Kent Hovind

File:Kent hovind .jpg

Kent Hovind

Kent E. Hovind (born January 15, 1953) is an American evangelist and prominent "Young Earth" creationist. The self-styled "Dr. Dino" (whose Ph.D, from an unaccredited university, is in Christian education) established the Creation Science Evangelism Ministry in 1989. Hovind previously spoke frequently in schools, churches, university debates and on radio and television broadcasts arguing for young earth creationism. He is a subject of controversy and public scrutiny.

On November 2, 2006, Hovind was found guilty by a jury in a Pensacola, Florida federal court of fifty-eight federal tax and tax-related offenses; his wife, Jo, was also convicted on 44 counts. Hovind is currently being held by the Escambia County Sheriff's Office awaiting sentencing on January 19, 2007.

He has been ordered to forfeit $430,400 and faces a maximum of 288 years in prison.

Biography

On February 9, 1969, Hovind converted to Christianity. He has three degrees in "Christian education" all from unaccredited institutions of higher learning. Hovind is married with three adult children and four grandchildren. His son, Eric Hovind, travels doing creationist presentations and debates with the elder's arguments.

Starting in 1975 Hovind became an assistant pastor and teacher at three private schools that focus on Baptist education. Then in the 1980s he opened a Baptist school and church at which he taught and pastored. Hovind has no teaching credentials or academic degrees from accredited universities in the subjects he taught. In 1989, Hovind started his Creation Science Evangelism with no academic background in science.

When the internet came into the mainstream Hovind created his "Dr. Dino" web site and began producing articles and information as well as selling his own products — video tapes, books, fossil replicas, etc. — to a mass market. None of his material is copyrighted and he encourages people to copy his material and distribute it to others. Hovind speaks at hundreds of churches, schools, and other venues each year and he has been a featured speaker at many of the Steeling the Mind Bible Conferences. He also hosts a daily radio talk show and has established Dinosaur Adventure Land (see below) in Pensacola, Florida. Hovind derives "substantial revenue" from these activities that appears to be "income to [him] personally." According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Hovind "has made deposits to bank accounts well in excess of $1 million per year."

Education

In 1971 he graduated from East Peoria High School in East Peoria, Illinois. Then in 1972 until 1974 Hovind attended the unaccredited Midwestern Baptist College and received a "Bachelor of Religious Education" (B.R.E.). In 1988 and 1991 respectively, Hovind was awarded a masters's degree and doctorate in "Christian Education" through correspondence from the unaccredited Patriot University (now Patriot Bible University) in Colorado.

Dr. Barbara Forrest, a critic of intelligent design, wrote that Hovind's lack of academic training makes it impossible to engage him on a professional level. Specifically, critics of Hovind have charged that Patriot Bible University is a diploma mill, as it has unreasonably low graduation requirements, lack of sufficient faculty or educational standards, and a suspicious tuition scheme, among other issues. The school's current policies allow students to attain bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and even "Doctor of Ministry" degrees in months, rather than years, for as little as $25 per month. Currently Patriot offers a monthly fee, unlike most universities, which only charge per-credit fees.

Patriot will not send copies of Hovind's doctoral dissertation except with his permission. Doctoral dissertations are normally published by the associated university and made available to the public, so that other students conducting research in similar areas may use the information in the dissertation as a reference. Although one copy of the dissertation is on file at the National Center for Science Education (NCSE) the organization is not able to provide it on request because of copyright and distribution restrictions.

Various criticisms have been made of his dissertation, including charges of incompleteness, low academic quality, poor writing, poor spelling, and ungrammatical style. When questioned about his education and qualification, Hovind has claimed that the arguments are ad hominem attacks. The institution where he got his PhD has made similar comments.

Creation Science Evangelism Ministry

After receiving his first correspondence education degree, Hovind started Creation Science Evangelism Ministry in 1989. The ministry aims to evangelize people by teaching them a creationist perspective. The ministry is not a non-profit organization nor is it considered a church by people who work there or the IRS.

Hovind reportedly earns $50,000 a year with speaking engagements and, in 2002 alone, the ministry sold more than $1.8 million in Christian merchandise.

