The Old Testament and Christian Spirituality - International Voices in ...

152 The Old Testament and Christian Spirituality
meaning. Although intellect and existentialism do mingle, exerting
their respective influences in both directions, they are not
identical. 47 Hence, both can equally, and inter-dynamically, be
valid: cogito ergo sum and credo ergo sum.
At the Creation Museum, a different communicative strategy
is, however, followed.
6. Creationism and Evolution at the Creation Museum
I had a number of my preconceptions challenged about those
associated with the Creation Museum soon after arriving on the
premises. Chief among these was my expectation to find a
staunchly anti-intellectualist climate; the dissolution of this
expectation I employ as a structuring aid for my description below
of the Museum. This is namely done in four parts: geography,
staff, interior architecture, and displays. Some of the T-shirts and
peak hats on display for sale initially fed my scepticism about what
I would find, with emblazoned slogans such as “Creation museum.
Prepare to believe.” This was, after all, a religious theme park, in
the fashion that had developed in post-World War II America as
tourist attractions. 48 That the Creation Museum fit this mould well
was clear from the way it was marketed and from the way visitors
described themselves. For some groups, such as the Amish,
dressed in distinctive clothing from yesteryear, this has even
become something of a prized holiday destination. “This is our
thinking,” one such patron, who had brought his family for the day,
responded with quiet confidence. However, surprising to me was
the catchphrase found on as many items of clothing merchandise:
“Science is awesome.” This, I had yet to realise, stood in a firm
47 Gous, “Meaning—Intelligently Designed,” 40, drawing on H. W. Rossouw,
Die Sin van die Lewe (Kaapstad: Tafelberg, 1981).
48 Cf. Lippy, Being Religious, American Style, 224, 227–28.