http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/news...onist-row.html
This bit interested me:
Is stopping the dissemination of misleading information to children censorship?British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums director Miranda Stevenson said: ''I find it extraordinary that an organisation [the British Humanist Association] that I thought promotes free thinking appears to want censorship.''
I googled the zoo and found this in the 'About Us' section:
http://www.noahsarkzoofarm.co.uk/pag...t/about-us.phpIn 1995 he and his wife bought the farm from the Landlord, Lord Wraxall of Tyntesfield; the pedigree "Moatwell" Friesian cow herd and young stock, which was among the top 5% genetically in the country,...
I find that really interesting, they selectively bred, deliberately changing what they believe to be god's creation. It makes me wonder what mental somersaults they must go through!
In my experience, the mind of a human is almost infinitely flexible. I have seen people deny the existence of what was right in front of them!Originally Posted by Floppit
Previous thread here
I first became aware of this place when a work colleague who is a Calvinist added it to his Facebook.
Seriously, I work with a guy who believes evolution is a myth and the earth is a few thousand years old, and dinosaurs walked with man.
One of my old friends used to work at the zoo at weekends as he lived within a couple of miles from it and attended the same church as the farmer. He also designed the website for them (though not the current one) and was good friends with the owner. So when we visited bristol with him a couple of years back he was able to take us to the place for free.
As far as open farms/small zoos go it was actually quite good as it had a good range of activities, animals and play areas. Unfortunately it does have the problem of the creationist propaganda thread which runs through it.
When we visited my wife and I were still Christians though we had left the old creationist thing behind a few years earlier but we still surprised about how blatant it all was.
What the British Humanists may not (though they might) understand is that their stand against the farm will probably make it stronger. The guy who runs it is held up as a man of faith because he is able to believe what he does despite and against the evidence. He will be seen (by himself and the wider christian community) to have more faith and be doing Gods will. The "proof?" BHAs actions of course! And the guy will get greater support, advertising and attendance because of it. I know how fundamentalist Christians think.
What would I do instead? I don't really have an answer, but as a moderate christian, places like this, with blatant pics of people walking with dinos made me realise that what i used to believe was more than a little bit silly.
Nathan
And you aren't now?
You aren't wrong, but I'm not sure what else we do. I guess what is at stake here is education. Sure, a few people will get their faith strengthened, however I believe that places like this have to be discussed and highlighted so that we can keep the dividing line between myth and reality and avoid the potential creep of things like this into mainstream educational syllabuses.What the British Humanists may not (though they might) understand is that their stand against the farm will probably make it stronger. The guy who runs it is held up as a man of faith because he is able to believe what he does despite and against the evidence. He will be seen (by himself and the wider christian community) to have more faith and be doing Gods will. The "proof?" BHAs actions of course! And the guy will get greater support, advertising and attendance because of it. I know how fundamentalist Christians think.
What would I do instead? I don't really have an answer, but as a moderate christian, places like this, with blatant pics of people walking with dinos made me realise that what i used to believe was more than a little bit silly.
Nathan
If the 'establishment' keeps places like this at arms length because of adverse publicity, that's enough for me I guess.
The Zoo has been suspended from BIAZA (British & Irish Assoc. of Zoos & Aquaria) after allegations that it had been breeding animals for the Great British Circus, which still uses live animals (the last one to do so).
BIAZA released this statement:
The reasons for termination are due to a refusal to provide BIAZA with information when requested and entering into an arrangement with the Great British Circus, which contravenes the Animal Transaction Policy, despite having been warned of possible consequences.
Council believes that the behaviour of NAZF has brought the association into disrepute and that there has been a breakdown of trust between BIAZA and NAZF, and this has unfortunately resulted in a parting of the ways.
New Humanist
Aren't there also links between this circus and owner of the barmy farm, or something?
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