Changes

[[File:KentHovind.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Kent Hovind giving a presentation]]

[[File:KentHovind.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Kent Hovind giving a presentation]]

'''Kent Hovind''' (born 1953), commonly called "Dr. Dino", is a prominent and controversial [[Young Earth Creationism|young Earth creationist]]. He founded Creation Science Evangelism in 1989.<ref>http://www.drdino.com/</ref>

'''Dr. Kent Hovind''' (born 1953), commonly called "Dr. Dino", is a prominent and controversial [[Young Earth Creationism|young Earth creationist]]. He founded Creation Science Evangelism in 1989<ref>http://www.drdino.com/</ref> and has a doctoral degree in Christian education from [[Patriot University]].

In 2001, Hovind opened a theme park in Pensacola, Florida called Dinosaur Adventure Land, filled with exhibits promoting creationism and claiming that dinosaurs and humans coexisted.

In 2001, Hovind opened a theme park in Pensacola, Florida called Dinosaur Adventure Land, filled with exhibits explaining God's Creation.

On January 19th 2007, Hovind was sentenced to 10 years in prison on 58 federal accounts of tax related offences, and is scheduled for release on August 11th, 2015.

On January 19th 2007, Hovind was sentenced to 10 years in prison on 58 federal accounts of tax related offences, and is scheduled for release on August 11th, 2015.

== Criticism ==

== Criticism ==

Dr. Karen Bartelt, a critic of Hovind, questions the quality of his doctoral thesis and the academic standards of the unaccredited organisation, "Patriot Bible University," from which he received it, believing both to be subpar for institutions of higher learning.<ref>[http://chem.tufts.edu/science/Stear-NoAiG/no-AiG/bartelt_dissertation_on_hovind_thesis.htm Karen Bartelt, Ph.D. "The Dissertation Kent Hovind Doesn't Want You To Read."]</ref> In 2009, Hovind's thesis was leaked to the public, with the content matching Bartelt's review.<ref>http://foo.ca/wp/2009/12/10/kent-hovinds-dissertation-for-doctor-of-philosophy-in-christian-education-full-text/</ref> Both the released version and the one reviewed by Dr Bartelt fall significantly short of PhD standard in a number of areas, chiefly lack of original research, lack of citations and references and lack of content relevant to the thesis title. Patriot University has stated that they were tricked into releasing the thesis by people claiming to be supporters, claiming the work was not a final copy, and that they do not release final copies.<ref>http://www.patriotuniversity.com/PriceOfTruth3.html</ref> It is standard practice in real universities to archive all doctoral dissertations and make them available on request.

Dr. Karen Bartelt, a critic of Hovind, questions the quality of his doctoral thesis and the academic standards of the university from which he received it, believing both to be subpar for institutions of higher learning.<ref>[http://chem.tufts.edu/science/Stear-NoAiG/no-AiG/bartelt_dissertation_on_hovind_thesis.htm Karen Bartelt, Ph.D. "The Dissertation Kent Hovind Doesn't Want You To Read."]</ref> In 2009, Hovind's thesis was leaked to the public, with the content matching Bartelt's review.<ref>http://foo.ca/wp/2009/12/10/kent-hovinds-dissertation-for-doctor-of-philosophy-in-christian-education-full-text/</ref> Patriot University has stated that they were tricked into releasing the thesis by people claiming to be supporters, claiming the work was not a final copy, and that they do not release final copies.<ref>http://www.patriotuniversity.com/PriceOfTruth3.html</ref>

Hovind has been criticized by fellow Young Earth Creationists for using arguments that are unsound both Biblically and scientifically.<ref>Wieland, Carl, Ham, Ken, and Sarfati, Jonathan, [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/2571/ Maintaining Creationist Integrity] October 2002</ref>

Hovind has been criticized by fellow Young Earth Creationists for supposedly using arguments that are unsound both Biblically and scientifically.<ref>Wieland, Carl, Ham, Ken, and Sarfati, Jonathan, [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/2571/ Maintaining Creationist Integrity] October 2002</ref>

