Answers in Genesis (AiG) is an apologetics ministry founded in 1994 in the United States by Ken Ham. The ministry promotes a literal interpretation of the Book of Genesis, including belief in a young Earth creationism viewpoint. AiG rejects evolutionary science and seeks to provide biblical answers concerning the age of the universe, the origin of life, and other issues related to creation vs evolution.
Beliefs and Teachings
Some of the key beliefs and teachings promoted by Answers in Genesis include:
- The Bible is the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God.
- There is one eternal God existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- God created the universe and all that is in it in six literal 24-hour days around 6,000 years ago.
- Adam and Eve were real historical people, created on Day 6 of creation.
- Death, bloodshed, disease, and suffering entered the world only after Adam sinned.
- The Flood described in Genesis 6-9 was a real global event that destroyed the entire world, except for Noah, his family, and the animals on the Ark.
- All human races came from Noah’s three sons after the Flood.
- Fossils formed rapidly during the global Flood and provide evidence of it.
- The Tower of Babel event was a real dispersion of languages across the world.
- Dinosaurs lived at the same time as humans and were likely taken on Noah’s Ark.
- The universe is around 6,000 years old based on Bible genealogies.
- Evolutionary ideas like millions of years and molecules-to-man evolution conflict with biblical truth.
In summary, AiG teaches a young-earth creationist view and rejects macroevolution and old earth geology. They believe the Bible is trustworthy on matters of science and history, and should be used to interpret scientific evidence. AiG seeks to counter old earth and evolutionary beliefs prevalent in secular culture and science.
Ministry Activities
Answers in Genesis engages in a number of activities and outreaches to promote its young earth creationist message, including:
- The Creation Museum – A 75,000 square foot museum in Kentucky illustrating a literal 6-day biblical creation timeline, including exhibits with dinosaurs and humans co-existing.
- Ark Encounter – A life-sized reconstruction of Noah’s Ark as described in Genesis 6-9, including models of animals that likely would have been on the Ark.
- Conferences – AiG holds regular conferences on creation apologetics, homeschooling, and family topics.
- Publications – AiG publishes the Answers magazine and many books on Genesis, creation science, world religions, homeschooling, and Christian living.
- Website – The AiG website provides a wealth of online creation resources including articles, videos, newsletters, radio features, social media, store, and more.
- Speakers – AiG provides speakers to churches, schools, conferences, and other venues to present on biblical authority, Genesis, creation/evolution, and related topics.
- Research – AiG conducts research projects in creation science and sponsors archaeological digs to uncover evidence supporting the Bible.
- Outreach – AiG conducts evangelism outreaches on college campuses and communities to call people back to biblical authority.
Through its multimedia activities, AiG provides biblical apologetics focused on Genesis, a literal six-day creation, a global flood, and rejection of molecules-to-man evolution. Their goal is to remove supposed “stumbling blocks” to faith by showing the scientific reliability of the Genesis account.
Views on Genesis
Answers in Genesis takes a literal young earth creationist view of the Book of Genesis. Some key aspects include:
- The days of creation in Genesis 1 were six literal 24-hour days.
- God created a mature universe in six days with the appearance of age, but not millions of years old.
- Adam and Eve were made on Day 6, so humanity was created at the beginning along with the rest of the universe.
- There was no death or bloodshed of animals or humans before the Fall of Adam and Eve.
- Noah’s Flood was global in extent and produced most of the geologic layers and fossil evidence we see today.
- The Tower of Babel account provides the origin of all ancient civilizations and the division of languages.
- Genesis provides the origins of languages, government, agriculture, music, technology, marriage, and more.
- Genesis is foundational to the rest of the Bible and Christian theology.
AiG teaches that compromising on a literal Genesis undermines biblical authority and the foundations of the Gospel message itself. A non-literal view of Genesis cannot be reconciled with the teachings of Jesus, Paul, and other biblical writers that reference Genesis.
Criticisms
While Answers in Genesis has been influential in promoting young earth creationism, the ministry has received criticism from a variety of sources, including:
- Scientists argue AiG ignores or misrepresents vast amounts of conclusive evidence from geology, astronomy, physics, genetics, paleontology, archaeology, and more that conclusively points to an ancient universe and evolving life.
