Ken Ham

Infobox Person
name = Kenneth Ham
residence = flagicon|USA
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birth_date = Birth date and age|1951|10|20
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occupation = Evangelist, broadcaster
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salary = $178,991 [cite web | title=Charity Navigator Rating | publisher=Charity Navigator | url=http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/search.summary/orgid/5214.htm | accessdate =2008-07-01 ]
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religion = Baptist, Young Earth creationist
spouse = Mally Ham
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Kenneth Alfred Ham (born October 20, 1951) is the president of Answers in Genesis USA and Joint CEO of Answers in Genesis International. A vocal advocate for a young Earth and a literal interpretation of the Book of Genesis ["There’s an inconsistency here in taking Genesis literally to accept sin to explain moral evil, such as the shootings at Virginia Tech, but not taking Genesis literally in their acceptance of millions of years of “natural evil” before man (e.g., death, violence, catastrophe, and extinction of animals)." From [http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2007/04/16/how-could-loving-god Ken Ham, President, AiG-US April 16, 2007] ] , his cross-country speaking tours and many books make him one of the better known young-Earth creationists.

Biography

Ham was born in Queensland, Australia but moved to the United States of America in 1987. He has a bachelor's degree in applied science (with an emphasis on environmental biology) from the Queensland Institute of Technology and also holds a Diploma of Education from the University of Queensland. [http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/about/ham.asp Ken A. Ham] , Answers in Genesis] He is married to Marilyn ("Mally"), whom he describes as a "very, very submissive, supportive wife" who has "always supported me five million percent." [ [http://www.arky.org/newsltr/intrview/ham1.htm Interview with Ken Ham] , Ron Cooper, ARK Foundation] The couple have five children: Two are married, two live with them in Cincinnati, and he has four grandchildren.Fact|date=July 2008

In 1979, Ham co-founded what was to be later known as the Creation Science Foundation (CSF) in Queensland, Australia with John Mackay. [http://www.answersingenesis.org/about/history The History of AiG to the End of 2007] , Ken Ham, Answers in Genesis] [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/42/ What we are] , Creation Ministries International] Controversy arose when Mackay "was excommunicated in the 1980s after making allegations of witchcraft and necrophilia against a fellow member of the ministry."cite news | url=http://theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21843706-2702,00.html?from=public_rss | title=Biblical battle of creation groups | publisher=The Australian |date= June 4, 2007 | first=Michael | last=McKenna | accessdate =2007-07-17]

Between 1987 and 1993, Ham worked for the Institute for Creation Research (ICR),Timefact|date=February 2008 one of the oldest [ [http://www.asa3.org/ASA/resources/CMBergman.html A Brief History of the Modern American Creation Movement] , Jerry Bergman, Contra Mundum No. 7 Spring 1993] American Creationist organizations, and a leading young-Earth organisation [ [http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/organizations/#creation Creationist and Anti-Evolutionist Organizations] , TalkOrigins Archive] . In 1994, with the assistance of what is now Creation Ministries International (Australia) he set up Answers in Genesis, a Christian ministry which specialises in Young Earth Creationism, and is primarily devoted to convincing people that the initial chapters in Genesis should be taken as literally true and historically accurate. For his contributions to evangelism, he was given three honorary degrees (Liberty University in 1993 [ [http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs2004/0510kh_doc.asp Liberty University honors AiG speaker with doctorate] ] , Temple Baptist College in 1997 [ [http://www.answersingenesis.org/Home/Area/about/ham.asp Ken A. Ham] ] , and again from Liberty University in 2004 [ [http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs2004/0510kh_doc.asp Liberty University honors AiG speaker with doctorate] , Answers in Genesis] ).

Notably, Answers in Genesis opened its 60,000 square foot Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky on May 28, 2007. the building features sophisticated animatronic dinosaurs alongside humans and depicts young earth creationist ideas. [ [http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2007/07/02/creation-museum-collective The Creation Museum—a “collective”] , Ken Ham, Answers in Genesis, July 2, 2007] Ham was the major impetus behind the museum, as he explained "This idea came about from when I was a teacher in public schools in Australia . . . I had this embryonic idea 25 years ago in Australia." [Kim Landers, " [http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2007/s1936088.htm Museum promotes creationism] ", AM, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, May 29, 2007.]

