Ken Ham kicked out of homeschool conferences

[Tikatu]

Found this little gem on Facebook. The link is the Answers in Genesis blog, so it's AiG's take on the matter. I haven't been able to find any comments from the other side; if someone with better Google-fu can find it, I'd appreciate it.

I find it rather ironic that what Ken Ham feels is "speak(ing) against those who compromise Scripture", others claim is "unnecessary, ungodly, and mean-spirited statements that are divisive at best and defamatory at worst". Both of them are doing the same thing.

[Jenn]

Interesting. I thought maybe they canceled him because he is not KJV enough. But apparently it's his problem with them liking some other speaker who's not literal creationist enough.

I'll bet a lot of those homeschooly people are disappointed that Ham won't be there.

[greg]

I'm a huge AIG/Ken Ham fan and I think think that the homeschooling folks have jumped the gun on banning AIG, they will probably get things straightened out by next year and have AIG back. It appears that some feelings got hurt somewhere along the way, and AIG is being blamed for some things that they didn't do.

[Undine]

Well, good for the homeschooling convention. I'm sure like greg said in an above post that they will have him back again at some point, but right now they are taking against the condemning spirit of that ministry. I respect the conference for stating that the homeschoolers have the right to choose for themselves what they want to believe and trying to create an atmosphere of openness. All types of people show up to those conferences - not just fundies or Christians. You have everyone from your hippies, to your hard-core head-covering people, to Jewish families. Like the convention said in their letter, good people can disagree and still be good people, despite what Ken Ham's opinion of them.

Besides, the homeschool convention isn't about preaching bible or taking a stand on ANY point of doctrine - it's about selling curriculum. If Ham is not only criticizing a new line of text books from BioLogos, but actually going so far as to "warn" homeschoolers against them and bestowing the insidious "compromiser" label on them, let's face it, that's not good for business. (Like my Grandma always says, "Follow the money trail and you will find the real reasons.")

[Tooktheredpill]

Ken Ham has become more vociferous and frequent in his denunciation of "compromisers" of late. My guess (and it's only that) is that he feels slightly threatened by the movement to allow different understandings of Genesis within conservative Evangelicalism. I mean even Piper doesn't espouse a position on the age of the earth. That's GOT to be scary for a guy with a job that's dependent on a specific understanding of the creation accounts.

It's telling that AIG was called out by committed young earth creationists:

Quote:Please know that our Board is 100% young earth and we largely share AIG's perspective from a scientific standpoint. That is why Ken was originally invited and treated so graciously and extremely generously in Memphis and Greenville (far beyond what we do for other speakers or their ministries). Our expression of sacrifice and extraordinary kindness towards Ken and AIG has been returned to us and our attendees with Ken publicly attacking our conventions and other speakers. Our Board believes Ken's comments to be unnecessary, ungodly, and mean-spirited statements that are divisive at best and defamatory at worst.

[Darcy]

HERE is the link to the statement made by the conference people.

Regardless of who was right and who was wrong, Ken Ham acted rather foolishly. There is a time to speak up and a time to be silent. He seemingly didn't choose those times very wisely. As someone who is also passionate about what I believe, I realize it's hard to keep your mouth shut all the time. But sometimes it's necessary to just not say anything and wait for a better time to do so.

This whole thing smells fishy to me. And another reason why I avoid homeschool conventions like the plague. I'm so sick of the politics (which is just an adult word for "drama" ). I'm also tired of the power-struggles among homeschooling sects, the "who's the REAL homeschoolers?" game, and how these homeschooling conventions aren't about helping people choose what's best for their families and freedom of education, but about promoting an agenda and making money. No thank you.

[Smith]

Darcy said...

"I'm so sick of the politics (which is just an adult word for "drama" )."

Methinks: She's pretty much on the mark. Politics within fundamentalism is the modus for getting around Scripture. Don't like what the bible either doesn't say or isn't clear on? DRAMA is the answer.