Monday, October 28, 2013
Feedback: Why Are You Building the Ark on Land?
by Tim Chaffey, AiG–U.S.

If the ark was supposed to be able to float, why are you building your full sized replica on land? Wouldn’t you want to prove people who say it couldn’t float that they are wrong?

Hello Mark,

Thank you for contacting Answers in Genesis and for your questions. Your queries give us an opportunity to correct some misconceptions people have about the Ark Encounter. So let’s take a look at each of them.

First, as we explained in last week’s feedback, the Ark Encounter is not being promoted as a replica of Noah’s Ark. We do not know exactly what the original Ark looked like so it would be very difficult to replicate it. However, we have designed our Ark in accordance to the scant details of the biblical text (Genesis 6:14–16), basing our design on research into ancient shipbuilding.

Second, the purpose for Noah’s Ark is different than Ark Encounter. Noah’s Ark was used for its eight human passengers and large number of animals to survive a year-long worldwide Flood. Whereas the Ark Encounter is being designed as a testimony to the biblical Ark and the account of God’s judgment upon an unbelieving world. Also, the setting for our Ark is the pre-Flood world so there would be no reason to have it float at that point. We want this attraction to stand for years to come (Lord willing), demonstrating the trustworthiness of God’s Word and telling people about the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ.