sorry, but as someone actually trained as and who has worked as a research scientist, I am sick of people who wouldn’t know a proof from a pogo stick using “I believe in science” as justification for their intolerance and prejudice. ‘Science’ does not give you a right to trample on other people. Disagreement is fine, but suppression is not part of the scientific method.
Incidentally, for the record I think creationism and this ‘zoo’ is a load of old codswallop. I’ll defend their right to express it though.
@Andrew – you’ve got to be kidding me! A path – through a farm – with untethered animals!
What on Earth is the world coming to when farms keep animals in fields eh? Untethered! I, for one, am shocked. I mean, those goats could do someone an injury.
Mind you, round here they actually have *sheep*. Roaming on moors. Without an escort! It’s a potential deathtrap. I blame the church.
A person who seemed to consider themselves wise once told me “If you cant say anything nice about Christians say nothing at all” So here goes [ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ]
I understand Simon’s point about them being within their rights to promote it. But I live locally and they promote it a little bit too much towards schools for my liking. I’d rather my kids were taught science. If I want them to learn about magic, I’ll let them watch Derren’s program.
This is old news. I hope the BHA also objects to cathedrals being promoted to tourists just so people understand how petty-minded and anti-freedom they are in reality.
These people are like Stonewall and Islamists. Everything has to be done their way or else – as someone wrote, above: “Torch the place with the mentalists inside”.
It’s called ‘divide and rule’.
My concern about this “zoo” is that they have set themselves up a an education centre. They actively encourage schools to visit and have produced National Curriculum documentation to be handed out. If people want to waste their money by going, that is up to them, but such an establishment should not be allowed to promote their beliefs to schools in the guise of KS1 and KS2 course documentation.