Is Answers in Genesis becoming a cult?

[teddyv]

It's more of a personal interest of mine, but recently Answers in Genesis has decided to start the Inquisition within their own ranks of their hated "compromisers", those awful creationists who understand that which they disagree with and try to understand the current science and literature. So this would be people like Kurt Wise, Todd Wood, and all those at the New Creationists.

Here is their most recent and final article going after this nefarious group of wolves in sheep's clothing.
https://answersingenesis.org/young-earth-evolution/young-earth-evolution-a-call-for-discernment/

Here is the laughable final paragraph:

As we bring this series to a conclusion, please note that the point of these articles is not to quibble, play semantics, cause unnecessary division, or look for another reason for people to be outraged. Honestly, nothing could be further from the truth. Rather, our desire is for clarity, conviction, equipped Christians, saved souls, and God to be glorified through the bold proclamation and application of his Word.

As this point, AiG is really starting to look like a cultic organization. We have Ken Ham, the undisputed and charismatic leader. They have already denounced any Christian organization or school that teaches anything non-Creationist. Now they are warning their own about those in the group that are actually not who they say they are so they consolidate their own power.

I suppose the question might be - can this be sustained? Or will it collapse when Ken Ham is no more? There are not really any up and comer's in their organization that can fill his shoes. Most of the key people are getting older. They do have a stable of wealthy supporters, considering the funds they needed for the Ark Encounter and another recent purchase of a large building for an educational and adminstrative complex.

[ProDeo]

I gave the issue a rest when I realized the following possibility. The garden was a supernatural place, A&E wanted to know about good and evil, God gave them what they desired, the natural evolved Earth, a place full of good and evil.

[RabbiKnife]

I don’t need Answers in Genesis to tell me what orthodoxy is

So I’ve generally always ignored these

[shepherdsword]

I debated Ken Hamm on the age of the earth(creation) at one of his seminars back in the 90s. His only comeback was his classic line "were you there?" I just answered "of course not and neither were you" He doesn't even accept the proton to proton method of matter formation in stars or the speed of light as a constant. At the break I had lunch with Dr Gary Parker, a biologist who traveled with him. I as much got him to admit that the "gap" theory is a possibility and young earth a farce. He didn't actually change however as he is still a teacher at CAM. I remember them all promoting Brown's "hydroplate theory" until it was totally debunked.

[watchinginawe]

I think they are up front, their name is "Answers in Genesis" after all. They have a particular religious point of view and defend their "movement" from opposing views. I've seen this at every level my entire church life on a host of issues. Disagreement always allowed, just not as a leader or teacher, go somewhere else.

I read the linked article. I don't doubt that somewhere the "wolves in sheep's clothing" is presented, but it doesn't seem apparent in the article. It pretty clearly states that institutions that appear to support their religious view have influencers within who bring confusion to the dogma. They ask people spending money to carefully consider their choices as some institutions have given non-aligned views a platform, that seems to be it.

I'm not plugged in on this topic (or apologetic, or whatever) but I do believe materialism as a philosophy is dangerous and it has more than infiltrated "learning", it has outright become the default view. Make no mistake that they purge their ranks far more efficiently than Ken Ham and Answers in Genesis.

I don't run a school, but if I did, I would have to make important decisions on curriculum, textbooks, and teachers among other things. Those decisions and the viewpoints that direct the choices is what the school would be about. I don't see any harm in seeing what a school is really about under the skin to see if it aligns with my values and principles. If it's a religious school, or directed primarily by religious doctrine, then that will be expected to be a stated view and protected.

Anyway, I wanted to throw some kind of dissent in here, just because. I'm kind of interested to go look up the debate and see how shepherdsword came out. lol

[RabbiKnife]

I only have one question….

Did anyone do anything that remotely told people about Jesus today…

Other than that, I do t care much any more

Too many in house family pissing matches and not enough external proclamation of the gospel

[watchinginawe]

I only have one question….

Did anyone do anything that remotely told people about Jesus today…

Other than that, I do t care much any more

Too many in house family pissing matches and not enough external proclamation of the gospel

We agree on that. I wrote but then erased that a lot of this falls into a "misplaced faith" category. The focus of faith becomes more than about Jesus. If we get the Jesus part right, then you have a solid foundation to consider and develop an opinion on the rest. When they start adding how a particular view of Genesis is essential to having faith, well that is where I depart as it begins to become a misplaced faith. But there are lots and lots of categories like these.

[teddyv]

I only have one question….

Did anyone do anything that remotely told people about Jesus today…

Other than that, I do t care much any more

Too many in house family pissing matches and not enough external proclamation of the gospel

Creationism, as promoted by AiG and other orgs, does have real world and gospel implications. This is putting stumbling blocks before people and I have seen this in a very personal matter with a family who has been seeking faith.

[Fenris]

“To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.”
― St. Thomas Aquinas