The Ark Park is hiring

Posted 14 April 2016 by Matt Young

Answers in Genesis is advertising a whole slew of jobs, but you do not have to read very far between the lines to realize that the hirees will be "detailed" to the Ark Park, presumably because AIG, as a religious organization, is allowed to discriminate on the basis of religion. I do not know why they are bothering, because recently a Kentucky judge ruled, in effect, that it was legal for the Ark Park itself to discriminate on the basis of religion, and there is no chance that the state will appeal. For the uninitiated, Ark Encounter (the legal name of the Ark Park) is a for-profit corporation, though it is apparently owned by Answers in Genesis. In order to get a tax break, Ark Encounter had been prohibited from discriminating on the basis of religion. Indeed, as we reported here, they purported to

provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, sex, age, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, citizenship status, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status. [Emphasis added.]

Nevertheless we predicted some shenanigans here

... it appears as if AIG plans to hire someone to work not for AIG, but for its subsidiary, Ark Encounter, that is, that AIG wants to apply a religious test to an employee who on paper works at AIG but in fact works at Ark Encounter. You might say that they are planning to launder the position so that the religious test can be applied where it ought not be applicable.

and here

In other words, Ark Encounter's tax incentives will be restored, if only they pledge in writing that they will not discriminate in employment. Ark Encounter has so far declined to give such assurance, which makes a body speculate that they just might be thinking of laundering all Ark Encounter employment through Answers in Genesis in order to circumvent the law.

I checked the job listings, and, sure enough, the jobs are apparently located at "(WILLIAMSTOWN, KY/ARK ...)," even though the employer appears to be AIG. Additionally, AIG applies a religious test. For example, a senior network administrator has to have

Ability to communicate technical issues and concepts to a broad range of technical and non-technical staff with Christ-like kindness and tact ... Most importantly, a proven firmness in their walk with Christ, and a passion for technical skill for the glory of God.

A grounds maintenance technician has to supply "Salvation testimony. Creation belief statement. Confirmation of agreement with the AiG Statement of Faith." Other occupations that I checked had similar requirements. I cannot immediately find a forthright statement by Ark Encounter that they will not discriminate on the basis of religion, but the mayor of Williamstown certainly thought so:

...The city supports the Ark and is pleased that it is locating in Williamstown. The Ark Encounter will not require anyone to sign a statement of faith. I agree with you that it is a requirement of employment at the Creation Museum [presumably as opposed to the Ark Park] ...

according to a Facebook posting on March 6, 2013, which an informant very kindly sent me. I do not know whether anyone piped up to disillusion the mayor. Finally, while figuratively thumbing through old Panda's Thumb articles, I came across my own 2011 article, Ark Park goes nowhere, in which I predicted that the groundbreaking would take place in 250,000 years:

My own estimate is that their timescale is skewed by their belief that the Earth is around 5000 years old. It is in fact more like 5 billion years old. Thus, if we take 3-4 months and multiply it by the ratio of 5 billion years to 5000 years, we estimate that the groundbreaking ceremony will take place in 3 million months, or 250,000 years.

LEO Weekly was more modest and estimated 2024. Read very carefully, because this may be the first time that a pundit has ever admitted error: However reasonable my prediction -- and they had raised very little money at the time -- I was severely mistaken, and the Ark Park will open on July 7, 2016. If that is not a miracle, nothing is.
_____ Note added in proof, so to speak. Dylan Lovan of the Associated Press reports today that the Ark Park will hire approximately 300-400 people; they must be Christians, but apparently almost any denomination will suffice (see, however, the requirements for the grounds maintenance technician, above). I do not know whether all these positions will be laundered through AIG.

23 Comments

https://me.yahoo.com/a/JxVN0eQFqtmgoY7wC1cZM44ET_iAanxHQmLgYgX_Zhn8#57cad · 14 April 2016

The Ark Park: Because when we think of fun, the Bible is first to come to mind.

Sounds about as fun as the Creation "Museum."

Glen Davidson

Karen Spivey · 15 April 2016

Ability to communicate technical issues and concepts to a broad range of technical and non-technical staff with Christ-like kindness and tact â¦ Most importantly, a proven firmness in their walk with Christ, and a passion for technical skill for the glory of God.

But they will exclude most Christians also. Make no mistake: they want fundamentalists.

DS · 15 April 2016

It's the same old story. They want to preach their brand of religion, but they want the government to pay for it. They want the government to sanction it. And they don't want any other religion to get the same treatment. They are liars and charlatans and frauds and they want the government to pay for them to lie to young children about science.

