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jehovah's witnesses are so nice (not)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2123546.stm

To remind you of your original point:

You [the United States, presumably-- I'm not religious, nor do I export anything] are currently exporting extreme religions (yup, that's what a lot of uk people think of the Johovahs witnesses that come calling, nut jobs to be avoided at all costs),

To support your point that the US is exporting extreme religions, you link to an article about a church elder who abused a kid. How does that show extreme religions being exported in any way, shape or form? In what way does it prove that "uk people" are avoiding Jehovah's Witnesses? Hell, how do you even define what "extreme religions" are? How does it show anything other than, "hey one guy did one bad thing!"

How about finding a demographic study that shows the religion gaining influence over time, or perhaps an opinion poll from UK citizens about their acceptance of Jehovah's Witnesses? Those might actually be more relevant to your initial point than this 1-page newspaper article you Googled.

looking for the ark....

http://www.noahsarksearch.com/

There's nothing on that website about funding. For all I know the entire thing is a single guy with a lot of free time, and given the quality of the website that seems a good guess.

Then again, let's assume it is being funded by someone... so what? Unless you prove that the amount of funding goes towards finding Noah's Ark is increasing over time, this does nothing to support the original point.

(Or perhaps you think it should be illegal to fund searches for mythical objects? I, and a lot of other Americans, happen to believe in freedom. If someone wants to spent money to find the flying spaghetti monster, who am I to stop them? They can do what they want.)

the links between americans extreme religions and isreal/funding of end time stuff

http://www.wluml.org/english/newsfulltxt.shtml?cmd %5B157%5D=x-157-537000

This link goes to a book review. I haven't read the book. If anybody reading this has, please comment on it.

(I will say that President Bush is not a "fervent Christian fundamentalist." If would be interesting to see what definition of "fundamentalist" includes President Bush.)

problems with science in the US classroom

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleUR L&_udi=B6WSN-4J79KGF-4&_user=10&_coverDate=02%2F10 %2F2006&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c& _acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid= 10&md5=f91bf7d1e0b2f400ab976e4834c79692

"Not available" error.

That enough?

Not for me. And I'm not even Christian-- I just have a pretty well-developed BS filter.

jehovah's witnesses are so nice (not)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2123546.stm

looking for the ark....

http://www.noahsarksearch.com/

the links between americans extreme religions and isreal/funding of end time stuff

http://www.wluml.org/english/newsfulltxt.shtml?cmd %5B157%5D=x-157-537000

problems with science in the US classroom

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleUR L&_udi=B6WSN-4J79KGF-4&_user=10&_coverDate=02%2F10 %2F2006&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c& _acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid= 10&md5=f91bf7d1e0b2f400ab976e4834c79692

That enough?

"If you believe evolutionary dating mechanisms (old earth of 5 billion years old), which makes many unstated assumptions as fact both before and after the flood, then you would state that the flood was probably 20,000 to 50,000 years ago. This is why old earther's scoff at the search for the ark, as it is extremely unlikely any of the boat would have survived for tens of millennia. However, if the ark is actually scientifically documented to have survived, this would present a dilemma for old earther's, who typically rely on many generations being left out of the biblical genealogies.

If you question evolutionary dating mechanisms (young earth of 6,000-10,000 years old), then you would state that the flood was between about 5000BC to 2350BC, depending on how many generations were left out of the biblical genealogies. See the Link webpage for more information."

This page is quote facinating when taken in context with the geneology data:
http://answersingenesis.org/creation/v4/i1/noahs_f lood.asp

When was Noah's Flood? 1,981 years to AD 0 plus 967 years to the founding of Solomon's Temple plus 480 years to the end of the Exodus plus 430 years to the promise to Abraham plus 75 years to Abraham's birth plus 350 years to Shem's 100th birthday plus 2 years to the Flood. The Biblical data places the Flood at 2304 BC +/- 11 years.

This date is, as expected, in conflict with secular archaeology which regards the Flood as either local or a myth and the Biblical chronologies as irrelevant or inaccurate.

The placing of a catastrophic global flood in the year 2304 BC means that all civilizations discovered by archaeology must fit into the last 4,285 years.

"its a pony! No wait....its a mule...."

What photos are you looking at? Mount Ararat?

If you are interested or curious you can find out a LOT of interesting information at my Uncle's site. He has a country place that no one knows about!

Here

Uncle B has been on several expeditions to "the mountains of Ararat" and has co-authored a book on the subject.

Many of the "facts" that have been presented on Slashdot are... well... this is Slashdot!

For open minded individuals, the abusive distortion of facts by ANY dogmatic belief (creation, evolution, humanism, christianity, islam, ufos, atheism, whatever!) is pathetic.

Facts are facts. The problem is always interpretation. As Rush said, "you can twist perceptions, reality won't budge." The problem is that many people accept the interpretation of data as FACT and that's just as dogmatic and foolish as someone who doesn't question the beliefs (or total lack thereof) that were imparted to them.

I find it interesting that the most "open minded" people turn out to be the most zealously dogmatic when confronted with something that is contrary to their opinion and beliefs, because let's face it: it is all a system of belief. Every factual interpretation is based on assumptions. Those assumptions probably seemed reasonable at the time. But they were wrong. It turns out that the Earth orbits the Sun, not the other way around!

As a Christian, I'm classified by a lot of people as ignorant or simple. The truth is that I choose to believe in Christ for one simple reason: if you want to know what it is, you can read my reply to this message. If you don't want to know, I won't proselytize. I give you the choice to read it or not.

back on topic...
A great resource on this topic is all the work done previously, like:

• The 50-page journal available from the Ford Library: link
• this list of sightings

The last czarina of Russia was purported to have a cross pendant made from a timber from their expedition to see Noah's Ark over a century ago.

Researchers are focusing on the wrong Ark. They should be after the Ark of the Covenant. I can just see the ACLU screaming about that being on display at the Smithsonian, what with their self-fashioned "separation" nonsense (go read the Federalist Papers). If the Jews had that Ark handy, then they could really rule with FUD.

Okay, I'll do my best. I'll admit I did find some links that mentioned there have been some research trips to the ark, but there are just as many like these:

joined with me in applying to the Turkish government for permission to excavate the boat-shaped formation. The Turkish authorities declined to give us a permit at that time. We got the same reply after a second request. We were stymied. source

Want to go look for yourself? It's not easy. Although guided treks up Mount Ararat were allowed during the 1970s, after several grim incidents the government forbade them because of very real danger from smugglers and other outlaws, Kurdish terrorists, severe weather and wild beasts. source

The Turkish government in Ankara would not give them permission to climb or fly around Mount Ararat. The government authorities "claimed" that they had received 100's of permit applications to climb Mount Ararat, and they believed most of them were bogus applications sent by the PKK. Most people believed this was a poor excuse to keep people off the mountain. But why? Is there a geniune concern for public safety? Tourism? Or does the Turkish government know something? Like where the ark is located? source

The Great Mount of Ararat which had been a favorite for climbers until 1980 was closed for climbing purposes. Then in 2001 it was reopened to visitors since the security in the area was reestablished. Nevertheless, to ensure continuance of security, visits to Mount Ararat are now under strict government control. source

Judge for yourself.