We Believe In Dinosaurs

We Believe In Dinosaurs is a fascinating, thought-provoking documentary feature from 2019 brought to life under the direction of Monica Long Ross and Clayton Brown. The film spotlights an unusual intersection of religion, science, and corporate America, focusing on the creation of the Ark Encounter, a pseudo-scientific, life-sized version of Noah's Ark constructed in Williamstown, Kentucky, by the organization Answers in Genesis. Starring Doug Henderson, David MacMillan, and Dan Phelps, the movie immerses us in an environment where biblical literalism, marketing strategies, and the ongoing debate between creationism and evolution converge to tell a story both compelling and unsettling.

The narrative traces the ambitious Noah's Ark project undertaking, conceived and executed by the deeply religious nonprofit Answers in Genesis, which is also responsible for the Creation Museum. Through interviews and footage, the film provides a peek into their belief system centered on Young Earth Creationism, which propagates that God created the universe and everything in it in six days, around 6,000 years ago, a view that starkly contradicts scientific consensus on evolution and the age of the Earth.

In this highly polarized context, the three main characters unfold the story. The affable artist Doug Henderson creates the dinosaurs intended to be exhibited in the Ark Encounter, believing in their co-existence with humans. As an ex-young Earth creationist, David MacMillan brings a personal perspective, discussing his journey and the ideological struggles he encountered. Lastly, Dan Phelps, a geologist and president of the Kentucky Paleontological Society, vehemently opposes the Ark Encounter and makes efforts to promote mainstream scientific understanding of Earth's history and evolution.

We Believe In Dinosaurs artfully explores the struggle between these differing perspectives and the individuals who embody them, revealing the stark cultural and ideological divides in America. The Ark Encounter, framed as a unique blend of theme park and religious indoctrination, becomes a focal point with its claim to fuse entertainment with education, all the while challenging well-established scientific facts such as the very age of our planet.

Equally significant in the documentary is the exploration of the socio-economic implications of the project. The Ark Encounter comes with a promise of economic revitalization for Williamstown and the surrounding area, demonstrating the crossroads between corporate interest, government participation, and community expectation. The film also delves into the controversial legal and financial aspects of the project, exploring topics such as the separation of church and state, tax incentives, hiring discrimination, and more.

The makers of We Believe in Dinosaurs present the intricacies of this multi-layered narrative in a balanced, sensitive manner without skewing towards mockery or disdain. Throughout its runtime, the documentary continues to engage its viewers by raising uncomfortable questions about the complex relationship between faith, science, politics, and business in contemporary America.

While the film critically examines the highly unpopular views held by the Creationists, it also successfully humanizes those advocating for them. It refuses to reduce any character to caricature or stereotype, instead presenting each perspective in a nuanced light, thereby urging the viewer to consider each viewpoint.

Wonderfully paced and delicately balanced, We Believe In Dinosaurs calls into question the state of science education, the influence of religious beliefs on it, the perceived threat to freedom of thought, and the institutional backing of particular ideologies. It presents an intriguing, deeply sourced look at the troubled relationship between faith and reason, and its cultural bearings.

While uniquely focusing on the creation of the Ark Encounter, the film also offers a broader message about the ongoing battle between science and religion, the commercialization of religious belief, and the socio-economic implications of large corporate-religious projects. Although centered around a quintessentially American setting and theme, this compelling journey contains universal resonances and relevance.

In conclusion, We Believe In Dinosaurs is much more than a documentary about the creation of a life-sized ark; it is a mirror held up to a society torn between faith and science, and a study of how these varying worldviews can quite literally shape the world around us. Through captivating storytelling and visual narration, it demands attention to the existential issues, the values, and the realities that drive modern societies.