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from the you-both-get-dirty-and-the-pig-likes-it dept.
McGruber writes:
"Following up on the Bil Nye and Ken Ham debate on Creationism, Creation Museum founder Ken Ham announced Thursday that a municipal bond offering has raised enough money to begin construction on the Ark Encounter project, estimated to cost about $73 million. Groundbreaking is planned for May and the ark is expected to be finished by the summer of 2016. Ham credits the high-profile evolution debate he had with "Science Guy" Bill Nye on Feb. 4 with boosting support for the project.
After learning that the project would move forward, Nye said he was 'heartbroken and sickened for the Commonwealth of Kentucky,' lamenting that the ark would eventually draw more attention to the beliefs of Ham's Young-earth Creationist ministry. 'Voters and taxpayers in Kentucky will eventually see that this is not in their best interest.' Nye hopes."
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Ezber Bozmak on Saturday March 01 2014, @07:16PM
It is better to be known as an atheist and leave it at that because those who come to their doubts about religion on their own
I think what you wrote is an irrational belief rooted in confirmation bias. The problem here, as in much of life, is that there are no easy answers. Frequently there is no choice available that will have a perfect outcome. As you recognized, Nye's engagement with Ham was never going to change the minds of the fanatics. That option wasn't even on the table. But what was on the table was the potential to influence fence-sitters and anyone else who simply hadn't though very deeply about the issue because that's all the heard growing up. Mainly kids and teens who may be per-disposed to doubt and just need a means to make that doubt more concrete.
You know the saying, "Two steps forward, one step back?" People tend to say that in frustration, but that ignores the fact that the net is still one step forward. This bond issue is the "one step back" and the kids - who have no say in bond issues - are the two steps forward. You just won't see their impact for years.
Besides, who is to say that this ark bond won't turn into a boondoggle and end up getting Ken Ham drummed out of town? That he hasn't bit off more than he can chew? As the bible says, "pride comes before the fall."