Dinosaur Adventure Land

In 2001 Hovind started Dinosaur Adventure Land, a young earth creationist theme park located behind Hovind's home in Pensacola, Florida. The park depicts humans and dinosaurs co-existing in the last 4,000-6,000 years and also contains a depiction of the Loch Ness monster. The park does not explore "the Jurassic and Cretaceous eras," but rather "depicts dinosaurs as coexisting with human beings." In 2004 the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry visited Hovind's dinosaur theme park and claimed the "park" is deceptive and purposely misleads visitors. The Southern Poverty Law Center noted the park also "claims that a few small dinosaurs still roam the planet." The venture has encountered legal issues, as the owners failed to acquire a building permit for the park (see below).

According to the IRS, Hovind's theme park and merchandise sales earned more than $5 million USD from 1999 to March 2004. About half that income went to employees who were salaried or were paid hourly wages that worked set hours and signed up for vacations and sick leave. The government believes that grew to the point of earning $2 million a year.

Legal problems

Kent Hovind has been in trouble with law enforcement several times. These have included assault and battery, falsely declaring bankruptcy, making threats against federal officials, filing false complaints, failing to get necessary building permits, and various tax-related charges.

Assault and battery

In 2002, he was charged with one count of felony assault, one count of misdemeanor battery, and one count of burglary with assault/battery. In December 2002, the charges were dropped by the alleged victim, Hovind's secretary.

Property taxes and zoning ordinance

Hovind was charged on September 13, 2002, for failure to observe county zoning regulations with respect to Dinosaur Adventure Land. Despite arguments that the owners did not need a permit due to the nature of the building, the park has been found in violation of local regulations. On June 5, 2006, Hovind pled nolo contendere as charged to three counts: constructing a building without a permit, refusing to sign a citation (Case # 2001 MM 023489 A) and violating the county building code (Case # 2002 MM 026670 A). Hovind was ordered to pay $225.00 per count. The plea brought to an end the 5-year criminal (misdemeanor) court battle over a $50.00 building permit. In June 2006 Hovind complied with the county law (Case # 2001 MM 023489 A). Hovind estimates he spent $40,000 in legal expenses on this case. On June 19, 2006, the delinquent 2003-2005 property taxes/penalties for Dinosaur Adventure Land were paid in an amount of $10,402.64 [4].

Federal civil tax matters, bankruptcy, and renouncing citizenship

Hovind does not run his various educational and religious activities through a U.S. Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) organization. Instead, the organizational structure he uses apparently is "based on various questionable trust documents purchased from ... a known promoter of tax avoidance schemes." The U.S. Tax Court has concluded that Hovind used these trust documents as well as other fraudulent means to conceal the ownership and control of his activities and properties.

Hovind was originally reported to the IRS by Pensacola Christian College senior vice president Rebekah Horton in the mid 1990s, after she learned of Hovind's anti-tax stand. "'We know the Scriptures do not promote (tax evasion),'" Horton said in testimony against Hovind during his 2006 trial, "'It's against Scripture teaching'.... Horton believed it was the college's duty to report the misleading doctrine. 'I didn't want to see innocent people get led astray,' she said. Pensacola Christian College then decided its students no longer were permitted to work with Creation Science Evangelism".

In 1996 Hovind unsuccessfully filed for bankruptcy to avoid paying federal income taxes. Hovind was found to have lied about his possessions and income. He claimed that as a minister of God everything he owns belonged to God and he is not subject to paying taxes to the United States on the money he received for doing God's work (citing US tax code §508(c)(1)(a)) . The court ordered him to pay the money and upheld the IRS determination that Hovind's claim "was filed in bad faith for the sole purpose of avoiding payment of federal income taxes." In the ruling, the judge called Hovind's arguments "patently absurd." The judge also noted that "the IRS has no record of the debtor ever having filed a federal income tax return," although this was not the court's reason for denying the bankruptcy claim.

On May 13, 1998, Hovind and his wife attempted to evade all responsibility for any previous promises, debts, or legal agreements made prior to April 15, 1998, by filing a document called "Power of Attorney and Revocation of Signature" with the Escambia County Clerk of Courts. The document reads, in part: "I/we do hereby revoke and make void... all signatures on any instruments...". The Hovinds claimed they had signed government documents "due to the use of various elements of fraud and misrepresentations, duress, coercion, under perjury, mistake, 'bankruptcy'."

