SCHAGEN, Netherlands (April 28) – The massive central door in the side of Noah’s Ark was thrown open Saturday – you could say it was the first time in 4,000 years – drawing a crowd of curious pilgrims and townsfolk to behold the wonder.
Of course, it’s only a replica of the biblical Ark, built by Dutch creationist Johan Huibers as a testament to his faith in the literal truth of the Bible.
Reckoning by the old biblical measurements, Johan’s fully functional ark is 150 cubits long, 30 cubits high and 20 cubits wide. That’s two-thirds the length of a football field and as high as a three-story house.
Life-size models of giraffes, elephants, lions, crocodiles, zebras, bison and other animals greet visitors as they arrive in the main hold.
“The design is by my wife, Bianca,” Huibers said. “She didn’t really want me to do this at all, but she said if you’re going to anyway, it should look like this.”
A contractor by trade, Huibers built the ark of cedar and pine – biblical scholars debate exactly what the wood used by Noah would have been.
Huibers did the work mostly with his own hands, using modern tools and occasional help from his son Roy. Construction began in May 2005.
On the uncovered top deck – not quite ready in time for the opening – will come a petting zoo, with baby lambs and chickens, and goats. And one camel.
Visitors on the first day were stunned.
“It’s past comprehension,” said Mary Louise Starosciak, who happened to be bicycling by with her husband while on vacation when they saw the ark looming over the local landscape.
“I knew the story of Noah, but I had no idea the boat would have been so big.”
In fact, Noah’s Ark as described in the Bible was five times larger than Johan’s Ark.
But that still leaves enough space near the keel for a 50-seat film theater, where kids can watch the segment of the Disney film “Fantasia” that tells the story of Noah.
Another exhibit shows water cascading down on a model of the Ark. Exhibits on the third level show ancient tools and old-fashioned barrels, exotic stuffed animals, and a wax model of an exhausted Noah reclining on a bed in the forecastle.
Genesis says Noah kept seven pairs of most domesticated animals and one breeding pair of all other creatures, plus his wife, three sons and three daughters-in-law together on the boat for almost a year while the world was deluged.
The Creation Museum
A museum depicting exhibits based on literal interpretations from the Bible is scheduled to open in Kentucky in May.Perhaps it was only logical that the replica project would be the brainchild of a Dutchman: fear of floods are ingrained in the country’s collective consciousness by its water-drenched history.
Lois Poppema, visiting from California, said she thought the Netherlands was exactly the right place for an ark.
“Just a few weeks ago we saw Al Gore on television .. saying that all Holland will be flooded” due to rising sea levels, she said.
“I don’t think the man who made this ever expected that global warning will become (such an important) issue – and suddenly having the ark would be meaningful in the middle of Holland.”
Under sunny clear skies Saturday, Huibers said he wasn’t worried about another biblical flood, since according to Genesis, the rainbow is the sign of God’s promise never to flood the world again. But he does worry that recent events such as the flooding of New Orleans could be seen as a portent of the end of time.
Huibers said he hopes the project will renew interest in Christianity in the Netherlands, where churchgoing has fallen dramatically in the past 50 years. He also plans to visit major cities in Belgium and Germany. By TOBY STERLING
Originally posted 2007-04-30 07:35:31.
Related Posts -
Review: Cuir de Russie candle by Le Jardin Retrouvé I received this Cuir de Russie candle from Le Jardin Retrouvé so that I could review it and share my impressions with my readers. I loved the silver look of it, and I lit it,... -
Trafficked children in Nepal Conor Grennan, another hero, backed by a small NGO that he started Next Generation Nepal is walking back roads in Nepal trying to reconnect families with their trafficked children. Here's part of one of his... - The Third/or Fourth Man Factor The Third Man Factor is an interesting concept. Evidently it should be The Fourth Man Factor, but It was [Sir Ernest] Shackleton’s experience that inspired the term “Third Man factor” (although for his group it...
- Review: The Blind Side (movie) If you haven't heard of this movie, hurry on over to your nearest theater and see it. Book Girl and I went this morning. I had heard via the grapevine that it is a wonderful...
- Review Arbonne Men's skin line NutriMenC RE9 is the 4 step men's line from Arbonne. It is my understanding that the men's line is formulated similar to the RE9 for women, but tweaked for men. Of course, you knew I...
Related Websites - Buying Properties At A 60% Discount There are still a lot of investors looking to get into real estate. Some of them are newbies looking for deals, and others are experienced...
- Frys Open Round Four Recap Troy Matteson messed up a chance at winning the Frys.com Open in regulation play by bogeying the last 2 holes. Playing the same 18 holes...
- Djokovic is Riding a Wave Right Into the Shanghai Masters Tournament Novak Djokovic just recently arrived in Shanghai during this past Monday only hours away from taking a weekend title while playing in Beijing and then...
- The Wrecker by Clive Cussler and Justin Scott The Wrecker is the second novel in a new Western series by "one of the greatest adventure novelists of our time" (imdb). It promises to...
- World Stem Cell Summit in Baltimore: Catholic values into question Marylanders can see where their money is vacant Sept. 21 because, in stem sect explore. High on that they will converse are ethical questions tangled...
- Netherlands Colonies Europe Stamps
- Toy Story Pixar Collectibles Contemporary 1968-Now Disneyana Collectibles
- Netherlands Europe Coins World Coins Paper Money
Categories:
0 comments ↓
There are no comments yet...Kick things off by filling out the form below.
Leave a Comment