Comments on: Bible Theme Park to Receive Public Funding? http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/04/01/bible-theme-park-to-receive-public-funding/ Atheism with Positivity Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:52:58 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Siamang http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/04/01/bible-theme-park-to-receive-public-funding/comment-page-1/#comment-147835 Siamang Wed, 02 Apr 2008 16:58:31 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/04/01/bible-theme-park-to-receive-public-funding/#comment-147835 I remember when Jim and Tammy Baker made a big multi-million-dollar religious theme park. This should be a <a href="http://www.boingboing.net/2005/09/20/photos-of-the-rottin.html" rel="nofollow">similar-size hit</a>. I remember when Jim and Tammy Baker made a big multi-million-dollar religious theme park.

This should be a similar-size hit.

]]> By: Jeff http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/04/01/bible-theme-park-to-receive-public-funding/comment-page-1/#comment-147594 Jeff Wed, 02 Apr 2008 02:24:13 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/04/01/bible-theme-park-to-receive-public-funding/#comment-147594 <blockquote> A recreation of Noah’s Ark and a play where animals from the Ark will act </blockquote> This might be interesting. I wonder if they will put dinosaurs on the ark <a href="http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/6681/dinoeu6.gif" rel="nofollow">like this</a>

A recreation of Noah’s Ark and a play where animals from the Ark will act

This might be interesting. I wonder if they will put dinosaurs on the ark like this

]]> By: Wasyl http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/04/01/bible-theme-park-to-receive-public-funding/comment-page-1/#comment-147579 Wasyl Wed, 02 Apr 2008 01:42:43 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/04/01/bible-theme-park-to-receive-public-funding/#comment-147579 When was the last time you saw a theme park that took itself seriously? I know the Six Flags (well, ex-Six Flags) near me is full of Loony Toons, Batman, Superman, etc. It's all fictional characters. I think that's perfectly appropriate. Do you really expect to teach someone something with roller coasters and ferris wheels? If anything, it will trivialize these subjects in kids' minds. When was the last time you saw a theme park that took itself seriously? I know the Six Flags (well, ex-Six Flags) near me is full of Loony Toons, Batman, Superman, etc. It’s all fictional characters. I think that’s perfectly appropriate. Do you really expect to teach someone something with roller coasters and ferris wheels? If anything, it will trivialize these subjects in kids’ minds.

]]> By: Susan http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/04/01/bible-theme-park-to-receive-public-funding/comment-page-1/#comment-147574 Susan Wed, 02 Apr 2008 01:27:55 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/04/01/bible-theme-park-to-receive-public-funding/#comment-147574 I'm unfortunate enough to have to live in TN (but not in Murfreesboro, thank Dog). I really don't believe this will fall into place. There isn't enough interest, and the the area is already in something like gridlock. I’m unfortunate enough to have to live in TN (but not in Murfreesboro, thank Dog). I really don’t believe this will fall into place. There isn’t enough interest, and the the area is already in something like gridlock.

]]> By: Unspeakably Violent Jane http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/04/01/bible-theme-park-to-receive-public-funding/comment-page-1/#comment-147551 Unspeakably Violent Jane Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:30:44 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/04/01/bible-theme-park-to-receive-public-funding/#comment-147551 My heart goes out to the people of Murfreesboro. Can you even imagine? My heart goes out to the people of Murfreesboro. Can you even imagine?

]]> By: MikeClawson http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/04/01/bible-theme-park-to-receive-public-funding/comment-page-1/#comment-147539 MikeClawson Tue, 01 Apr 2008 23:47:27 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/04/01/bible-theme-park-to-receive-public-funding/#comment-147539 Cities use <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_increment_financing" rel="nofollow">TIF's</a> all the time for redevelopment projects like this one. The tax money doesn't go to the park itself. Rather it goes to pay for the municipal utilities and services necessary to support this kind of redevelopment, i.e. the kind of stuff cities are supposed to provide anyway, regardless of what kind of development it is. Whether this is a religious development or not should be irrelevant here. The only question is whether the park will actually bring in enough future tax revenues to the municipality to make the TIF worthwhile. Cities use TIF’s all the time for redevelopment projects like this one. The tax money doesn’t go to the park itself. Rather it goes to pay for the municipal utilities and services necessary to support this kind of redevelopment, i.e. the kind of stuff cities are supposed to provide anyway, regardless of what kind of development it is.

Whether this is a religious development or not should be irrelevant here. The only question is whether the park will actually bring in enough future tax revenues to the municipality to make the TIF worthwhile.

]]> By: David D.G. http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/04/01/bible-theme-park-to-receive-public-funding/comment-page-1/#comment-147526 David D.G. Tue, 01 Apr 2008 22:54:09 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/04/01/bible-theme-park-to-receive-public-funding/#comment-147526 Even if doing business with private companies is not uncommon for municipal governments, the fact that this one is explicitly religiously oriented (and along the lines of a very specific religion) ought to have made this an automatic condition of nonparticipation by any governmental body. There really isn't any gray area or wiggle room here; this is blatantly obviously all about religious proselytization. The commission ought to have pushed away this project with an electrified 10-foot pole. If they go in on it, they will be flagrantly guilty of violating the First Amendment! ~David D.G. Even if doing business with private companies is not uncommon for municipal governments, the fact that this one is explicitly religiously oriented (and along the lines of a very specific religion) ought to have made this an automatic condition of nonparticipation by any governmental body. There really isn’t any gray area or wiggle room here; this is blatantly obviously all about religious proselytization. The commission ought to have pushed away this project with an electrified 10-foot pole. If they go in on it, they will be flagrantly guilty of violating the First Amendment!

~David D.G.

]]> By: April http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/04/01/bible-theme-park-to-receive-public-funding/comment-page-1/#comment-147485 April Tue, 01 Apr 2008 21:44:40 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/04/01/bible-theme-park-to-receive-public-funding/#comment-147485 I was all ready to get hot and bothered, but then I remembered 2 things; 1)it's not that uncommon for cities and private companies to join together, and the company pays them back later down the road, or in taxes/fees, etc. as the city considers this sort of thing an investment in the future of the community. 2) I can't wait to watch this all fall apart on them if/when attendance does not meet their overstated anticipated numbers...'cuz I'm snarky like that. I was all ready to get hot and bothered, but then I remembered 2 things; 1)it’s not that uncommon for cities and private companies to join together, and the company pays them back later down the road, or in taxes/fees, etc. as the city considers this sort of thing an investment in the future of the community. 2) I can’t wait to watch this all fall apart on them if/when attendance does not meet their overstated anticipated numbers…’cuz I’m snarky like that.

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