In the document, the Hovinds argue that Social Security is essentially a "Ponzi scheme." The Hovinds referred to the United States Government as "the 'bankrupt' corporate government" and said they were renouncing their United States citizenship and Social Security numbers to become "a natural citizen of 'America' and a natural sojourner." In 2002 Hovind was again delinquent in paying his taxes, and unsuccessfully sued the IRS for harassment. The Hovinds referred to their home state of Florida as "the State of Florida Body-Politic Corporation." Judges and the IRS did not appear to honor this as a legally relevant document in future decisions.

In 2004, IRS agents raided Hovind's home and business to confiscate financial records. IRS agent Scott Schneider said none of Hovind's businesses had a business license, nor tax-exempt status. The Associated Press quoted Schneider as saying "Since 1997, Hovind has engaged in financial transactions indicating sources of income and has made deposits to bank accounts well in excess of $1 million per year during some of these years, which would require the filing of federal income taxes." On June 3, 2004, the IRS issued tax liens of $504,957.24 against Hovind and his son and their businesses due to previous legal maneuverings to evade taxation by moving property between himself, his son, and other legal entities.

On July 7, 2006, the United States Tax Court (Docket number 011894-05L) found that Hovind was deficient in paying his federal income taxes in tax years 1995-97 in the amount of $504,957.24. The Tax Court found that the IRS had a valid, perfected lien on Hovind's property in that amount. The IRS is currently levying against Hovind's property to satisfy his unpaid tax liabilities. In the Memorandum Opinion the judge noted that Hovind's "organizational structure . . . was based on various questionable trust documents purchased from Glen Stoll, a known promoter of tax avoidance schemes." Moreover, Hovind's defense was based on "bizarre arguments" and "some of which constitute tax protestor arguments involving excise taxes and the alleged '100% voluntary' nature of the income tax."

Federal criminal tax-related convictions in 2006

On July 11, 2006, Hovind was charged in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida in Pensacola with twelve counts of willful failure to collect, account for, and pay over Federal income taxes and FICA taxes under 26 U.S.C. § 7202, forty-five counts of knowingly structuring transactions in Federally-insured financial institutions to evade the reporting requirements of 31 U.S.C. § 5313(a), in violation of 31 U.S.C. § 5324, 18 U.S.C. § 2 and 31 C.F.R. sec. 103.11, and one count of corruptly endeavoring to obstruct and impede the administration of the internal revenue laws under 26 U.S.C. § 7212. Twelve of the charges are for failing to pay employee-related taxes, totaling $473,818, and 45 of the charges are for evading reporting requirements by making multiple cash withdrawals just under the $10,000 reporting requirement (smurfing). The withdrawals, totaling $430,500, were placed in 2001 and 2002.

The government charged that Hovind falsely listed the IRS as his only creditor in his bankruptcy, filed a false and frivolous lawsuit against the IRS in which he demanded damages for criminal trespass, made threats of harm to those investigating him and to those who might consider cooperating with the investigation, filed a false complaint against IRS agents investigating him, filed a false criminal complaint against IRS special agents (criminal investigators), and destroyed records.

After the indictment, Hovind maintained his innocence. "I still don't understand what I'm being charged for and who is charging me," he said. Magistrate Miles Davis asked Hovind if he wrote and spoke English, to which Hovind responded "To some degree". Davis replied that the government adequately explained the allegations and the defendant understands the charges "whether you want to admit it or not." An October 17th trial date (originally September 5th) was set for Kent Hovind and his co-defendant wife, Jo, who faces 44 charges. Hovind stated that he did not recognize the government's right to try him on tax-fraud charges. At first he attempted to enter a plea of "subornation of false muster," but then entered a not guilty plea "under duress" when the judge offered to enter a plea for him.

At the time of the arrest, Magistrate Davis, "over Kent Hovind's protests[,] ... took away his passport and [the] guns Hovind claimed belonged to his church...." Hovind argued that he needed his passport to continue his evangelism work. He said "thousands and thousands" were waiting to hear him preach in South Africa the following month. But Davis sided with Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Heldmyer, who argued that "like-minded people" might secret Hovind away if he left the country. In relation to the guns, Davis said "ownership was not the issue.". Because of reports of weapons in the Hovind compound, the indictment was originally sealed for fear that "the arrest of the defendants in this case could pose some danger to agents." More than a half-dozen guns were seized at the Hovind's home, including an SKS semiautomatic rifle. Also "During an IRS raid at the home, agents found cash stashed 'all over the place.' About $42,000 was seized."