TomS · 15 April 2016

"Christ-like ... tact"

Was Christ a model of tact?

Just Bob · 15 April 2016

TomS said: "Christ-like ... tact" Was Christ a model of tact?

Well, it's not "Be extremely tactful, because Jesus was." It's more like "Practice the same kind of tact that Jesus did when committing assault and mayhem on people in the temple." That would be "Christ-like tact." IOW, if someone does something you don't like--wearing a darwin-fish tee shirt, say--throw them out physically, with a little extra violence along the way. Training materials will include video clips of Trump rallies.

harold · 15 April 2016

Ken Ham has a track record of treating Christians who don't deny evolution in a very non-tactful way. He literally got kicked out of a home-schooling conference for his behavior toward some Biologos types. When the creationist gets himself kicked out of a home-schooling convention for being too rude to the "evolutionist", you know that had to be something.

As far as the Ark Encounter, Ham found a way to get tax subsidies designed for for-profit businesses while violating anti-discrimination laws. It's a rather complex way, though. First you try to discriminate and get sued by the state. Then you end up in front of a backwoods judge who defies the law in your favor. Then one more step is needed. A wingnut Republican governor is elected and shuts down what would have been an inevitable appeal. So it's kind of a "perfect storm" method that needs multiple things to go right at once to work.

Doc Bill · 15 April 2016

Christ-like tact means no criticism, no dissent, total obedience. Christ-like tact is the same as Christian racism. The most disturbing aspect of all this is how Hambo has manipulated the government of Kentucky.

Masterful, really. Totally what the country would be like under Biblical fanatics like Cruz. You think it couldn't happen but look at Hambo in Kentucky. Total victory.

Palaeonictis · 16 April 2016

Ark Park should be classified as a corporation, not a "non-profit". You see the AIG website? There's advertisements all over the place, including some for Ham's own "books" on "creation science". You have to donate in order to make a prayer for AIG, suggesting that AIG is more concerned for money than God.

Then again, it's not surprising, either. Creationists have been making big bucks off of people's gullibility for decades, one wonders how Ham is able to afford their "museum" with all of its extravagant creationist paraphernalia.

alicejohn · 16 April 2016

Sounds about as fun as the Creation "Museum."

You think? The creation museum has a museum, zip lines, and a petting zoo for $30 per person. The Ark Park will have a bigger museum that looks like a boat, zip lines and a petting zoo for $40 per person plus $10 to park.

https://me.yahoo.com/a/JxVN0eQFqtmgoY7wC1cZM44ET_iAanxHQmLgYgX_Zhn8#57cad · 16 April 2016

alicejohn said:
Sounds about as fun as the Creation "Museum."
You think? The creation museum has a museum, zip lines, and a petting zoo for $30 per person. The Ark Park will have a bigger museum that looks like a boat, zip lines and a petting zoo for $40 per person plus $10 to park.

Don't forget the mind-rot. They can take you back to the ignorance existing millenia ago. A "way-back" machine for the determinedly ignorant. Glen Davidson

DavidK · 16 April 2016

alicejohn said:
Sounds about as fun as the Creation "Museum."
You think? The creation museum has a museum, zip lines, and a petting zoo for $30 per person. The Ark Park will have a bigger museum that looks like a boat, zip lines and a petting zoo for $40 per person plus $10 to park.

Don't forget the refreshments at the Dino Burgers Cafe($$$)!

stevaroni · 16 April 2016

Palaeonictis said: Ark Park should be classified as a corporation, not a "non-profit".

Wait five years. Given the struggle to finance construction costs and the laughably optimistic visitor estimates I somehow suspect that we'll see "non-profit" soon enough, though, perhaps not in the sense the labor laws use it.

Palaeonictis · 16 April 2016

stevaroni said:
Palaeonictis said: Ark Park should be classified as a corporation, not a "non-profit".
Wait five years. Given the struggle to finance construction costs and the laughably optimistic visitor estimates I somehow suspect that we'll see "non-profit" soon enough, though, perhaps not in the sense the labor laws use it.

Bankrupt Ark. I wonder what Noah did to get the funds to build his ark, especially since it was concrete reinforced, of course with electricity, running water, etc. I mean, how the hell would've Noah entertained himself without browsing porn on the Internet (wink, wink). And the sanitation system, how else would all the animals' excrement get where they need to be, of course, unless Noah was a shit fetishist.

