December 2005 Issue

Heaven on Earth

When theme parks get religion


Heaven on Earth illustration by Mark Matcho

PARK

DESCRIPTION

ATTRACTIONS

Holy Land Experience
Orlando, Florida
Opened 2001

A “total immersion” version of Jerusalem during biblical times

– Re-creation of cave where Dead Sea Scrolls were found
– Arabian-themed Oasis Palms Cafe, home of the Goliath Burger

Dinosaur Adventure Land
Pensacola, Florida
Opened 2001

Creationist park “where dinosaurs and the Bible meet!”

– Rides that conclusively prove human-giant reptile coexistence, such as the Longneck Liftasaurus, the Pterodactyl Glide, and the Flingasaurus
 

Ganga-Dham
Haridwar, India
Scheduled to open in 2007

Hindu mythology theme park on the shores of the Ganges

– Star Tours-type ride starring monkey god Hanuman
– Petting zoo with “puppies, kittens, sheep, rabbits, tortoise, poultry”

City of Revelation
Central Florida
Opening date TBA

Giant biblical theme park with attractions “from Genesis to Revelation”

– Ezekiel’s “chariot of fire” ride
– “See an authentic Jewish wedding”
– Re-creation of destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah

WE CAME UP SHORT.

We just wrapped up a shorter-than-normal, urgent-as-ever fundraising drive and we came up about $45,000 short of our $300,000 goal.

That means we're going to have upwards of $350,000, maybe more, to raise in online donations between now and June 30, when our fiscal year ends and we have to get to break-even. And even though there's zero cushion to miss the mark, we won't be all that in your face about our fundraising again until June.

So we urgently need this specific ask, what you're reading right now, to start bringing in more donations than it ever has. The reality, for these next few months and next few years, is that we have to start finding ways to grow our online supporter base in a big way—and we're optimistic we can keep making real headway by being real with you about this.

Because the bottom line: Corporations and powerful people with deep pockets will never sustain the type of journalism Mother Jones exists to do. The only investors who won’t let independent, investigative journalism down are the people who actually care about its future—you.

And we hope you might consider pitching in before moving on to whatever it is you're about to do next. We really need to see if we'll be able to raise more with this real estate on a daily basis than we have been, so we're hoping to see a promising start.

payment methods

WE CAME UP SHORT.

We just wrapped up a shorter-than-normal, urgent-as-ever fundraising drive and we came up about $45,000 short of our $300,000 goal.

That means we're going to have upwards of $350,000, maybe more, to raise in online donations between now and June 30, when our fiscal year ends and we have to get to break-even. And even though there's zero cushion to miss the mark, we won't be all that in your face about our fundraising again until June.

So we urgently need this specific ask, what you're reading right now, to start bringing in more donations than it ever has. The reality, for these next few months and next few years, is that we have to start finding ways to grow our online supporter base in a big way—and we're optimistic we can keep making real headway by being real with you about this.

Because the bottom line: Corporations and powerful people with deep pockets will never sustain the type of journalism Mother Jones exists to do. The only investors who won’t let independent, investigative journalism down are the people who actually care about its future—you.

And we hope you might consider pitching in before moving on to whatever it is you're about to do next. We really need to see if we'll be able to raise more with this real estate on a daily basis than we have been, so we're hoping to see a promising start.

payment methods

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