anyone down in DC know the status of this thing? It says its opening in November 2017, curious if its still on track for that. I'm putting together a media plan as part of their advertising campaign which brought me to their site and the thing looks immensely impressive. I never heard of it until now and while I'm not religious, I find myself pretty fascinated with what the facility looks like and what its going to include. Its being marketed as the most technologically advanced museum in the world.
Museum of the Bible - (
New Window )
Same here, didn't know about it until yesterday and started doing a bunch of research on it today. My sister is in DC so I try and get down there every year and would definitely consider checking this out on my next visit.
No idea who financed it. I know the main media agency they are working with, but not sure who's paying for the actual project.
The founder of it is Steve Green, the President of Hobby Lobby
2. Historical Significance
3. Cultural Inspiration
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4. Theology
A "Christianity" museum can be great, if they stick to the top 3 on the list above. Nothing has inspired more art and culture in Europe than the Bible, and the history of the Catholic Church "bridging the gap" between Rome and European Kingdoms is fascinating.
But, if the point of this museum is to try and prove the Theology of the Bible, then I think it could do more damage than good to Christianity.
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until I know who financed it. There could be lots of interesting science to it, but most proponents would never condone that. I would need to know what sponsor's bias is before I went.
The founder of it is Steve Green, the President of Hobby Lobby
Thanks
Now I know not to go
The founder of the Hobby Lobby is not going to do that.
This is a tough standard to apply across the board.
Interested in biblical archeology? Check the Netflix documentary out called "Patterns of Evidence: Exodus".
I found it quite fascinating for both Jews and Christians alike.
I hope this museum covers a lot of newer finds.
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until I know who financed it. There could be lots of interesting science to it, but most proponents would never condone that. I would need to know what sponsor's bias is before I went.
This is a tough standard to apply across the board.
The museum itself does not appear to be a government-sponsored institution and it is supported through a number of different sources, so it's not quite a Hobby Lobby project on its own. Even so, to dismiss it because of the sponsor without even inquiring as to the content may be an erroneous prejudgment.
According to Wiki, which I assume is just repeating the mission statement, "The Museum is non-sectarian, non-political, and it will not proselytize.[2] The president of the Museum of the Bible, Cary Summers has noted, "Our goal is straightforward: reacquaint the world with the book that helped make it, and let the visitor come to their own conclusions. The Museum of the Bible is a global education institution that invites all people to engage in the Bible. We don’t exist to tell people what to believe about it."
Even if it was coming at it from a specific pov, I wouldn't dismiss it out of hand; rather, it's a caveat to keep in mind when viewing it. Would WideRight also eschew visiting the Vatican or the Holocaust Museum because of the religious perspectives? He would be missing out, IMO. And, nothing precludes him from starting a museum that presents things as he describes, providing his own perspective. In that, he has the same rights as Hobby Lobby does in a free society.
However, it's
I have visited and appreciated both the Vatican and the Holocaust Museum. They are what they say they are: awesome for what they stand for. There is strong evidence that this Museum will not be what it portends to be. That is a consistently creepy thing about religion that I abhor.
Thank you for letting me know what I could do with my money, if I had it. To repeat, the really amazin gthing about the Bible from an atheist's point of view is how it came to be. What were the forces and influences that made it what it is today? Everybody can learn from that. What it actually says is dogma, and that doesn't appeal to everyone.
As a believer myself, I agree with this.^^^
I might add, What does it teach and why? Is there anything here that may benefit me or society as a whole? Is there any scientific evidence that backs up its historical accounts, etc.
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... To repeat, the really amazin gthing about the Bible from an atheist's point of view is how it came to be. What were the forces and influences that made it what it is today? Everybody can learn from that ...
As a believer myself, I agree with this.^^^
I might add, What does it teach and why? Is there anything here that may benefit me or society as a whole? Is there any scientific evidence that backs up its historical accounts, etc.
There are certainly archeological findings that back up its historical accounts. And, as far as I know, none that contradict them.
Its all good. I'm not even advocating the museum, I just happened to not know it was even being planned until earlier this week and thought it was fascinating from the tech side of things.
On a side note the same marketing agency also did the advertising for the Ark Encounter museum in Kentucky. I'd never go to Kentucky just to see this but its pretty cool they made a massive, "life-size" Noah's Ark.
Its all good. I'm not even advocating the museum, I just happened to not know it was even being planned until earlier this week and thought it was fascinating from the tech side of things.
On a side note the same marketing agency also did the advertising for the Ark Encounter museum in Kentucky. I'd never go to Kentucky just to see this but its pretty cool they made a massive, "life-size" Noah's Ark.
There is a life-size Solomon's Temple in PA. I believe. There is an interesting collection of old to ancient bibles & manuscripts including small Babylonian tablets I've seen in the display at Orlando's Holy Lands park.
I'm just glad there is a lot of stuff to see that has not been destroyed. Yet. Some say that 75% of ancient Egyptian artifacts remain buried under the sands.
But if you are going to build something that does this, why don't you just call it a church?
A quick look at the bios of all the people on the board reveals a list of religious-based political donors and activists based on exclusively the Christian faith. If this is a museum of the Bible, I would think there would be board members who were Jewish scholars who focus on the Old Testament.
I don't have any problem with its privately-funded existence, but it's hard not to see an agenda beyond mere cultural preservation and education.
But if you are going to build something that does this, why don't you just call it a church?
Marketing. Call it a church, and no one will go!
It's also interesting to see how the Bible came to fruition and became canonized and translated over several thousand years.
I'm a history buff and particularly find ancient history extremely fascinating so I'd go if I was in the area.