Also in May 2007 Creation Ministries International (CMI) filed a lawsuit against Ham and AiG in the Supreme Court of Queensland seeking damages and accusing him of deceptive conduct in his dealings with the Australian organisation. Members of the ministry were "concern [ed] over Mr Ham's domination of the ministries, the amount of money being spent on his fellow executives and a shift away from delivering the creationist message to raising donations."

In 2008 Ham was appeared in Bill Maher's the comedy Religulous. [cite news | url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/104/story/226061.html | title=Maher takes on religion, but some interviewees cry foul | publisher=Charlotte Observer |date= October 1, 2008 | first= | last= | accessdate =2008-09-31] In a press release by AiG critical of the movie and want it called Maher's "dishonesty last year in gaining access to the Creation Museum and AiG President Ken Ham." [cite news | url=http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2008/10/02/a-religulous-movie | title=A Religulous Movie: Opens on 500 Screens Friday—Creation Museum mocked | publisher=Answers in Genesis |date= October 2, 2008 | first= | last= | accessdate =2008-09-31] The movie made light of fundamentalist belief as Steve Persall, of the "St. Petersburg Times", wrote: "If he offends your particular faith, Maher will soon have you laughing at someone else's, wondering how 'those people' could be so gullible." [cite news | last =Persall | first =Steve | title =Review: Bill Maher debates believers in documentary 'Religulous' | work =St. Petersburg Times | date =October 2, 2008 | url =http://www.tampabay.com/features/movies/article833314.ece | accessdate =2008-10-01 ]

He hosts "Answers. . . with Ken Ham", an internet and radio program, broadcast daily on over one thousand radio stations worldwide and features Ham's commentary on issues. [ [http://www.answersingenesis.org/answersMedia/radio.aspx Radio Station Information] , Answers in Genesis]

Claims and beliefs

As a young Earth creationist, Ham believes that the entire universe was created about 6,000 years ago and that Noah's flood occurred about 4,500 years ago. He believes this explains how a small number of animals carried on Noah's ark could produce the biological diversity. Ham also believes that dinosaurs co-existed with modern humans. He supports this claim with a cave painting which he states resembles a brachiosaur.Stephanie Simon, "Their Own Version of a Big Bang", "Los Angeles Times," February 11, 2006 ] Regarding his beliefs, Ham has told audiences, "If you disagree with what I'm going to say, please do not give me your opinion, because I'm not interested." [cite news | url=http://www.barryyeoman.com/articles/creation.html | title=Biblical battle of creation groups | publisher=The Independent |date= Feb. 22, 2006 | first= Yeoman | last=Barry | accessdate =2008-07-17]

Creationism, including creation science arguments, have not gained acceptance with prominent scientists and major scientific organizations. [ [http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/edwards-v-aguillard/amicus1.html Amicus Curiae Brief of 72 Nobel Laureates, 17 State Academies of Science and 7 Other Scientific Oraganisations] , "Edwards v. Aguillard"] Biologist PZ Myers is also a vocal critic of Ham, calling his knowledge of science "very, very low" and that Ham is held in "very low esteem by the community of scholars and scientists, and by the even larger community of lay people who have made the effort to learn more about science". [cite news | url=http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2008/06/now_im_going_to_have_nightmare.php | title=Now I'm going to have nightmares | publisher=Pharyngula (blog) |date= June 18, 2008 | first=PZ | last=Myers | accessdate =2008-06-17] [cite news | url=http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2008/06/in_which_i_have_hurt_ken_hams.php | title=In which I have hurt Ken Ham's feelings | publisher=Pharyngula (blog) |date= June 21, 2008 | first=PZ | last=Myers | accessdate =2008-06-17] Additionally, No Answers in Genesis has listed a number of specific criticisms of Ham's teachings on science. [Waybackdate|site=http://home.austarnet.com.au/stear/answers_in_genesis2.htm|date=20070626104102|title=Answers in Genesis, John Stear]

