Sad News – ‘Darwin’ exhibition opens without a corporate sponsor

Now I know this isn’t in Utah, but it does have relevance for here. In an article concerning the new Darwin exhibition that opened the other day in New York,

An exhibition celebrating the life of Charles Darwin, which is slated for the National Museum of Australia later this decade, has failed to find a corporate sponsor in the United States because American companies are anxious not to take sides in the heated debate between scientists and fundamentalist Christians over the theory of evolution.

The entire $US3 million ($1.7 million) cost of Darwin, which opened at the American Museum of Natural History in New York at the weekend, is instead being borne by wealthy individuals and private donations.

The failure of American companies to back the exhibition reflects the growing influence of fundamentalist Christians, who are among President George Bush's most vocal supporters, in all walks of life in the US.

While the Darwin exhibition, which features a live Galapagos tortoise, has been unable to find a business backer, the Creationist Museum near Cincinnati, Ohio, which takes literally the Bible's account of creation, has recently raised $7 million in donations.

…

Creationism is increasingly widely backed in America. A CBS News poll last month found 51 per cent of Americans reject the theory of evolution, believing instead that God created humans in their present form. Another poll in August found 38 per cent of Americans think creationism should be taught in schools, instead of evolution.

I am reminded of what Dr. John Morris, of the Institute for Creation Research, told the congregation of Calvary Chapel this last weekend, “We’re winning, guys! We’re winning.” Even though Intelligent Design/Creationism totally loses in science circles, it is gaining ground in popular opinion.