- Many Bible scholars and theologians argue there are other valid literal interpretations of Genesis beyond the extreme six 24-hour day view. They accuse AiG of dogmatism on debatable textual details.
- AiG is criticized for portraying the Bible and science as enemies, rather than as complementary revelations that should be harmonized.
- Some say AiG presents a misleading contrast between “God’s infallible Word” and “man’s fallible theories” while ignoring nuances in how the Bible was inspired and written.
- Critics argue AiG radically oversimplifies complex scientific concepts to unfairly argue a young earth view. Their presentations can mislead lay audiences unfamiliar with advanced science.
- AiG is charged with conducting pseudoscientific research aimed at propping up young earth preconceptions rather than objectively following evidence wherever it leads.
While commended by supporters as defending biblical authority on Genesis, AiG has faced skepticism over whether their extreme literalism and dubious science actually undermine faith-science discussions and the reasonable defense of Christianity.
Historical Background
Answers in Genesis has roots in the 20th century rise of American biblical fundamentalism and young earth creationism:
- 20th century movement to defend the historical accuracy and scientific reliability of early Genesis against growing acceptance of evolution and deep time geology.
- 1961 – Publication of The Genesis Flood by Henry Morris and John Whitcomb launched contemporary young earth creationism.
- 1970s-1980s – Morris’ Institute for Creation Research pioneered Flood geology and critiques of “evolutionism.”
- 1990s – Answers in Genesis founded in Australia by Ken Ham, former employee of ICR, to provide layman creation apologetics using entertaining formats.
- 1994 – US branch of AiG established in Kentucky. Early focus on seminars, conferences, radio shows.
- 2000s – AiG built the Creation Museum (2007) and Ark Encounter (2016) in Kentucky at a cost of over $150 million.
- 2010s – AiG branched into Christian textbooks, homeschooling conferences, and other biblical “relevance” issues.
AiG expanded on earlier creation science with slick presentations aimed at countering evolution’s growing influence on science and the church. Their founders helped spark today’s creation-evolution battle.
Leadership and Organization
Answers in Genesis is structured as follows:
- President and CEO – Ken Ham
- COO – Mark Looy
- Senior Vice Presidents oversee divisions like Creation Museum, Ark Encounter, Conferences, Publications, Accounting, and more.
- Board of Directors provides oversight and long-range guidance.
- Answers magazine editor-in-chief – Dr. Andrew Snelling
- AiG has around 900 employees across its U.S. headquarters and attractions in Kentucky.
Ken Ham has been the driving force behind AiG since its founding in Australia in the 1990s. His vision to engage culture and youth has helped build AiG into one of the preeminent young earth creationist ministries today. AiG continues expanding its outreach through new media platforms, speakers, attractions, and resources aimed at restoring biblical foundations in the church and society.
Significance and Impact
Answers in Genesis has played a major role in the modern creation-evolution conflict:
- Brought young earth creationist apologetics into the evangelical mainstream, churches, and homeschool movement.
- Provided entry point for millions to encounter creation science arguments critiquing mainstream geology, biology, astronomy, and anthropology.
- Popularized creationist explanations for fossils, the Flood, the origin of races, distant starlight, and more.
- Ham’s debate with Bill Nye sparked global interest in the creation-evolution controversy.
- Museum, Ark, and media brought creationism to new and larger audiences.
- Promoted perception that only young earth view represents true “biblical creationism.”
- Hard line “all or nothing” approach intensified the battle-lines around Genesis and biblical authority.
- Provoked renewed efforts by mainstream science educators to oppose teaching creationism in schools.
Regardless of one’s views of their science and theology, Answers in Genesis has ensured creation-evolution issues remain culturally relevant and center stage within evangelicalism today.
Conclusion
Answers in Genesis champions a young earth creationist view of Genesis as the only valid approach forbiblical Christians. Through its multimedia outreaches, AiG has brought creation-evolution debates to the forefront of American religious and cultural dialogue. While generating both devotion and criticism, AiG has cemented creationism’s foothold within evangelicalism. Ongoing legal cases and cultural conflicts over teaching creationism in schools and museums ensure Answers in Genesis will continue shaping science and Christianity discussions for years to come.