Infiltrating the Creation Museum

[sassycupcake]

My husband and I went and infiltrated the CM. I dressed in my old fundie clothes (floor length denim skirt, long crunchy hair), but he kind of gave it away with his long hair. Most of the fundies didn't seem to mind his hair, though. They seemed more bothered by the white family with the obviously adopted Black child. :o

Just be careful about asking too many questions. They do have armed guards ready to remove any dissenters, but they largely rely on sweet older churchgoers to prod along the queue (because it's not a freely explorable museum, it is quite literally a queue that winds around the building) and to gently dispel any bouts of thinking that may break out.

I got myself followed by one such lady by acting out in the lobby. The entry to the museum has an animatronic little girl feeding a carrot to a squirrel not two feet away from an obviously carnivorous dinosaur. When I questioned why the dinosaur was not feasting on the girl and her squirrely friend, the lady gave me the "Before the Fall, all animals were vegetarian!" party line. I smiled, accepted her answer, then said "Adam and Eve didn't wear clothes or have children before the Fall."

The lady then showed me to the entrance of the queue, and I noticed her hanging about ten feet behind me for the rest of my visit.

[SpeshulTaterTot]

Never seen that, but I've been looking through that thread and am cracking up! Thanks for the link!

On another note, does anyone know if a guy with long hair could get into the Creation Museum? Mr. Burps and I have family in the south and we'd love to go to the "museum" next time we're down that way, but he has shoulder length hair and a scruffy face! We have fundie-approved clothes, but I am worried that may not be enough. :(

You can always pretend that scruffiness is part of your religion, couldn't you? Or is the Creation Museum for ATI types only?

[BlackHawk]

My husband and I went and infiltrated the CM. I dressed in my old fundie clothes (floor length denim skirt, long crunchy hair), but he kind of gave it away with his long hair. Most of the fundies didn't seem to mind his hair, though. They seemed more bothered by the white family with the obviously adopted Black child. :o

Just be careful about asking too many questions. They do have armed guards ready to remove any dissenters, but they largely rely on sweet older churchgoers to prod along the queue (because it's not a freely explorable museum, it is quite literally a queue that winds around the building) and to gently dispel any bouts of thinking that may break out.

I got myself followed by one such lady by acting out in the lobby. The entry to the museum has an animatronic little girl feeding a carrot to a squirrel not two feet away from an obviously carnivorous dinosaur. When I questioned why the dinosaur was not feasting on the girl and her squirrely friend, the lady gave me the "Before the Fall, all animals were vegetarian!" party line. I smiled, accepted her answer, then said "Adam and Eve didn't wear clothes or have children before the Fall."

The lady then showed me to the entrance of the queue, and I noticed her hanging about ten feet behind me for the rest of my visit.

So I freely admit the last time I was there was not long after they opened.. but it sounds like it's changed horribly. It was pretty free flowing... but you did typically follow a pattern when we went.

We went in as a gay couple and had very little grief. We were reminded that we were in a place of worship, but other than that, they left us to ourselves. We did have a fundy dude say something a little too loud about the faggots ahead of him in the dinosaur room, but really nothing horrible. And I never once saw an ARMED guard... guards, yes, Armed and showing proof? No.

It does sound like it's changed for the bad if what everyone here is saying is truly what's happening now. Perhaps we need to plan another trip up there... just to see for ourselves if they'll kick us out.

As for the "best" parts... oh there are just SO MANY (Please note the sarcasm!). I think the Garden of Eden with Dinosaurs was pretty nifty. The tunnel of removing prayer from school... that was something to remember. Partner says he "fave part" was reading the plaques in the Eden area about the fall of man-kind. Evil wimmin-folk are responsible for all the weeds... and they let you know as much. His other part was the archaeological part that asked a LOT of questions... but never answered a damn one of them. It was just confusing. The all time "awesomeness" for both of us was the presentation given in the digging room about how if the Earth was really as old as those crazy Scientist say, then the WHOLE OCEAN would be a large lump of just salt... cause that's how it works and all with the ocean's becoming saltier... it'd be a solid lump of salt.

Good luck... and remember, not all of us from KY are crazy.......

[Spider Burps]

lol@your experience, sassycupcake! It's great to know that you got in--and that we need to be quiet until the parking lot. :lol: I really do want to just see it through once, theeeen maybe we can go back and cause trouble.

SpeshulTaterTot, I'd never thought about calling scruffiness part of a religion. I think you're onto something! I had originally thought it was an ATI-ish thing, but maybe khakis and a polo on the mister and a long denim skirt and sneakers on me will be enough to fool 'em?

[slickcat79]

Have you read any of the reviews from other secular types? They give you a good idea how it will go down. They have "guards" who will escort you out of you are all "nonbeliving" in a loud way so keep the snark quiet until you get through and see it all.

We will need a picture of you in the jean skirt sitting on the dino. :)

Yes, this. Or at least the kiddies. They threw a shit fit when PZ rode the dino because it's for CHILDREN ONLY.

We went in as a gay couple and had very little grief. We were reminded that we were in a place of worship, but other than that, they left us to ourselves.

Wait, they consider it a place of worship? I thought it was a museum :? I guess that's why you're expected to check scientific knowledge at the door...

[sassycupcake]

lol@your experience, sassycupcake! It's great to know that you got in--and that we need to be quiet until the parking lot. :lol: I really do want to just see it through once, theeeen maybe we can go back and cause trouble.

SpeshulTaterTot, I'd never thought about calling scruffiness part of a religion. I think you're onto something! I had originally thought it was an ATI-ish thing, but maybe khakis and a polo on the mister and a long denim skirt and sneakers on me will be enough to fool 'em?

You'll be totally fine with that. The CM caters to anyone who is fundie-lite enough to buy their crap (they are a business, after all!) so as long as you're not too defrauding, they'll let you in.

[sassycupcake]

His other part was the archaeological part that asked a LOT of questions... but never answered a damn one of them. It was just confusing. The all time "awesomeness" for both of us was the presentation given in the digging room about how if the Earth was really as old as those crazy Scientist say, then the WHOLE OCEAN would be a large lump of just salt... cause that's how it works and all with the ocean's becoming saltier... it'd be a solid lump of salt.

Yeah, I noticed that was a really common tactic they used: ask questions then offer no answer, so that it appears (to your uneducated patrons) that no answer exists outside of the Bible. (Because SCYENSE fails at answering questions about origins!)

[BlackHawk]

Yeah, I noticed that was a really common tactic they used: ask questions then offer no answer, so that it appears (to your uneducated patrons) that no answer exists outside of the Bible. (Because SCYENSE fails at answering questions about origins!)

It was overly common throughout the museum. All though in the end it did make me laugh... hopefully some of those people there, especially the teens we saw, will go home and look that shit up and get good scientific research supporting fact, not fiction.

Wait, they consider it a place of worship? I thought it was a museum :? I guess that's why you're expected to check scientific knowledge at the door...

It's a museum but you are asked to respect it like a house of worship... at least that was my understanding. But yes, we were told it was a place of worship and to mind ourselves.

[SpeshulTaterTot]

SpeshulTaterTot, I'd never thought about calling scruffiness part of a religion. I think you're onto something! I had originally thought it was an ATI-ish thing, but maybe khakis and a polo on the mister and a long denim skirt and sneakers on me will be enough to fool 'em?

I think it's mainly a fundie thing, so a beard and longer hair can always be sold as being a religious thing. The outfit should definitely fool them.

[Witsec7]

I'm voting for a full fundy disguise, but be sure to pack a black sharpie for the ladies room and write Free Jinger on one of the stalls. :lol:

[gardenvarietycitizen]

You can read an experience report (with DETAILED pics - it's good) at demonbaby: http://www.demonbaby.com/blog/2008/06/e ... s-new.html (In case you need a warning: yeah, it's irreverent! There's some swears!)

