07/09/08

Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit excludes Jewish perspective on scrolls, misleads public

by ViewFromHere

The museum is a nice place, but one must question the ethical conduct of its directors in putting on a biased and misleading exhibit, in which the current state of research has been carefully distorted to cater to influential members of the old Dead Sea Scrolls monopoly group, one of whose members (John Strugnell) had a series of famous antisemitic outbursts some fifteen years ago.

In a word, the museum (which, incidentally, is run by the N. C. Department of the Environment) agreed to downplay and conceal the evidence brought to light by Jewish researchers who have rejected the old "Qumran-Essene" theory of scroll origins, and to physically exclude them from participating in the lecture series accompanying the exhibit.

See, e.g., University of Chicago historian Norman Golb's editorial, "Take Claims about DSS with a Grain of Salt" (it is easily googled).

Since the museum is a state-run institution, the role of government officials in displaying religiously controversial artifacts must also be addressed. Is it appropriate for a N. C. government agency to take sides in an acrimonious scholarly dispute while entertaining people with a religiously oriented exhibit in, of all places, a natural sciences museum?

Is there any accounting of how this exhibit was funded, and of where the profits ($22 per ticket) will be going?

This is, of course, a serious issue that should be carefully examined by the media. Instead, we have silence, viciously implied innuendo about Jewish culture coming from N. C. authorities (including an antisemitic insinuation on the museum's website), mendacious claims about a fabricated "consensus" that no longer exists, and a continuing pattern of catering to vested interests.

For further information on this propaganda masquerading as an exhibit, previously dished out to the public in various private "science" museums around the country, see, e.g., R. Dworkin's article on "The Ethics of Exhibition" (this is also easily googled).

07/09/08

great staff, great exhibits, well run

by durhamresident

I could not be more impressed with this museum. I attended the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit, and was quite impressed by both the number of staff members & how knowledgable they were! The exhibit was quite popular, but the staff did a great job of making sure that no one area was too crowded to enjoy the displays. The exhibit itself is thorough & well-planned... a must see!

I was also impressed with the permanent exhibits, which educated visitors on NC geography & animals. There's also a wonderful dinosaur exhibit that kids love. I thought that most people would be visiting with small children, but I saw a good number of young adults there w/ friends, & they seemed to be fully immersed in the exhibits. This museum is well attended, so go during the week if you can!

11/15/07

Great place ....we had our company's fall luncheon at the Museum

by pl1

We had our company's fall employee appreciation luncheon at the Museum, and it was the absolute best place to have it! Caffe Luna catered it and we LOVED their shrimp and seafood. GREAT job Caffe Luna! My favorite part of the museum was seeing the cute live seahorses in the coastal section, but it was all great! I could see my office building halfway across Raleigh from inside the glass dome! There was a neat dinosaur exhibit with a walking and moving T-Rex.

We all loved the coastal section because although it is now fall, the sand beach area and seagrass made us feel as if we were at the beach!

If you want something different and fun, and totally unique, for your company's party or luncheon, definitely come here! It was great!

• Pros: Great and unique place to have a luncheon or meeting