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Answers in Genesis ('''AiG''') is a non-profit . Answers in Genesis believes that "the scientific aspects of creation are important, but are secondary in importance to the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as Sovereign, Creator, Redeemer and Judge," and that " doctrines of Creator and Creation cannot ultimately be divorced from the Gospel of Jesus Christ." [http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/about/faith.asp The organization had offices in Australia , Canada , New Zealand , South Africa , the United Kingdom , and the United States . In 2006 all but the US and UK branches became known as ''Creation Ministries International''. AiG and CMI employ staff of Christian Evangelical s, some of whom have earned Doctorates from secular universities in various sciences, including Biology , Geology , and Astrophysics . In 2000, its quarterly magazine, ''Creation'' had subscribers in 140 countries, with 60,000 copies of each issue produced. [http://www1.auspost.com.au/priority/index.asp?issue_id=13&area=features&article_id=285 In September 2004, its website, which is available in English and a number of other languages, had 35,000–47,000 visits per day. [http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs2004/0914search_engine.asp] HISTORY Answers in Genesis was started in Australia in the late 1970s by John Mackay, Ken Ham , and others who believed that the established Christian church's teaching of the Bible was being compromised in the face of ever-increasing attacks by Secularists . The organisation was then known as ''Creation Science Educational Media Services'', which later merged with the Creation Science Association to become the ''Creation Science Foundation'' (CSF). In 1978, a separate Australian organisation started by Dr. , as opposed to empirical: :TJ is dedicated to upholding the authority of the 66 books of the Bible especially in the area of origins. All members of the Editorial Team adhere to the Answers in Genesis (AiG) Statement of Faith and most papers will be designed to support this. {Link without Title} In 1987, Ken Ham was seconded by CSF to work for the Institute For Creation Research in the United States , then in 1994 left ICR to found ''Answers In Genesis'' (USA). Later that year, CSF in Australia and other countries changed their names to ''Answers In Genesis''. In February 2006, Answers in Genesis USA became independent (together with the UK office), retaining the brand name and the website. The Australian office, along with the Canadian, New Zealand and South African branches, rebranded as ''Creation Ministries International''. CMI continues the publication of ''Creation'' and ''Journal of Creation'' and now has a website under that name. Answers in Genesis publishes books and multimedia resources, as well as a website featuring articles and papers. In June 2006 Answers in Genesis is launching an American alternative to CMI's ''Creation Magazine'', named ''Creation Answers''. It will no longer be distributing the former magazine in America. Answers in Genesis is also expanding into the non-English speaking world with translations and outreach ministry. TEACHINGS AND BELIEFS Methodology Answers in Genesis describes their Biblical Hermeneutical Method as "plain" (or sometimes " Historical-grammatical "), rather than "literal": :Simply put, our bottom line is that the proper interpretation of Scripture is to take it "plainly", meaning "as the author intended it to be understood by the original audience". This incorporates a literal interpretation of a literal context, poetic interpretation of poetic context, etc. This is covered in depth in the article "Should Genesis be taken literally?" {Link without Title} :E.g., with Genesis, we can tell it is meant to be historic narrative because it has all the grammatical features of Hebrew narrative, e.g., the first verb is a ''qatal'' (historic perfect), and the verbs that move the narrative forward are ''wayyiqtols'' (''waw'' consecutives); it contains many "accusative particles" that mark the objects of verbs; and terms are often carefully defined. {Link without Title} Apologetic method Answers in Genesis emphasizes a or presuppositions, which govern how the evidence is interpreted. Thus their view is a form of Critical Realism . They believe, for example, a scientist with the presupposition of billions of years will interpret the Grand Canyon as an example of slow, drawn-out erosion. In contrast, they suggest a Young Earth Creationist will see this as a rapid formation by catastrophic quantities of water. Answers in Genesis claims that an understanding of the legitimate biases people hold helps us to better discern between actual evidence and possibly faulty interpretations of the evidence. {Link without Title} Answers in Genesis says that neither view can be scientifically proved nor disproved, and they seek to show the evidence better fits with creation than evolution. Answers in Genesis presents scientific arguments to support their primarily theological views of origins. {Link without Title} Many of their arguments against biological evolution are similar to those of the Intelligent Design movement, whose position they do not fully agree with (such as disagreeing with the ID movement's views on the age of the Earth). VIEWS ON COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY Answers in Genesis believes that all stars and planetary bodies were likely formed around 6000 years ago, contemporaneously with Earth. They dispute the Big Bang and Inflationary theories of the beginning of the Universe that require its age to be billions of years.