Divine Design in Utah

“We get different types of dogs and different types of cats, but you have never seen a ‘dat,’ “ he said.

I and my friends have seen hundreds of them, but they were (and remain) unidentified: “Who dat?”

We have also seen many cogs.

Meanwhile, in another dusty southwestern state:

http://www.tulsabeacon.com/1.htm

‘UnAmerican idols’ at the Tulsa Zoo?

Tulsa’s Park and Recreation Board is debating on whether Christian influence should be given equal consideration to pantheism, Hinduism and other pagan religions prominently displayed at the Tulsa Zoo. At a May 3 meeting, board members tabled a proposal to display an exhibit that alludes to the Bible’s account of Creation. The matter will be on the agenda at 8:30 a.m. June 7 when the board meets at Lacy Park. Mayor Bill LaFortune and mayoral aide Clay Bird have pledged their support for Christian display but Dan Hicks, who has pushed for the display, said he can’t count on their support. LaFortune has a history of making unfulfilled promises when it comes to Christian groups. Early in his term, LaFortune pledged his support for a Community Block Grant for Cornerstone Assistance Network but then abandoned the Christian organization when it was opposed by Councilor Susan Neal. Hicks said his display, a series of photographs by Oregon photographer Rick Ergenbright from his book, The Art of God, should be presented because of the numerous displays of pagan religions throughout the zoo. Either put them all up or take them all down, Hicks said. An assistant city attorney told Hicks the Christian display could only be approved if it had a disclaimer that reads, “Acts of creation are contained in the literature of many cultures. This display is an example of one view of our origin.” In the zoo’s Beginnings of Life exhibit, a plaque reads, “Scientists believe that life began in the oceans. Electrical storms were the key to forming organic compounds called amino acids from the four most common gasses in the earth’s primitive atmosphere: ammonia, methane, hydrogen and water vapor. Amino acids are the basic building blocks of all living things, and were deposited by rain in the oceans.” A poster about birds reads, “Birds are essentially reptiles with feathers and a constant body temperature.” “It teaches evolution as fact,” Hicks said. “That is one view. Why is my view excluded?” Hicks said a recent poll showed 60 percent of Oklahomans believe God created man and another 33 percent believe God created man using evolution. The number who think God had no part of the process was 3 percent. “The Genesis account is shared by the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths,” Hicks said. “It should be an important part of the origins’ exhibit.” In front of the elephant compound is a Hindu statue with the following information: “The Ganesha is a beautiful example of artistic expression, reflecting a cultural belief that is strongly influenced by the presence and power of elephants. This statue was hand carved from granite in Madras, India. As a symbol of wisdom and goodwill, the Ganesha is said to bring luck to students preparing for exams.” “Ganesha is the son of Shiva,” Hicks said. “He is the first god a Hindu chants to. This violates the first and second commandments (of the 10 Commandments) and it is very offensive.” The board has five members and three votes are needed to add the Christian display. Hicks said he hoped the Mayor and board member Walt Helmerich would vote for the display. If the board turns down the request and continues to display the pagan images, Hicks said he anticipated a lawsuit would follow that would force the city to accommodate the city’s Christian population.