Religious Amusement Parks

[awitch]

Just outside of Disney World in Orlando, FL, there is a Bible themed amusement park/museum called "The Holy Land Experience".

There is a short segment about the park in Bill Maher's movie, "Religulous", but the film crew was apparently thrown out when the park management learned what his movie was about.

The park owners also managed to convince the Florida courts that they are tax-exempt.

Kent Hovind had a creationist amusement park called "Dinosaur Adventure Land" in Pensacola, FL, but it was shut down when he refused to pay taxes, citing that he and the parks employees were actually employed by God.

Anywho...I was wondering if anyone has been to the Holy Land Experience. If not, would any non-Christians consider going if they happened to be in the area? Would you attend an amusement park themed on their own (a)spirtual ideas? Are there any other religious theme parks?

 

[Chesterton]

Are there any other religious theme parks?

Yes, I visited HinduWorld. You should see the KamaSutraLand section. Woo-hoo!

Seriously, I don't care for the idea of the Holy Land Experience.

 

[Celticflower]

The idea of a religious amusement park just doesn't sit well with me - and I don't care which religion it would be for. And to have them be tax exempt when they are clearly in it just to make money is just so wrong.

 

[awitch]

You should see the KamaSutraLand section. Woo-hoo!

Hey, stay out of my bedroom

Seriously, I don't care for the idea of the Holy Land Experience.

Inaccurate? Over commercialized? Exploitative?

 

[Celticflower]

Inaccurate? Over commercialized? Exploitative?

All of the above.

 

[Chesterton]

Inaccurate? Over commercialized? Exploitative?

Yes, all of those I think. I understand that some of it consists of replicas of places in the Holy Land, and if that's all it was, I wouldn't mind that so much - that way people who maybe couldn't afford a trip to Israel could enjoy that aspect of it. But from what I understand there's just a lot of superfluous stuff going on, and Christianity's not supposed to be a business.

 

[crishmael]

I find the whole idea of religious amusement parks kinda icky. The whole potential cheese of the thing makes me nauseous. I don't care to ride a Jonah's Whale roller coaster or get my ice cream with "crucifixins".

 

[Arthra]

I've been on pilgrimage to the Holy Land (Israel) so probably wouldn't go to a Holy land amusement park...but I did visit the Rosicrucian Museum in San Jose and liked it.. but anyway I suppose there are people who might see these parks as educational..

Come to think of it does the parting of the Red Sea at Universal Studios count?

 

[awitch]

I've been on pilgrimage to the Holy Land (Israel) so probably wouldn't go to a Holy land amusement park...but I did visit the Rosicrucian Museum in San Jose and liked it..

That looks like a legit museum more than an amusement park - I'd definitely go to that.

Speaking of museums, how about the Creation Museum in Petersburg, KY? On second thought, after reading about the "cursed plants" exhibit, I must classify this as a an amusement park, too. Then again, these scientists didn't think it was so funny.

Come to think of it does the parting of the Red Sea at Universal Studios count?

It's gone now. I was there before 2006 and I don't remember seeing that one.

 

[Eudaimonist]

If not, would any non-Christians consider going if they happened to be in the area?

No, I can spend my money in much better ways. If I had free admission, then maybe.

Would you attend an amusement park themed on their own (a)spirtual ideas?

Sure, if there was such a thing and if it seemed tasteful enough.

Are there any other religious theme parks?

No idea.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[Gardenia]

Anywho...I was wondering if anyone has been to the Holy Land Experience. If not, would any non-Christians consider going if they happened to be in the area?

I haven't been. I dunno.. some of it looks like it could be interesting (from their site), I might consider going if there was nothing else in the area I wanted to do (because I have a packed list for when I am in that area already, hehe). Or if some Christian family members wanted to go.. hmm.. I wonder what they do think of such things.

Would you attend an amusement park themed on their own (a)spirtual ideas?

Oh man YES because ancient Egyptian land would be EPIC! I'm gonna ride the bumper cars with Anubis! Seriously though, it depends on how it was done. How really educational over exploitative, the motives behind it.. that sort of thing.

To be honest, I wouldn't mind seeing an ancient Egyptian park of sorts, but I do not think I would want to see it from a religious view.. does that make sense? I mean, from a historical view that would be neat. Maybe see some recreations of temples or homes or stuff like that, you know? Or a garden or such. (At the local botanical gardens they do have a section that reminds me of ancient Egypt. They also have a Biblical area with plants and such from the Bible which is also really cool.) But from a spiritual view it might be pretty awkward. I don't think we really need pagan theme parks. I guess what I'm saying is I'd rather just go to a museum.

 

[Minty]

Just outside of Disney World in Orlando, FL, there is a Bible themed amusement park/museum called "The Holy Land Experience".

There is a short segment about the park in Bill Maher's movie, "Religulous", but the film crew was apparently thrown out when the park management learned what his movie was about.

The park owners also managed to convince the Florida courts that they are tax-exempt.

Kent Hovind had a creationist amusement park called "Dinosaur Adventure Land" in Pensacola, FL, but it was shut down when he refused to pay taxes, citing that he and the parks employees were actually employed by God.

Anywho...I was wondering if anyone has been to the Holy Land Experience. If not, would any non-Christians consider going if they happened to be in the area? Would you attend an amusement park themed on their own (a)spirtual ideas? Are there any other religious theme parks?

I must be really weird, because I would go It sounds quite interesting, and if I was in the area I would pay it a visit (as long as the entrance fee wasn't too extortionate ) However, the chance of me being in the area is negligible (and I'm probably nearer to the actual Holy Land) so I think it's moot

 

[awitch]

I must be really weird, because I would go It sounds quite interesting, and if I was in the area I would pay it a visit (as long as the entrance fee wasn't too extortionate ) However, the chance of me being in the area is negligible (and I'm probably nearer to the actual Holy Land) so I think it's moot

I wouldn't want to pay for admission, but if I could get in for free, I'd go out of curiosity. But I live in Jersey, so I'm not sure if it's the same kind of curiosity that people have around here when they start rubbernecking at a car crash.

I'm glad there aren't Pagan themed parks, but I did notice that a lot of rides at regular amusement parks are named after gods, mythical creatures, and other mythological characters.

 

[HumbleSiPilot77]

Oh man, awitch, this is TBN stuff. Have you watched TBN? Benny Hinn is on it.

 

[HumbleSiPilot77]

A true holy land experience is Mel Gibson's "Passion of the Christ" on Blu-ray Disc on my Sony PS3, Sony KDL-46Z4100 and Sony HT-DDW700.

 

[awitch]

Oh man, awitch, this is TBN stuff. Have you watched TBN? Benny Hinn is on it.

Never heard of the Trinity Broadcasting Network before. Wow, and I thought Billy Graham's 700 Club was bad.

 

[Chesterton]

Just for the record, I don't think Billy Graham has anything to do with 700 Club. I think you meant Pat Robertson.

 

[awitch]

Just for the record, I don't think Billy Graham has anything to do with 700 Club. I think you meant Pat Robertson.

Oops, you're right.

 

[Celticflower]

Oops, you're right.

We'll forgive you that one. There's too many of theose tv guys to keep straight anyways.

 

[sammyf]

Sure, I like trying new things. And I like amusement parks.

Just outside of Disney World in Orlando, FL, there is a Bible themed amusement park/museum called The Holy Land Experience. Would you attend an amusement park themed on their own (a)spirtual ideas? Are there any other religious theme parks?