Pharyngula has done a short article on the place also. One thing I remember from Pharyngula though, in their discussion of why this isn't a real museum, they mention that there are guards who will go around shushing conversation if it gets too loud and obviously not buying the creationist line of the place, because one of the goals of the place is to be a "safe space" for creationists, they want to take their kids there and NOT hear dissent.

...and I see others mentioned their personal experience with that upthread now too. Yeah.

DEFINITELY we need some riding the dinosaur pics! :)

[gardenvarietycitizen]

I'm voting for a full fundy disguise, but be sure to pack a black sharpie for the ladies room and write Free Jinger on one of the stalls. :lol:

I have to admit, a friend of mine went there and saw a movie, when they darkened the room he left a sticker on the back of the seat in front of him - the sticker said "Barack Obama" in Hebrew. He's never been back to see what happened to it, but...

[Witsec7]

I have to admit, a friend of mine went there and saw a movie, when they darkened the room he left a sticker on the back of the seat in front of him - the sticker said "Barack Obama" in Hebrew. He's never been back to see what happened to it, but...

I'm not into massive defacement but a bit of sharpie sabotage goes a long way. I typically carry two fine points, a red and a black. Ya just never know when they will come in handy. :lol:

[synchroswimr]

I've been, it was great. However, I would be careful about causing trouble, you could get kicked out. My friend and I went and were respectful while in the museum, then had an awesome time in the car ride out if there.

[notacleverpony]

Wait, it's a house of worship? I thought they received state funding to keep the place open. Or do they just get a tax break for spreading around the misinformation?

Also, I like the "blending in" idea, but you should have something sneaky as an identifier. Like a FSM pin, or an Invisible Unicorn pendant!

[ilovetchotchkes]

As far as the long hair, if someone gives you grief, point at a picture of Jesus.... :twisted:

Good family friends of ours went to the "Holy Land Experience". They thought it was hysterical. And had to hold in their laughter at how they got the Hebrew Scriptures messed up. (They're Jewish).

[cindyluvs24]

They get state funding but I guess they don't consider it as ebil gubint interference. big hypocrites.

[cindyluvs24]

Wear the most fundie looking clothing you could find. Add a head covering. Then go up to the most fundie looking woman there and say "Where the fuck is the bathroom? I have to piss like a race horse."

you are my hero!!!!!!!!! :lol:

[Spider Burps]

As far as the long hair, if someone gives you grief, point at a picture of Jesus.... :twisted:

Good family friends of ours went to the "Holy Land Experience". They thought it was hysterical. And had to hold in their laughter at how they got the Hebrew Scriptures messed up. (They're Jewish).

The other day, a random, crazy-looking old man wandered up to Mr. Burps and TOUCHED HIS FACE with both of his hands while rambling incoherently about Jesus (srsly, that was the one word we could make out). Makes me wonder if we could sneak him into an exhibit and get him to do something heathen-y... :D

[SpeshulTaterTot]

As far as the long hair, if someone gives you grief, point at a picture of Jesus.... :twisted:

Didn't the PP preach about how Jesus actually had short hair and wore pants? Or am I confusing him with someone else? Whoever it was, I got a good laugh out of it.

[0KidsAndHappy]

From the sounds of it, it is creepier than the Scientology museum (that is disguised to not be a Scientology museum). I went there a few years ago and was actually in fear that I could be kidnapped at one point. The building is supposedly bugged, so I had to whisper when I made comments about how Psychiatry isn't an invention of Hitler.

[melk]

Wear the most fundie looking clothing you could find. Add a head covering. Then go up to the most fundie looking woman there and say "Where the fuck is the bathroom? I have to piss like a race horse."

:lol:

[cindyluvs24]

People listening to your conversations and reporting to armed guards ready to throw you out if you express dissent - hmmmmm , Stalin much?

[Witsec7]

I so totally would eat some shrooms before going :lol:

[synchroswimr]

Didn't the PP preach about how Jesus actually had short hair and wore pants? Or am I confusing him with someone else? Whoever it was, I got a good laugh out of it.

Yes, it was the PP