[http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/faq/astronomy.asp#big_bang A young universe is challenged by the , similar to Modern Geocentrists , whose position Answers in Genesis officially rejects. {Link without Title} MORALITY AND SOCIAL ISSUES Science education Answers in Genesis does not support laws or school board standards that would force the teaching of creationism in public schools. It is their position that forcing a teacher to present the theory of creation will only result in it being distorted by those who don't believe in it.[https://www.answersingenesis.org/docs2002/0107ed_bill.asp]. Instead of trying to change how evolution is taught in the public schools in what Answers in Genesis CEO regarding this subject.[http://www.answersingenesis.org/us/newsletters/1102lead.asp][http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs2002/0107ed_bill.asp] Life issues Answers in Genesis takes a strong research, but support Somatic/adult Stem Cell research which does not require the death of fetuses. {Link without Title} Homosexuality Answers in Genesis defends marriage as one man and one woman for life, based on Genesis 1:27 and Genesis 2:24 , which s, or rejection of the sinner, as opposed to the sin."[http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/feedback/2004/0206.asp] Evolution and race Answers in Genesis also connects belief in evolutionary theory with the , the Colonization of the New World, Pogrom s or the burning of tens of thousands of women as witches) was clearly misinterpreting the Bible's intent (e.g., Jesus says to love your enemies and bless them that curse you - in the Antithesis Of The Law ). {Link without Title} Merged with this approach is the concurrence between Answers in Genesis and some scientists that " Race " is a meaningless construct, which Answers in Genesis sees as supported by scripture. Using this line of argument, Answers in Genesis argues that Creationism, along with other Biblical teachings, is the only true answer to the social problem of racism, and that evolution has (and still does) promote racism {Link without Title} . To support this view, Answers in Genesis cites selections from early twentieth century biology textbooks (such as ''Hunter's Civic Biology'', the textbook used in the Scopes Trial ) which illustrate the close connection between theories of Eugenics and theories of evolution. Although historically evolution has been used to support Eugenics , Scientific Racism is no longer accepted by most mainstream biologists. See also Race Death and suffering It is Answers in Genesis' position that God is sovereign and is in control of every event that occurs.[http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs2002/death_suffering.asp] Answers in Genesis admits that tragic events such as the September 11th attacks and the Indian Ocean tsunami which killed hundred of thousands of people, while having direct connections to the actions of individual terrorists or shifting tectonic plates, are under the control of God who they believe is "the sovereign of the universe—the One who is continually upholding the entire cosmos with the Word of His power".[http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs2004/1230tsunami.asp]. They allege that this is a result of original sin. Answers in Genesis rejects the implications that untimely deaths and suffering are always the direct result of an individual's sins and cite passages from the Bible as examples where these were sometimes linked to a greater purpose of God.[http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs2002/death_suffering.asp] Culture and media Answers in Genesis has accused , Lilo And Stitch , Bugs Bunny , Fantasia and Finding Nemo . {Link without Title} . TAX-EXEMPT STATUS Answers in Genesis-US is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code in the United States of America. {Link without Title} . The website of WCPO TV has reported that in 2003, Answers in Genesis-US "did not meet all of the Business Bureau's accountability standards" (emphasis in original) [http://www.wcpo.com/wcpo/localshows/iteam/charitycheck.html]. Bill Wise, then CEO of Answers in Genesis, answered that this was due to a "miscommunication, understanding regarding document submittals back in August of 2002." (ibid [http://www.wcpo.com/wcpo/localshows/iteam/charitycheck.html]) Answers in Genesis-US is now listed as meeting each of the Better Business Bureau's 19 standards for charitable accountability [http://search.cincinnati.bbb.org/default3.asp?strTheForm=2&ID=1&strBCode=02920000&ComID=0292000005001292]. THE CREATION MUSEUM In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Answers in Genesis in the United States started planning and constructing a ''Creation Museum'' in Petersburg, Kentucky , near the Greater Cincinnati International Airport , which will be used to explain Young-Earth Creationist beliefs. According to Ham, "One of the main