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CMI's statement of faith stresses that
CMI staff includes Ph.D. scientists, such as Dr Don Batten PhD Dr [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/3497 . CMI also operates with volunteer support. CMI publishes the popular ''Creation'' magazine as well as a peer-reviewed technical ''Journal of Creation''. ''Creation'' has 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 ''Creation'' is published four times a year, and boasts no paid advertising. The ''Journal of Creation'' is published three times a year. HISTORY In 1977, the Creation Science Association (CSA) was organized in Adelaide, Australia by Carl Wieland . In 1978 the organization began the magazine ''Ex Nihilo'' (from the Latin phrase ''Creatio ex nihilo'', meaning "Creation out of nothing"). Soon after, the Creation Science Foundation (CSF) {Link without Title} took over production of ''Ex Nihilo'' (later renaming it ''Creation Ex Nihilo'', and eventually simply ''Creation''). In 1984, CSF started the ''Ex Nihilo Technical Journal'' for more in-depth analysis of creation issues (it was later renamed ''Creation Ex Nihilo Technical Journal'', then simply ''TJ'', and now the ''Journal of Creation''). In the mid-1990s, , New Zealand , South Africa , and the United Kingdom . In late 2005/early 2006, the US and UK offices of Answers in Genesis had differences in operating philosophy with the Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, and South African offices. "At that time, in the midst of discussions about this and other differences in operating philosophy (not involving the statement of faith or similar), the Australian office was formally invited to form its own website." To avoid confusion in similarly named websites, the latter four offices had to rebrand under the name ''Creation Ministries International''. [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/42/60/] While the new direction of AiG involves a focus on "culturally relevant, apologetics-based" ministry "with an enhanced worldview emphasis",[http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/about/history.asp] CMI retains its scientific and Presuppositional (rather than Evidential ) emphasis.[http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/2641/] As of late 2006, CMI established offices in the UK and USA. CMI now distributes ''Creation'' magazine and the ''Journal of Creation'' in the USA themselves,[http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/4102/102/ while Answers In Genesis distributes its own ''Answers'' magazine [http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/am]. In late 2006, AiG-USA and CMI became engaged in a legal dispute that "alleges that Ken Ham and his evangelical group, Answers in Genesis, violated a 1993 agreement to distribute two magazines produced by the Australian-based Creation Ministries International" using "database containing the names and addresses of 39,000 subscribers to the two Australian-produced magazines - "Creation Magazine" and "The Journal of Creation" - to distribute his own magazine, "Answers," in December 2005." [http://www.kentucky.com/471/story/103907.html] However, both AiG and CMI stress that they have no doctrinal dispute [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/4769/]. APPROACH TO SCIENCE AND EDUCATION Science CMI has a very high regard for science and the scientific method which often surprises critics. For example, some people are surprised to learn that Creationists fully agree with Natural Selection, seeing it as essential to biology. CMI freely admits their religious bias, and point out that all scientists have biases which influence their research, even if they are unwilling to admit this. They note that all evidence (fossils, genetics etc) must be interpreted, and this is where a bias exerts influence {Link without Title} . :"''Creationists don’t pretend that any knowledge, science included, can be pursued without presuppositions (i.e., prior religious/philosophical beliefs). Creationists affirm that creation cannot ultimately be divorced from the Bible any more than evolution can ultimately be divorced from its naturalistic starting point that excludes divine creation ''a priori''''" {Link without Title} . CMI also holds its scientific evidence tentatively, as all scientists must. Some fundamentalist creationists object when old theories are overturned, yet CMI maintains that "''All theories of science are fallible, and new data often overturn previously held theories. Evolutionists continually revise their theories because of new data, so it should not be surprising or distressing that some creationist scientific theories need to be revised too''." [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/2996/84/] One such argument that "ill-informed" creationists sometimes cite is the "no new species have been produced" argument, of which CMI says "''This is not true—new species have been observed to form. In fact, rapid speciation is an important part of the creation model''." [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/2996/84/] Education It is commonly thought that creationists want their views aired in science classrooms. However, CMI takes the opposite view. They say: Many people think we should be out there battering away at the education system ... What would be the point if it were compulsorily in the hands of an anti-Christian teacher, forced to teach something they didn’t believe in? It would become twisted out of recognition, and would be used against the Bible and Christianity, not for it. Changing hearts and minds in order to change the laws works better than the other way round Many stereotypes about Creationists are confounded by CMI, who insist on a rational, scientific and open discussion — whilst acknowledging presuppositional biases. METHODOLOGY CMI 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} CMI notes that its scientists and speakers "consciously spend time interacting with our peers both inside and outside the organisation..." {Link without Title} Many of its teachings and beliefs are identical to those of its former sister organization, Answers In Genesis . In the past, much of AiG's articles and intellectual content was written by people who are now part of CMI. LEGAL CONTROVERSY WITH ANSWERS IN GENESIS CMI's history is closely linked with that of its daughter ministry in the United States, Answers In Genesis (AIG), founded by former Australian colleague Ken Ham . A legal and personal dispute broke out between the Australian and US arms of AIG in 2005, involving claims of unethical dealing in the handling of magazine subscriptions and autocratic leadership on Ham's part. AIG, in return, accused the leaders of the Australian ministry of "spiritual problems", asking, in correspondence to the Australian CEO Carl Wieland, if he had issues with immorality, and enlisting a former enemy to exhume decades old allegations[http://www.creationontheweb.com/images/pdfs/mackay/information_package.pdf of witchcraft and necrophilia against a CMI staffer (now Wieland's wife). In March 2006, the ministries split, and the offices in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa, "by unanimous vote of their respective Boards, rebranded" as CMI. {Link without Title} Only the US and UK offices still retain the AIG brand. A lawsuit was filed on May 31, 2007, by CMI in Queensland's Supreme Court against Ken Ham and Answers in Genesis, seeking damages and accusing "unbiblical/unethical/unlawful behaviour" in Ham's dealings with the Australian organisation. {Link without Title} CMI produces ''Creation Magazine'' and the ''Journal of Creation'', formerly distributed by the US and UK AIG offices to their respective countries prior to the split. The Australian group maintains they were that they were disconnected from all their American subscribers when the US office "announced on its web site (without telling us, the publishers) that it was ceasing to distribute both of these publications (and simultaneously announced its own magazine)." [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/4335] CMI further alleges in the lawsuit that AIG misrepresented their own magazine to subscribers as a replacement of ''Creation''. CMI is claiming $252,000(US) in damages for lost revenue by misleading and deceptive conduct in relating to lost subscriptions.[http://www.creationontheweb.biz/statement-of-claim.pdf Photocopy supplied at the CMI website]; Official court files listing The case also concerns use of the trademark "Answers in Genesis" within Australia, and misuse by Ken Ham of his position as a director for the Australian group to cause them detriment. Answers in Genesis has had little to say in public to these accusations, but in comments to news reporters Ken Ham dismisses them all as "totally preposterous and untrue". Creation Ministries has made a large collection of documents available detailing their side of the case. {Link without Title} In July 2007, CMI posted an addendum on their website, stating "settlement meetings be taking place... in Hawaii on August 14 and 15, 2007." CMI went on to comment that the meetings were "the first time that have been permitted [to meet with no restrictions on any of director’s participation" since the dispute started.[http://www.creationontheweb.biz/?page=briese_committee_menu EXTERNAL LINKS
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