#159 – Answers-in-Genesis are getting a new leader …. and a Tower of Babel theme park!?
Jun 14, 2024
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Dr. Joel Duff, a seasoned scientist, dissects the financial stronghold of Answers in Genesis, their plans for a Tower of Babel theme park, and the lack of scientific expertise in YECist circles. He questions why AiG doesn't invest in credible experts and delves into the controversial world of young earth creationism.
Answers in Genesis is a powerful force in young earth creationism with substantial revenue and assets.
Young Earth Creationism faces challenges in education and leadership transitions, impacting the movement's direction.
Debate surrounds the theories of organism adaptation, highlighting contrasting views on evolutionary processes.
Deep dives
Dr. Joel Duff's Online Influence and Expertise
Dr. Joel Duff, a prominent figure in the blogosphere and academia, engages with students from evangelical backgrounds at a secular state university. Through his blog Naturalis Historia and YouTube channel, Duff addresses topics like Ken Ham and Anschutz in Genesis, demonstrating his expertise in the field. His unique perspective and online engagement highlight his role as an arms-length expert in the realm of young earth creationism.
Answers in Genesis' Influence and Financial Strength
Answers in Genesis, led by Ken Ham and new CEO Martin Iles, holds a significant position within young earth creationism. With an annual revenue of $62 million and vast assets, they shape Christian publishing and media. The organization's multimedia approach, including the Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter, underscores their dominance in promoting a young earth worldview and maintaining a staunch following.
Challenges in Young Earth Creationist Education and Leadership Evolution
Young earth creationism faces challenges in education and leadership transitions. Homeschooling, Christian schools, and online platforms like Answers Network play vital roles in perpetuating young earth beliefs. The emergence of new leaders like Martin Iles at Answers in Genesis and Randy Gugliuzzo at Institute for Creation Research signals a shift in the movement's direction, juxtaposing traditional views with evolving ideologies.
Different Views on Adaptation Mechanisms
Organisms have been viewed to adapt to their environments based on different theories. Some suggest continuous environmental tracking with pre-designed internal switches by God for adaptation. Others lean towards natural selection and genetic drift for species evolution. The debate between these views impacts the understanding of how organisms adapt and change over time.
Discussion on Speciation and Hyper Evolution
Young Earth Creationists debate the concept of speciation and hyper evolution since the time of Noah's Ark. The challenge arises in reconciling the rapid diversification of species post-Flood with limited initial genetic diversity. Moreover, the idea of hyperspeciation to condense evolution into a short timeframe raises questions about extinctions and ecological viability. These discussions delve into the interplay between scientific evidence, theological perspectives, and practical implications of evolutionary processes.
Recent developments in the YECist world, according to a scientist who’s been watching them closely for two decades
In this episode, we talk to Dr. Joel Duff: a professor doing biological research at a secular state university, and teaching students that come from the Bible belt of the USA. He’s been a popular blogger for twenty years, and more recently the host of a YouTube channel with an impressive following, both of which are focused primarily on examining and pushing back on YECist claims. If there’s any arm’s-length expert on all-things-Ken-Ham-and-Answers-in-Genesis (AiG), Dr. Duff is the one.
We covered a lot of ground in our discussion with Joel:
his recent introspective posts on his own identity, his core theology, and his goal/mission for the blogs and videos he produces
why is he so focused on AiG and Ken Ham? … answer: “because they’re the ten-ton gorilla in the YECist game”
in 2022, AiG reported $62M in annual revenue (roughly three times Eerdman’s; almost as much as Zondervan’s) plus $112M in assets … they’re building a multi-media empire!?
with so much excess cash on hand (~$20M above expenses, every year), why don’t they invest in some high-quality scientific experts who can speak with actual expertise and authority to the YECist topics which they address? [answer: such experts with a YECist worldview don’t exist!?]
instead, in addition to the Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter, they’re using the extra cash to build a replica of the Tower of Babel. Literally! Seriously! Here are two posts that AiG themselves released in 2021 and in 2022 announcing this development.
despite not having qualified experts to promote the scientific claims they make, they are nonetheless able to comprehend the criticisms against their claims (in other words, they’re not just blind to their own folly); Joel told an interesting story about how a colleague transformed one of AiG’s posts ridiculing Flat Earthers by replacing the word “flat” with “young” and turned AiG’s own article into a perfectly cogent argument against YECism!? Here’s a link to the original story and a link to Joel’s own unpacking of that story.
how does Joel deal with the frustration of YECist leaders/speakers who do not work within the scientific areas on which they pontificate, while he himself does?
why was YECism introduced, and why has it become so widely accepted and popular? [the answer lies in some history from the 1800s]
AiG’s primary motivating factor is that the Theory of Evolution is the root of all of society’s problems (homosexuality; abortion; crime; corruption)
is YECism growing, or dying out? While the numbers might be going down, the fervor of those persisting has not!
is home-schooling part of the problem? It was, but fewer people are opting for that: however, AiG are stepping into the gap by creating all kinds of educational curriculum for school systems!?
young people are being recruited and groomed to become YECist ambassadors, but in the process of dissecting the arguments for Evolution in order to come up with counterarguments …. they end up becoming convinced and then leave that YECist worldview (often even rejecting Christianity entirely)
recent changes in the leadership level at AiG: Ken Ham isn’t getting younger, so who’s standing in the wings?
recent changes in some of their talking points:
growing emphasis on societal issues
hyperspeciation (hundreds of millions of years of evolution being condensed down into a few thousand years!?)
a greater appeal to miracles in order to deal with scientific criticisms
recent changes at the membership / adherents level? …. diminishing? … youth today are changing their focus
how do we respond to YECists in our personal, daily interactions (family, friends, colleagues)?
a few words about the Institute for Creation Research, and the Discovery Institute (headquarters for Intelligent Design).
