Ed Brayton is a journalist, commentator and speaker. He is the co-founder and president of 
In the ongoing battle between Ken Ham and Carl Weiland over the ugly split between Creation Ministries International and Answers in Genesis, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals has ordered the two sides into private arbitration to settle their differences.
A federal appeals court has told an Australian ministry to settle out of court with the founder of a popular Kentucky museum dedicated to biblical history.The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday ordered Australian-based Creation Ministries International into arbitration with Answers in Genesis over copyrights and control of affiliates in other countries. Answers in Genesis had asked for arbitration.
For those who don't know the story, here's some background:
Ham started the Creation Science Foundation in Australia in 1980 with Carl Wieland, who had been publishing a creation science magazine since the 1970s, according to court records. Ham later moved to the U.S. and started Answers in Genesis, which quickly grew in membership and "eclipsed its Australian counterpart."The two ministries shared ownership of international affiliate groups until disagreements prompted the U.S. and Australian ministries to meet in 2005 to draw up agreements concerning copyrights, Web site domain names and intellectual property owned by the foundation. Those agreements were approved by both groups' boards but Wieland rejected them, appointed a new Australian board and renamed the group Creation Ministries International, the ruling said.
The Australian lawsuit, filed on the day the Creation Museum opened in Kentucky, alleges Ham used a database containing the names and addresses of 39,000 subscribers to two Australian-produced magazines without seeking permission from Creation Ministries.
It's ironic given their creationist views that Ham and Weiland so closely resemble two chimps throwing feces at one another. I just hope it continues.
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The split started because Weiland insisted that Jesus used a saddle on the dinosaur and Ham claimed that Jesus always rode bareback.
The crack grew larger and larger and was very smelly.
Posted by: Kevin | February 20, 2009 9:32 AM
Having read several accounts of this dispute, I think the summary you posted is far too favorable to the US based group. As I understand it, Ken Ham convinced Carl Wieland's board members to essentially declare him God Almighty behind Carl's back. Then he claimed the moral high ground and the legal rights to everything (including the name "Answers in Genesis"), which he effectively pilfered.
Posted by: Odie | February 20, 2009 9:37 AM
The funniest part is that they claim to be fighting over "intellectual property". For very large values of the word "intellectual", I suppose.
Posted by: Taz | February 20, 2009 9:52 AM
"Intellectual property" struck me as funny also. I mean, seriously, what kind of intellectual property could AiG or CMI even claim to have?
Posted by: chris | February 20, 2009 10:33 AM
Any written materials the groups have qualify as intellectual property, as do any trademarks, logos, corporate names, etc.
Posted by: James Hanley | February 20, 2009 10:39 AM
Scott Hanley is right - he is the funny one. :) DJ
Posted by: DingoJack | February 20, 2009 10:55 AM
What if the arbitration doesn't work the way both parties wanted it? The two parties would still continue to be at each others' throat to the point of bringing the two organizations to their downfall even when they settle their matters temporary.
Posted by: Crazyharp81602 | February 20, 2009 11:14 AM
It couldn't happen to a more deserving bunch of schmucks.
Posted by: AK | February 20, 2009 11:14 AM
I don't know - the idea that "Jesus rode bareback" leading to a crack....that created some disturbing images, especially if I include the dinosaur!
Posted by: Badger3k | February 20, 2009 11:22 AM
Dingo,
My sense of humor has, I think, been permanently damaged by working in academia.
Posted by: James Hanley | February 20, 2009 11:43 AM
Maybe they'll kiss and make up, in utah.
Posted by: eddie | February 20, 2009 2:21 PM
"And so, as the few fertile ideas sprung from the soil of creationism breath their last breaths, the predators, Hammosuchus lialotus and Weilandasaurus bullshittia are forced into a brutal competition for the last scraps of food on a parched and barren intellectual plain. Which will be the stronger? Which one is more fit to live? Will the intellectual progeny of either be able to evolve and fill a niche within the drought-stricken world of Intetlligent Design? We will find out after this word from Mutual of Omaha."
(Picture that with Marlin Perkins doing the voiceover.)
Posted by: (((Billy))) | February 20, 2009 2:23 PM
Clash of the Stupids.
(Why is this shit cracking me up? I can't stop laughing....)
Posted by: kamaka | February 20, 2009 7:19 PM
(((Billy)) - That was good. Gives new meaning to the phrase "evolutionary dead end".
Posted by: Taz | February 20, 2009 7:32 PM
Of course, it is now the next morning and, as I read what i wrote, I noticed I mispelled 'intelligent.' D'oh! Sorry.
Posted by: (((Billy))) | February 21, 2009 8:18 AM
eddie,
Wouldn't that be a gay kiss, and each will then banish the other into eternal damnation...
Posted by: Erm | February 21, 2009 9:04 AM
Ummm...I thought you did that on purpose...
Posted by: kamaka | February 21, 2009 6:36 PM
And this is being tried in a US court? The aussie will get boned - it's that simple.
Posted by: Paul Murray | February 21, 2009 9:15 PM
Kamaka: Nah. Can't imagine Marlin Perkins trying to pronounce "Intetlligent." Just wouldn't work.
Paul: Believe it or not, most US court cases really are tried on the merits of the case. Worst case scenario -- the Aussie loses, and we Americans are responsible for BOTH centers of idiocy.
Posted by: (((Billy))) | February 22, 2009 2:02 PM
I hadn't realised that Ken Ham was Australian. I am much ashamed...
Posted by: Avi Chapman | February 23, 2009 2:01 AM
You should all be ashamed of yourselves, one day you will kneal before the Almighty God and repent for your ungodly, gross tongues. These are two good men with differences that God will work out.
Posted by: rebekahj | March 17, 2009 10:12 PM
Furthermore, AIG is a wonderful place just trying to put out christian beliefs that are so squashed out by all of the wordly trash like yourselves. I pray that each of you taking God's name in vain will repent and ask that He truly will save your souls from hell.
Posted by: Rebekah Johnson | March 17, 2009 10:17 PM