Christian Retailing

Top-trending creation debate brings ‘window of opportunity’ for retailers Print Email
Written by Jeremy Burns   
Wednesday, 05 February 2014 05:35 PM America/New_York

KenHamBillNye-webAt least 3 million viewers watched the highly publicized debate between Bill Nye the Science Guy and Creation Museum founder and author Ken Ham the evening of Feb. 4. The debate, sponsored by Answers in Genesis, dealt with the question, “Is creation a viable model of origins in today’s modern scientific era?” and quickly became the No. 1 topic trending on Twitter and Facebook.

Nye, an agnostic educator who rose to national prominence with his ’90s children’s science TV show, argued the evolutionist side, while Ham defended the young-Earth creationism upon which the Creation Museum and Answers in Genesis are founded. At least 10,000 groups watched the debate in a public venue, spurring further conversations about creationism, the Bible and related subjects.

“Many limit the scope of this debate to simply origins of life or creationism vs. evolution, but in reality it is an issue of biblical authority,” said Laura Welch, editor in chief of New Leaf Publishing Group, Ken Ham’s publisher. “Why the Bible can and should be trusted, how it shares real history, real scientific insight, real answers to questions that pertain to our existence—death and suffering, the need for a Savior, the way we view the purpose of our own lives.”

In the aftermath of the debate, those seeking answers to the creation question may be interested in Answers in Genesis products.

“Resources like Ken Ham’s ministry books and DVDs are vital to providing answers to Christians and those seeking real truth—including many by credentialed scientists who also hold creationist views,” Welch added. “This growing body of work, evidence and answers is increasingly being sought for churches, ministries, Christian education, a growing homeschool movement and personal study.”

New Leaf is offering Ham’s books in a package deal for retailers.  The publisher reports that more than 2.3 million copies of Ham’s works have been sold to date.

“The Bible is not anti-science, but in fact the inspiration and source of knowledge many of science’s greatest minds used in their innovations, explorations and discoveries,” Welch concluded. “The Ken Ham/Bill Nye debate brought these questions to a growing national stage where the light of God’s truth created a window of opportunity and potential sales for Christian retailers.”