Contrary to a widely held view, the Grand Canyon was formed by Noah’s Flood.  Yes, it must be true because it says so in a book.  And this book is being sold at the Grand Canyon at the direction of Bush appointees according to PEER, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility.

Washington, DC-Grand Canyon National Park is not permitted to give an official estimate of the geologic age of its principal feature, due to pressure from Bush administration appointees. Despite promising a prompt review of its approval for a book the Grand Canyon was created by Noah’s flood rather than by geologic forces, more than three years later no review has ever been done and the book remains on sale at the park, according to documents released today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER).

One is immediately reminded of efforts by certain parts of the military to promote religion.

But rest assured that there is good reason to institute this policy.  In doing this, the Park Service hopes to avoid being offensive to our fundamentalist friends.

“In order to avoid offending religious fundamentalists, our National Park Service is under orders to suspend its belief in geology,” stated PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch. “It is disconcerting that the official position of a national park as to the geologic age of the Grand Canyon is ‘no comment.’”

Apparently, offending those who hold scienficically-based views was of little concern.

And so the spinning began.  But spinning is perhaps an understatement.  

Park officials have defended the decision to approve the sale of Grand Canyon: A Different View, claiming that park bookstores are like libraries, where the broadest range of views are displayed. In fact, however, both law and park policies make it clear that the park bookstores are more like schoolrooms rather than libraries. As such, materials are only to reflect the highest quality science and are supposed to closely support approved interpretive themes. Moreover, unlike a library the approval process is very selective. Records released to PEER show that during 2003, Grand Canyon officials rejected 22 books and other products for bookstore placement while approving only one new sale item-the creationist book.

But why stop here.  One employee suggested other fertile ground.

“As one park geologist said, this is equivalent of Yellowstone National Park selling a book entitled Geysers of Old Faithful: Nostrils of Satan,” Ruch added,…

PEER’s letter to the NPS director is here.

The NPS admission that no review of the book took place is seen here.

The NPS director’s order on interpretation is seen here.

History of the controversy is seen here.

More about the administration’s faith-based parks is seen here.

Contact information for the NPS is here, where you can state your considerable disgust.