The Life and Times of Bruce Gerencser

Ark Encounter: Ken Ham’s Monument to Ignorance Bigger Than Imagination

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Bruce Gerencser

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Several weeks ago, Polly and I spent a few days vacationing in Kentucky.  We stayed at the Boone Tavern Hotel in Berea. On one of the tables in the main hotel lobby I found a 2017 Kentucky Travel Guide. On the back of the guide was a full-sized advertisement for young earth creationist Ken Ham’s Ark Encounter — a life-sized re-creation of the fictional Noah’s ark found in the Bible. There was also a one-sixth sized ad on the front cover.

Here’s the full-sized ad that was on the back cover:

ark encounter

Anyone want to take a stab at what “Bigger Than Imagination” is supposed to mean?  Perhaps Ham is suggesting that it requires a boat load of imagination to believe that Noah, his wife, sons, and daughters-in-law built a ginormous wooden boat in the middle of the desert; that this boat, filled with animals, floated for a year on a sea that engulfed the entire earth, killing all life save Noah, his family, and the animals on the Ark. I don’t know about you, but I don’t have enough imagination to believe such a fairy-tale.

How about you? What do you think Ken Ham meant with the advertising slogan: “Bigger Than Imagination.” Use your imagination in the comment section.

Comments

10 responses to “Ark Encounter: Ken Ham’s Monument to Ignorance Bigger Than Imagination”

  1. Avatar
    Geoff

    From what I read elsewhere ‘bigger than imagination’ refers to the losses that this ridiculous attraction (or lack of) is incurring. I understand he’s now trying to avoid some local tax by, yet he’s already benefited from all sorts of state subsidy,

    I know that a portion of the US population continues to believe the Noah story is true. Reason and evidence taken together, however, can discount the story in its entirety. It has no basis in fact, other than it sometimes rains a lot and occasional local flooding can be severe. At some point it’s incumbent on those who govern to demonstrate a little reason themselves, perhaps also a little courage, and say ‘look, you can believe as you want, but you aren’t getting state support’.

    Reply
  2. Avatar
    Maloyo

    Way too many magic mushrooms.

    Reply
  3. Avatar
    John Arthur

    Hi Bruce,

    You might want to also look at Susan Anne White’s rant on Ken Ham’s rainbow re the so called Ark.

    Shalom,

    John Arthur

    Reply
  4. Avatar
    DJ

    Well by playing the “Mystery Card”, he knows humans let their imaginations run rampant, yes?
    So don’t just imagine – experience it! How awesome it MUST be!
    Just sayin’… 🙂

    Reply
  5. Scott

    And now dear old Ken Ham is lighting up the ark in rainbow colors and selling “rainbow” arks. He wants to “Take back the Rainbow” from the Gays! He’s annoyed that the gays have “usurped” the rainbow at their symbol. Fortunately that will be too little, too late and will provoke more mocking of poor Ken Ham.

    Reply
    1. Avatar
      Trenton

      Poor ken ham, he and his family of grifters have been fleecing gullible christians and kentucky taxpayers(not all kentucky taxpayers are gullible, their elected officials gave them no choice in the matter) for years. I hardly doubt ken ham is lacking anything besides the imagination of more dollars in his bank account. ?

      Reply
    2. Avatar
      howitis

      Oh yes, Mr. Ham is the subject of many memes and much ridicule across the Internet for his “Big Gay Ark.” (With more than a few people wondering if ol’ Ken is trying to tell us something…) It actually doesn’t look half bad all decked out in rainbow lights like that!

      When Ark Encounter inevitably fails and closes down, it would be poetic justice if it were bought and turned into a giant gay nightclub. I’ve also seen people propose that it be turned into a center for actual scientific research (as opposed to creationist bullshit), or perhaps a shelter for atheist and/or LGBTQ youth who have been kicked out of their homes by their religious bigot parents. Anything would be better than the monument to ignorance and stupidity that it is now.

      Reply
  6. Troy

    “Bigger Than Imagination” could refer to the cost of admission. I’m going to Tennessee to view the eclipse later this month and since it is on the way (or way back) I considered going. I mentioned the price and it was refuted with an obscenity laced exclamation. (For the record it is about $43 for an adult ticket and $10 to park)
    This prices it out of the market for road side attraction (which is what it is) up to the price of all day theme park (which is isn’t)

    Reply
  7. Avatar
    Lee

    To me bigger than imagination means NEVER let ANY one belittle your ideas.

    If you have an idea a dream DO IT.

    It could also mean that the Arc is bigger than you thought.

    Reply
  8. Avatar
    Dean

    Hmmm… What’s bigger than imagination? Superstition – just as faith is bigger than belief (or truth).

    Reply

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