He is currently serving a ten-year term in U.S. federal prison for 58 tax offenses, obstructing federal agents and related charges.<ref>''"10 years for 'Dr. Dino'"'', Michael Stewart. Pensacola News Journal, 19 January 19, 2007</ref>

He is currently serving a ten-year term in U.S. federal prison for 58 tax offenses, obstructing federal agents and related charges.<ref>''"10 years for 'Dr. Dino'"'', Michael Stewart. Pensacola News Journal, 19 January 19, 2007</ref>

Hovind, with his son Eric Hovind, had released a set of videos titled "Answering the Critics" whereby they answered some common criticisms of themselves, usually from Internet sources.  Hovind claimed he did not want to answer all the critics because he believed many critics criticize him without wanting to get any answers from him, so it was best to ignore them and continue preaching to those who really want to listen.<ref>Answering the Critics #1</ref>

Hovind, with his son Eric Hovind, had released a set of videos titled "Answering the Critics" whereby they answered some common criticisms of themselves, usually from Internet sources.  Hovind claimed he did not want to answer all the critics because he believed many critics criticize him without wanting to get any answers from him, so it was best to ignore them and continue preaching to those who really want to listen.<ref>Answering the Critics #1</ref>

In 2007, an atheist group known for posting Hovind-critical videos on [[YouTube]] was banned from the site due to [[DMCA]] notices sent by Creation Science Evangelism. CSE had released videos made prior to 2005 into the [[public domain]], and sending DMCA notices over public domain material is illegal. Hovind later requested that YouTube remove the ban on public domain material, with Hovind retaining his copyright on future videos.<ref>http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2007/09/dr-dino-uses-dmca-takedowns-on-critics-admits-to-mistakes.ars</ref><ref>http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2007/09/youtube-support/</ref><ref>http://www.wired.com/entertainment/theweb/news/2007/09/youtube_dmca</ref>

In 2007, an atheist group known for posting Hovind-critical videos on [[YouTube]] was banned from the site due to [[DMCA]] notices sent by Creation Science Evangelism. CSE had released videos made prior to 2005 into the [[public domain]], and sending DMCA notices over public domain material is illegal. Later, Hovind requested that YouTube remove the ban on public domain material, with Hovind retaining his copyright on future videos.<ref>http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2007/09/dr-dino-uses-dmca-takedowns-on-critics-admits-to-mistakes.ars</ref><ref>http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2007/09/youtube-support/</ref><ref>http://www.wired.com/entertainment/theweb/news/2007/09/youtube_dmca</ref>

== $250,000 Offer ==

== $250,000 Offer ==

Hovind is well known for his standing US$250,000 offer to anyone who can "prove evolution".<ref>http://www.drdino.com/articles.php?spec=67</ref>

Hovind is well known for his standing US$250,000 offer to anyone who can "prove evolution".<ref>http://www.drdino.com/articles.php?spec=67</ref>

The prize has not been awarded, although a number of applications have been received. Hovind has faced criticism for refusing to name the panel of judges which he claims evaluate entries.

The offer has gone unclaimed.

Contributors at [[Talk.origins|TalkOrigins]], a pro-evolution web-site, have pointed out that Hovind's challenge includes not just biological evolution but also [[abiogenesis]], [[cosmology]] and other things, and have claimed that the challenge is worded in a way that makes it impossible to fulfill since it requires proving the negative statement that "evolution" is the only possible explanation for the existence of life.<ref>Isaak, Mark, (Ed.) [http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/CA/CA341.html Claim CA341], 2006</ref>

Contributors at [[Talk.origins|TalkOrigins]], a pro-evolution web-site, have pointed out that Hovind's challenge includes not just biological evolution but also [[abiogenesis]], [[cosmology]] and other things, and have claimed that the challenge is worded in a way that makes it impossible to fulfill since it requires proving the negative statement that "evolution" is the only possible explanation for the existence of life.<ref>Isaak, Mark, (Ed.) [http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/CA/CA341.html Claim CA341], 2006</ref>