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Were Ark Encounter merely a ministry, the First Amendment would protect its discriminatory employment practices. If it were a privately funded company with an explicitly religious purpose, the law might still permit it to hire based on its prejudices. But Ark Encounter isn’t privately funded; the citizens of Kentucky have been roped into paying for it, whether they like it or not. Earlier this year, Kentucky’s Tourism Development Finance Authority gave preliminary support for $18.25 million in tax credits for Ark Encounter, citing Ham’s promise that the project would create 600 to 700 jobs. And that’s just for the first phase of construction; ultimately, the state could grant Ark Encounter up to $73 million in tax breaks.
Tax breaks come with government oversight—and right now, the Kentucky government doesn’t like what it sees. As Americans United for Separation of Church and State pointed out, Section 5 of the Kentucky constitution states that the government may never preference “any religious sect, society, or denomination” over another. Courts have interpreted this section to mean that the state may not create benefits for the public that are available only to specific religious groups. Yet that is precisely what Kentucky has done by funding Ark Encounter with taxpayer money: Sure, the park may create hundreds of jobs, but Ham has ensured that those jobs will go to only biblical literalist Christians whose beliefs align perfectly with his.
Wisely, the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, which oversees the dispersal of tax incentives, halted its funding after it saw Ark Encounter’s employment application. Bob Stewart, secretary of the cabinet, wrote to Ham that “the Commonwealth does not provide incentives to any company that discriminates on the basis of religion and we will not make any exception for Ark Encounter, LLC.” Before funding could proceed, Stewart explained, “the Commonwealth must have the express written assurance from Ark Encounter, LLC that it will not discriminate in any way on the basis of religion in hiring.”
originally posted by: AshOnMyTomatoes
a reply to: Shadow Herder
But you just posted a Mesoamerican writing that claimed there was a global flood, as proof that it was referencing a global flood. Yes, of course in modern times we can collect writings from across the Earth and look for flood stories. But how, IN HIS TIME, did the writer of that passage know his flood was global?
originally posted by: Krazysh0t
a reply to: Shadow Herder
It is likely that the flood myth IS a story stolen from earlier civilizations about a localized flood in Mesopotamia. There is zero evidence that it was a worldwide flood though.
THAT is some mighty projection of modern knowledge onto the mind of an ancient man.
originally posted by: Shadow Herder
originally posted by: AshOnMyTomatoes
a reply to: Shadow Herder
But you just posted a Mesoamerican writing that claimed there was a global flood, as proof that it was referencing a global flood. Yes, of course in modern times we can collect writings from across the Earth and look for flood stories. But how, IN HIS TIME, did the writer of that passage know his flood was global?
By observing the ocean and land it would be a easy assumption. The waters of the ocean now sit 120 meters plus higher than it was before some ancient cities were built around the world. Much land was lost and the weather system was in chaos for hundreds of years due to the cold waters of the ice sheet melt off and periodic super volcanoes near the ring of fire that most likely blotted out the sun for some time.
originally posted by: Krazysh0t
a reply to: Shadow Herder
I see your rudeness is apparent as ever. Produce geologic evidence of a worldwide flood then. Show me how the amount of water on the planet could cover the entire planet. Show me when this happened. Use SCIENTIFIC evidence instead of mythological evidence. Kid.
originally posted by: IndependentOpinion
a reply to: dr1234
I remember seeing a thread on 10 Insane Ancient Achievements that Science Can’t Explain, like rocks that has been stacked up to form a wall, or stone statues that modern science has now why of explaining. Modern engineering can't even lift rocks that heavy, never-mind move it.
Just a last thought on the off-topic scoffing.
originally posted by: AshOnMyTomatoes
THAT is some mighty projection of modern knowledge onto the mind of an ancient man.
originally posted by: Shadow Herder
originally posted by: AshOnMyTomatoes
a reply to: Shadow Herder
But you just posted a Mesoamerican writing that claimed there was a global flood, as proof that it was referencing a global flood. Yes, of course in modern times we can collect writings from across the Earth and look for flood stories. But how, IN HIS TIME, did the writer of that passage know his flood was global?
By observing the ocean and land it would be a easy assumption.
originally posted by: IndependentOpinion
a reply to: TzarChasm
Those that did make the list are all still around and can be studied and photographed. Thats why the ark is not on the list.