Since 1989 Ham has frequently made the comment, "Were you there?" regarding the origins of life and evolution. [ [http://www.icr.org/index.php?module=articles&action=view&ID=670 Were You There?] , Kenneth Ham, Institute for Creation Research] The implication being that knowledge of unwitnessed events is inferential and not observational. Responses to this have been made by scientific database Talk.origins, which responds that the evidence for evolution "was there".cite news | url=http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/CA/CA221.html | title=Claim CA221: Were you there? | publisher=talk.origins |date= May 2004 | first= | last= | accessdate =2007-07-17] In 2005, The Daily Show poked fun at Ham's question.cite news | url=http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=124614&title=Moment-of-Zen---God-or-the-Scientists | title=Moment of Zen - God or the Scientists | publisher=The Daily Show |date=September 14, 2005 | first= | last= | accessdate = 2007-02-19]

AiG believes that evolution is the “source” of many kinds of evil, and that rejection of God’s Word as absolute authority and acceptance of evolutionary ideas will affect the way people think and act—and fuel social ills. [ [http://www.answersingenesis.org/Home/Area/wwtl/chapter8.asp The evolution connection] Answers in Genesis ]

Ham's beliefs and tactics have also been criticized by other Christians and creationists. Answers in Creation, an Old Earth creationist website, has called Ham willfully ignorant of evidence for an old earth and said he "deliberately misleads" his audiences on matters of both science and theology. [Greg Neyman. [http://www.answersincreation.org/commentary/ham_truth_csc12.htm Ham Can't Tell the Simple Truth!] . Answers in Creation. Sept. 12, 2005] Astronomer Hugh Ross, a progressive creationist, has publicly debated Ham on the age of the Earth and the compatibility of an old Earth with the Bible, [ [http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs2006/0606ankerberg.asp Fair and balanced?] , Steven McConaughy, Answers in Genesis] as well as other Answers In Genesis staff. [ [http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs2005/0414lisle_transcript.asp Jason Lisle vs. Hugh Ross debate: annotated transcript] , Jonathan Sarfati, Answers in Genesis Australia]

Bibliography

*"A is for Adam" Master Books (1995, ISBN 0-89051-207-8) (Children's book)
*"Creation Evangelism for the New Millennium", retitled "Why Won't They Listen", Master Books (2002, ISBN 0-89051-378-3) ( [http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/WWTL/index.asp Online chapters] )
*"Did Adam Have a Belly Button? and other tough questions about the Bible" Master Books (2000, ISBN 0890512833)
*"Did Eve Really Have an Extra Rib? and other tough questions about the Bible" Master Books (2002, ISBN 0890513708)
*"D is for Dinosaur" Master Books. (1991, ISBN 0-89051-193-4) (Children's book)
*"Dinosaurs of Eden" Master Books. (2000, ISBN 0-89051-340-6) (Children's book)
*"The Great Dinosaur Mystery Solved! A Biblical View of These Amazing Creatures" Master books (2000, ISBN 0890512825)
*"One Blood—the Biblical Answer to Racism" (with Don Batten and Carl Wieland, 1999, ISBN 0-89051-276-0)
*Foreword to "Refuting Evolution" by Jonathan Sarfati (1999, ISBN 0-89051-258-2)
*"" Master Books. (July 1987, ISBN 0-89051-158-6)
*Foreword to "All-In-One Curriculum for The Pilgrim's Progress" (published by Answers in Genesis, USA)
*"The Revised & Expanded Answers Book" (ed. Don Batten; co-authors Jonathan Sarfati and Carl Wieland) ISBN 0890511616
*"Walking through Shadows—Finding Hope in a World of Pain" (with Carl Wieland, 2002, ISBN 0-89051-381-3)
*Foreword to "Welcome to Life Welcome to Life After Eden" Genesis Publishing. (2003, ISBN 1893345157) (Children's book)
*"What Really Happened to the Dinosaurs?" (with John Morris) (1990, ISBN 0890511594)

References

External links

* [http://www.answersingenesis.org/ Answers in Genesis] – Official site
* [http://www.answersincreation.org/profiles/ken_ham.htm Rebuttals to Ken Ham articles on the "Answers In Creation" website] (old-earth creationist)
* [http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/CA/CA221.html In response Ham's question about the origins of life: Were you there?] by talk.origins
* [http://www.bibleandscience.com/otherviews/ham.htm Critique of the differences between the two "Answers" books]