reasons we moved there was because we are within one hour's flight of 69 per cent of America's population." {Link without Title} Amongst its various displays and exhibits, the museum is being designed to include life-size and even Animatronic (animated and motion-sensitive) Dinosaur s, large movie screens showing a young-earth history of the world, a technologically superior Planetarium depicting Creationist Cosmologies and creationist interpretations of Quantum Physics , and a life-size model of Noah's Ark housing a conference center and hotel rooms. Dinosaur s believed by young-earth creationists to have existed in the Garden Of Eden will be depicted. {Link without Title} The expected cost of the building, interior designs, and exhibits is around US $25 million. As of November 2005, $18.3 million has been raised in donations and the museum is expected to open in the spring of 2007. Answers in Genesis' success in raising donations for the museum was contrasted with the failure of the American Museum Of Natural History to find corporate sponsorship for their exhibit on the life of Charles Darwin , because, according to the ''Daily Telegraph'', "American companies are anxious not to take sides in the heated debate between scientists and fundamentalist Christians over the theory of evolution." [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/11/20/wdarwin20.xml&sSheet=/portal/2005/11/20/ixportal.html AWARDS National Religious Broadcasters awarded Answers in Genesis (Hebron, KY) their Best Ministry Website award in 2006. {Link without Title} CRITICISMS No Answers In Genesis is a site maintained by members of Australian Skeptics led by retired civil servant John Stear for the purpose of rebutting Answers in Genesis. In June 2005, Answers in Genesis-Australia staff scientists debated a team from the Australian Skeptics online on Margo Kingston 's web diary section of the '' Sydney Morning Herald '' website. {Link without Title} Answers in Genesis has compiled a list of "scientists alive today who accept the biblical account of creation" to show that it is possible for a modern working scientist to accept creationism {Link without Title} . They use the criteria that each member of the list must have a doctorate in a scientific field. In response to this, and similar lists, the (US) National Center For Science Education 's '' Project Steve '' (after Stephen Jay Gould ) is a tongue in cheek list of scientists who accept evolution, whose first name is Stephen (or some derivative, such as Steven, or Stephanie). The idea being that evolution is so well accepted by mainstream scientists that even a list of Steves will outnumber any creationist list. Answers in Genesis' list currently has 154 signatories while as of February 16th, 2006 there are 700 "Steves" on the NCSE list. CONTROVERSY OVER INTERVIEW WITH RICHARD DAWKINS In 1998, Answers in Genesis filmed an interview . In an article by the Australian Skeptics {Link without Title} , it was alleged that the film was carefully edited to give the false appearance that Dawkins was unable to answer the question and that the segment that shows him pausing for 11 seconds was actually film of him considering whether to expel the interviewer from the room (for not revealing her creationist sympathies at the outset). Dawkins reported to the Australian Skeptics that the interviewer shown in the finished film was not the same person as the person who had originally asked the questions. Furthermore, it was claimed that the question had been subsequently changed to make it look like Dawkins, who was answering the original question put to him, was unable to answer. Answers in Genesis has responded in an article Skeptics choke on Frog: Was Dawkins caught on the hop? . According to their account, the raw footage shows that Dawkins, who had previously been informed of the interviewer's creationist sympathies, was asked the same question and could not answer. The video merely has the exact question, faint on the raw footage, re-stated for clarity. DEFINITIONS, PROBABILITY AND NATURAL SELECTION Answers in Genesis' view is that Darwinian Evolution is not a theory of How Life Began but rather a theory of the variability in life through natural processes. Answers in Genesis focuses heavily on proving the odds of the Origin Of Life are virtually impossible, where life is defined as the first cell. Answers in Genesis alleges that while the idea of , which widely accepts the scientific theory of Evolution . {Link without Title} Scientists and other critics of creationism have pointed out that the mechanisms of evolution such as Natural Selection can occur prior to the first cell. Selection of self replicating macromolecules, such as RNA {Link without Title} , {Link without Title} , cumulate small probabilities and such creationist combinatorial analysis does not account for the true possibilities of life evolving to become a cell. Probability arguments that require the abiogenesis of a cell are criticized as artificially limiting the biological and prebiotic mechanisms in the development of life. Answers in Genesis has written at a number of articles about and Polyploidy are examples where new information is available for the selection of new functions. EXTERNAL LINKS
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