Skeptic Friends Network

Username:
Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?
Home | Forums | Active Topics | Active Polls | Register | FAQ | Contact Us  
  Connect: Chat | SFN Messenger | Buddy List | Members
Personalize: Profile | My Page | Forum Bookmarks  
 All Forums
 Our Skeptic Forums
 Media Issues
 Religion at Science Museums
 New Topic  Topic Locked
 Printer Friendly Bookmark this Topic BookMark Topic
Author Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  

leoofno
Skeptic Friend

USA
346 Posts

Posted - 01/08/2007 :  06:18:55  Show Profile Send leoofno a Private Message
The family went to the Louisiana Art and Science Museum yesterday (http://www.lasm.org/). Its in Baton Rouge and has a planetarium. We went for two main reasons: catch a planetarium show and check out the Egyptian exhibit. I was already disappointed in the place because I knew from their web site that one of the shows being offered was "The Star of Bethelehem". From the description: "Join us on a journey in search of the celestial object that led the wise men to the Christ Child. Along the way, this program answers questions about who the wise men were, where they came from, and what they saw in the night sky so long ago..."

The thought of a planetarium presenting as fact something so obviously non-historical and mythical was annoying (we saw "Adrenaline Rush: The Science of Risk" which was OK). Just as bad was their Egyptian time line, which included "Moses leads the Israelites from Egypt" sometime after "Building of the Great Pyramids" but before ... well, I'm not sure because I stopped reading at thet point.

Two obviously non-historical religious myths treated as fact. In a science museum. I know I'm in the deep south and the museum probably has to pander to the religious to make a buck, and its Christmas and all, but... but.... grrrrrr.

Please tell me it ain't so up North!

"If you're not terrified, you're not paying attention." Eric Alterman

beskeptigal
SFN Die Hard

USA
3834 Posts

Posted - 01/08/2007 :  13:14:29   [Permalink]  Show Profile Send beskeptigal a Private Message
I doubt they were pandering as much as the museum board being convinced themselves. I wonder if museum curator is on the list of positions to fill with Evangelicals like they are actively trying to fill school boards and federal judgeships? Probably just a result of the percentage of believers in that town.

These guys are graduating from universities still maintaining their denial in evolution and the age of the Earth and believing science supports their position.




Go to Top of Page

leoofno
Skeptic Friend

USA
346 Posts

Posted - 01/08/2007 :  20:55:02   [Permalink]  Show Profile Send leoofno a Private Message
Seems like its been going on a long time, up north too. See http://www.bautforum.com/showthread.php?p=894831

Seems like its mostly to bring the folks in and get 'em interested in astronomy. Probably not a bad idea. Still, it rubs me the wrong way.

"If you're not terrified, you're not paying attention." Eric Alterman
Go to Top of Page

beskeptigal
SFN Die Hard

USA
3834 Posts

Posted - 01/09/2007 :  05:29:39   [Permalink]  Show Profile Send beskeptigal a Private Message
Don't blame you.


Go to Top of Page

Cuneiformist
The Imperfectionist

USA
4955 Posts

Posted - 01/09/2007 :  19:11:01   [Permalink]  Show Profile Send Cuneiformist a Private Message
I wouldn't be too upset about this leoofno. Whether we like it or not, some serious scholars-- astronomers, Egyptologists, biblical scholars, etc.-- have tried to find evidence for things like the Exodus or to date the birth of Jesus with celestial events. This doesn't mean they're right (or, for that matter, wrong), and the results of such investigations have always obviously been tentative at best. But I don't think it hurst to put the results of such investigations out there for people to think about, even if they're more likely myth and legend than historical fact.
Go to Top of Page

AbortedJesus
New Member

USA
1 Post

Posted - 02/26/2007 :  00:55:49   [Permalink]  Show Profile Send AbortedJesus a Private Message
I'm not surprised. They probably added it in without knowing. If you're part of a religion long enough, you become numb to that type of stuff.
Go to Top of Page

Dr. Mabuse
Septic Fiend

Sweden
9688 Posts

Posted - 02/26/2007 :  08:00:20   [Permalink]  Show Profile  Send Dr. Mabuse an ICQ Message Send Dr. Mabuse a Private Message
Hello AbortedJesus and welcome to Skeptic Friends Network!

Dr. Mabuse - "When the going gets tough, the tough get Duct-tape..."
Dr. Mabuse whisper.mp3

"Equivocation is not just a job, for a creationist it's a way of life..." Dr. Mabuse

Support American Troops in Iraq:
Send them unarmed civilians for target practice..
Collateralmurder.
Edited by - Dr. Mabuse on 02/26/2007 08:00:39
Go to Top of Page
  Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  
 New Topic  Topic Locked
 Printer Friendly Bookmark this Topic BookMark Topic
Jump To:

The mission of the Skeptic Friends Network is to promote skepticism, critical thinking, science and logic as the best methods for evaluating all claims of fact, and we invite active participation by our members to create a skeptical community with a wide variety of viewpoints and expertise.


Home | Skeptic Forums | Skeptic Summary | The Kil Report | Creation/Evolution | Rationally Speaking | Skeptillaneous | About Skepticism | Fan Mail | Claims List | Calendar & Events | Skeptic Links | Book Reviews | Gift Shop | SFN on Facebook | Staff | Contact Us

Skeptic Friends Network
© 2008 Skeptic Friends Network Go To Top Of Page
This page was generated in 0.06 seconds.
Powered by @tomic Studio
Snitz Forums 2000