Ken Phelps · 20 April 2016

DavidK said:
alicejohn said:
Sounds about as fun as the Creation "Museum."
You think? The creation museum has a museum, zip lines, and a petting zoo for $30 per person. The Ark Park will have a bigger museum that looks like a boat, zip lines and a petting zoo for $40 per person plus $10 to park.
Don't forget the refreshments at the Dino Burgers Cafe($$$)!

Dino burgers? Are dinosaurs clean? Still, Leviticus notwithstanding, a safer bet than the Every Creeping Thing chili.

W. H. Heydt · 20 April 2016

Palaeonictis said:
stevaroni said:
Palaeonictis said: Ark Park should be classified as a corporation, not a "non-profit".
Wait five years. Given the struggle to finance construction costs and the laughably optimistic visitor estimates I somehow suspect that we'll see "non-profit" soon enough, though, perhaps not in the sense the labor laws use it.
Bankrupt Ark. I wonder what Noah did to get the funds to build his ark, especially since it was concrete reinforced, of course with electricity, running water, etc. I mean, how the hell would've Noah entertained himself without browsing porn on the Internet (wink, wink). And the sanitation system, how else would all the animals' excrement get where they need to be, of course, unless Noah was a shit fetishist.

Simple: Other People's Money. Once The Flood hit, there was no need to pay the creditors so he didn't even have to go through bankruptcy. Ham will not be so lucky.

W. H. Heydt · 20 April 2016

Ken Phelps said:
DavidK said:
alicejohn said:
Sounds about as fun as the Creation "Museum."
You think? The creation museum has a museum, zip lines, and a petting zoo for $30 per person. The Ark Park will have a bigger museum that looks like a boat, zip lines and a petting zoo for $40 per person plus $10 to park.
Don't forget the refreshments at the Dino Burgers Cafe($$$)!
Dino burgers? Are dinosaurs clean? Still, Leviticus notwithstanding, a safer bet than the Every Creeping Thing chili.

Chicken sandwiches.

Just Bob · 20 April 2016

Ken Phelps said: ... a safer bet than the Every Creeping Thing chili.

Hey! That's my mom's recipe you're trashing!

harold · 20 April 2016

Are dinosaurs clean?

I'm pretty sure chicken soup can be kosher.

Simple: Other Peopleâs Money. Once The Flood hit, there was no need to pay the creditors so he didnât even have to go through bankruptcy. Ham will not be so lucky.

Technically, going bankrupt does mean not paying back the creditors. Ham already built it with other peoples' money. I doubt if Ham's personal finances are at risk. Also please note that if income from operations does not meet expense, but additional income from donations and taxpayers is provided, bankruptcy will not technically be necessary.

nobodythatmatters · 20 April 2016

Doc Bill said: Christ-like tact means no criticism, no dissent, total obedience.

so pretty much the complete opposite of the biblical description of jesus and his behaviour.

alicejohn · 22 April 2016

Since Ken Ham has no sense of humor, I wonder how bent out of shape he is going to get about this: http://thegoodlordabove.com/articles/details/235

Before you get too excited: http://thegoodlordabove.com/cmspages/index/1

Dave Luckett · 22 April 2016

Are dinosaurs kosher?

Well, now. No, is the first approximation. Even sauropods had distinct toes, and were plantigrade. Since they didn't have hooves, whether they chewed the cud or not is irrelevant. They did not "divide the hoof", and so were not kosher.

Ah, but some dinosaurs were protobirds. Could they be kosher?

Probably not, since the small feathered dinosaurs were predatory on animals larger than insects, and all predatory birds are unclean. In any case, nothing is kosher unless a rabbinical council of some standing says it is.

So Noah only had to take a pair of each 'kind' of dinosaur, rather than seven. I'm sure that was a great relief to his mind.

richard09 · 28 April 2016

Perhaps they should hire these guys.
http://arkofnoah.org/
I was impressed to see that they think this ark can get from the Netherlands to South America. Then I saw "People will see the barge on which the Ark of Noah will be mounted for the crossing of the Atlantic Ocean." {facepalm}

https://me.yahoo.com/a/FsE6q2Ipovy90IEE8xfYOhcyWoAX#08385 · 2 May 2016

I have no problem with them wanting to hire Christians for a Christian theme park. After all, if you're teaching photography, you want a photographer. But what the hell is the state doing supplying funding? I think our ire should be directed at the public officials who made this happen. Of course, making fun of Christian beliefs is so much easier...