Atheists Warn Schools Against Ark Encounter Field Trips - Ark Founder Calls Their Bluff in a Big Way - CBN News Steve Warren

Ken Ham. Photo courtesy: Answers in Genesis

Atheists Warn Schools Against Ark Encounter Field Trips - Ark Founder Calls Their Bluff in a Big Way

01-14-2019

CBN News Steve Warren

A Wisconsin-based atheist group has taken aim at the Ark Encounter tourist attraction in Williamstown, Kentucky by sending a letter to more than 1,000 school districts in five states, warning them that a field trip to the Ark would be unconstitutional.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation wrote: "Public schools cannot organize trips for students to either the Creation Museum or the Ark Park. It is unacceptable to expose a captive audience of impressionable students to the overtly religious atmosphere of (Ken) Ham's Christian theme parks."

Back in August, the group known as American Atheists mailed similar letters to schools in Kentucky.

Ken Ham, the Ark Encounter's founder, said the atheist groups are merely trying to bully and intimidate kids while continuing their attacks against Christians.

"The atheist groups like American Atheists and the Freedom From Religion Foundation have been increasingly aggressive to restrict the free exercise of religion — particularly Christianity — and they've tried to brainwash people with an interpretation of the First Amendment...it does not mean that Christians are second class citizens," he told Fox News.

Ham explained that all school officials have to do is to tell their kids that their visit is intended to be merely educational. Students do not have to believe what they see, much like visiting a mosque. 

"I would like to see some public schools and public parks to stand up to them and not succumb to their bullying and intimidation," Ham said. "Because the FFRF has sent letters to 1,000 school districts, I'm offering them free admission for the teachers, students who come on an official public school trip."

"And if they do sue them, we have expert attorneys who are willing to defend them in court and I'd like to see a test case go to the Supreme Court and stop this nonsense from these atheist groups who try to outlaw Christian influence in this nation," he added.

Faith leaders like evangelist Franklin Graham have come out in support of Ham and his efforts.

On Saturday, Graham posted to his Facebook page about the incident, writing: "Noah wasn't intimidated by atheists in his day, and neither is the builder of the Ark Encounter in Kentucky, Ken Ham. The liberal, atheist Freedom From Religion Foundation sent letters to 1,000 school districts in 5 states, threatening them that they could not bring students to the Ark Encounter on field trips because it was unconstitutional. The American Atheist group had also sent letters to Kentucky schools. Ken is right, these godless, hyper-secular groups have "tried to brainwash people with an interpretation of the First Amendment." I really like Ken's response! He's offering all of those school districts FREE ADMISSION to students and teachers who come on public school field trips! I hope every school takes him up on the offer. What an opportunity! There's no question it's educational and filled with #truth. Comment below to let Ken Ham and everyone at the Ark Encounter know that you will pray for them to stand strong and continue their great work."

Anti-Religion Group Warns Schools to Stay Away from Ark Encounter - CBN News

Anti-Religion Group Warns Schools to Stay Away from Ark Encounter

CBN News 07-13-2016

A securalist foundation has contacted thousands of schools in the Midwest warning them that taking a field trip to the Ark Encounter in Kentucky might get them sued.

The new amusement park in Williamston features a 500-foot replica of Noah's Ark. More than 30,000 people have visited the site in the last week.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation is trying to keep school children from visiting the park as part of their schooling.

Officials with the organization say ark field trips would expose children to religious proselytizing, the Lexington-Herald Leader reported.

Foundation co-president Annie Laurie Gaylor said the group sent letters to more than 1,000 school districts in Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana, and West Virginia.

"That would be completely inappropriate," Gaylor told the Kentucky publication. "This is an attempt to proselytize children. The public school is to educate, not indoctrinate."

Kentucky Education Commissioner Stephen Pruitt notified school districts that neither outside groups nor Kentucky Department of Education should determine field trip selection but added that outside trips should directly correlate to school curriculum.

"It is important to remind educators that at all times and under all circumstances, field trips should be a direct extension of classroom learning," he wrote. "As a result, all off-site trips should be directly related to the school curriculum and should seek to maximize student learning by enhancing the classroom experience."

Kansas Post Office Takes Down 'God Bless America' Banner - CBN NEWS

Kansas Post Office Takes Down 'God Bless America' Banner

CBN News 02-01-2016

Residents of Pittsburg, Kansas, are buying signs and banners proclaiming "God Bless America" after the local post office removed a banner over complaints that its message violated separation of church and state.

The Joplin Globe reports the post office removed the "God Bless America" banner this week after the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation filed complaints.

The foundation, which has more than 22,500 members, has also been trying to get Missouri sheriffs to remove "In God We Trust" bumper stickers from department vehicles and "In God We Trust" from U.S. coins and currency.

"It's a shame that 23,000 people can control the desires of millions of other Americans," Martin Dickson, Pittsburg resident, told Joplin Globe. "I recognize the separation and the reason for it. But I also realize that we need God's blessing more now than ever."

Madeline Ziegler, a legal fellow at the foundation, wrote that the First Amendment prohibits government sponsorship of religious messages. The group also noted that it had received complaints about the banner from a local resident.

But that is not stopping Pittsburg residents from raising their banners and signs.

Dickson, owner of Jayhawk Signs & Graphics, said he and his wife decided to cut prices on signs and banners saying "God Bless America" just a few hours after the banner was removed at the post office.

"We're not doing it for the business," said Dickinson, who is also a priest at All Saints Anglican in Chicopee. "We're doing this to promote America."

Pittsburg postal workers paid for the 12-foot-long vinyl banner after the 2001 terrorist attacks.

A spokeswoman for the U.S. Post Office says the postal service took the banner down because policy prohibits the placement of notices on postal property unless they're official government notices.

Resident Stephen Hipfl bought a banner he planned to put up.

"We're Americans," Hipfl said. "Soldiers."