A Wisconsin-based atheist group has taken aim at the Ark Encounter tourist attraction in Williamstown, Kentucky by sending a letter to more than 1,000 school districts in five states, warning them that a field trip to the Ark would be unconstitutional.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation wrote: “Public schools cannot organize trips for students to either the Creation Museum or the Ark Park. It is unacceptable to expose a captive audience of impressionable students to the overtly religious atmosphere of (Ken) Ham’s Christian theme parks.”
Ken Ham, the Ark Encounter’s founder, said the atheist groups are merely trying to bully and intimidate kids while continuing their attacks against Christians. “The atheist groups have been increasingly aggressive to restrict the free exercise of religion — particularly Christianity — and they’ve tried to brainwash people with an interpretation of the First Amendment…it does not mean that Christians are second class citizens,” he told Fox News.
Ham explained that all school officials have to do is to tell their kids that their visit is intended to be merely educational. Students do not have to believe what they see, much like visiting a mosque.
“I would like to see some public schools and public parks to stand up to them and not succumb to their bullying and intimidation,” Ham said. “Because of the atheist’s letters, I’m offering free admission for the teachers, students who come on an official public school trip.”
“And if they do sue them, we have expert attorneys who are willing to defend them in court and I’d like to see a test case go to the Supreme Court and stop this nonsense from these atheist groups who try to outlaw Christian influence in this nation,” he added.