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leoofno
Skeptic Friend
USA
346 Posts |
 Posted - 01/08/2007 : 06:18:55
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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!
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"If you're not terrified, you're not paying attention." Eric Alterman
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beskeptigal
SFN Die Hard
USA
3834 Posts |
Posted - 01/08/2007 : 13:14:29 [Permalink]
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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.
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leoofno
Skeptic Friend
USA
346 Posts |
Posted - 01/08/2007 : 20:55:02 [Permalink]
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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
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beskeptigal
SFN Die Hard
USA
3834 Posts |
Posted - 01/09/2007 : 05:29:39 [Permalink]
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Don't blame you.
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Cuneiformist
The Imperfectionist
USA
4955 Posts |
Posted - 01/09/2007 : 19:11:01 [Permalink]
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| 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. |
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AbortedJesus
New Member
USA
1 Post |
Posted - 02/26/2007 : 00:55:49 [Permalink]
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| 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. |
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Dr. Mabuse
Septic Fiend
Sweden
9687 Posts |
Posted - 02/26/2007 : 08:00:20 [Permalink]
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| 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 |
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