It was revealed during the trial that Jo Hovind had requested financial assistance from Baptist Healthcare claiming that the Hovinds had no income. "'Dr. and Mrs. Kent Hovind do not earn salaries,' wrote Martha Harris, the trust secretary of Creation Science Evangelism to Baptist. 'As health insurance is not provided for this couple, we would appreciate (financial assistance).'" However, continues the article "Kent Hovind, a tax protester, makes a substantial amount of money" see above [5]. "On the day the IRS searched the Hovind home, Kent Hovind withdrew $70,000 from the Creation Science Evangelism account. Half in a check; the other in cash.

At the time of the indictment, Hovind's defense appeared to be that although there were 30 people working for him, all of whom receive remuneration in cash, none of them were employees. According to Hovind, "Nobody's an employee, and they all know that when they come. They come, they work ... The laborer is worthy of his hire -- we try to take the purely scriptural approach. We do the best we can with helping people with their family needs. There are no employees here." Hovind has also claimed that he is not liable for taxes and his ministry does not have to "render unto Caesar" because his workers are "missionaries" not "employees".

On October 21, 2006, the trial began in which he hoped to convince a jury that his amusement park admission and merchandise sales belonged to God and cannot be taxed. After the first week of testimony the trial was postponed due to a defense lawyer's illness. Former and current workers, IRS agents, a bank employee, and a lawyer of a non-profit Christian organization testified in the trial. Workers testified that they had to punch time cards, had vacation and sick days; while others testified Hovind claimed he had "beat" the tax system. During the trial, the judge "admonished" Hovind's attorney for wasting time and asking irrelevant questions.

The trial concluded on November 1st with the defense deciding not to present a case. After closing arguments were presented on November 2nd, the jury deliberated three hours before finding the Hovinds guilty on all counts. The Pensacola News Journal noted, "The saddest thing: Had they cooperated with the agents, they probably wouldn't be worrying about prison sentences now." Jo was released on bond, and Kent, considered a flight risk, will be held until sentencing, which takes place January 19, 2007.

The Hovind Theory

Hovind summarizes his highly controversial version of the argument for Creationism into the self titled “Hovind Theory." He acknowledges many contributors to his theory, but claims that if it be proven false then he will personally take the blame. The theory includes a literal reading of the Biblical acount of Noah: Noah's family and two of every animal (including dinosaurs) safely boarded the Ark before a minus 300° Fahrenheit (~-184°C) ice meteor came flying toward the Earth and broke up in space. Some of the meteor fragments became rings and others caused the impact craters on the moon and some of the planets. The remaining ice fragments fell to the North and South Poles of the earth.

The resulting "super-cold snow" fell near the poles, burying the Mammoths standing up. Ice on the North and South pole cracked the crust of the earth releasing the fountains of the deep, which in turn caused certain ice age effects, namely the glacier effects. Also this made "the earth wobble around for a few thousand years" and it made the canopy collapse that used to protect the earth and opened up the fountains of the deep.

During the first few months of the flood, the dead animals and plants got buried, and became coal if they’re plants and oil if they’re animals. The last few months of the flood included geological instability, when the plates shifted. This period saw the formation of both ocean basins and mountain ranges and the resulting water run-off caused incredible erosion — Hovind claims that the Grand Canyon was formed in a couple of weeks during this time. After a few hundred years, the ice caps slowly melted back retreating to their current size and the ocean levels increased, creating the continental shelves. The deeper oceans absorbed much of the carbon dioxide in earth’s atmosphere and thus allowed greater amounts of radiation to reach the earth's surface. As a result, human lifespans were shortened considerably in the days of Peleg.

This "theory" has been criticized for being supported by false and/or misleading evidence. The vast majority of scientists do not take Hovind's work seriously and do not agree with his interpretation of the facts.

Criticism

From creationists

Hovind has come into conflict with other young earth creationists, who believe that many of his arguments are invalid and, consequently, undermine their cause. One in particular, Answers in Genesis, has publicly criticized him after he had criticized AiG's article, "Arguments we think creationists should NOT use". In the letter Carl Wieland, Ken Ham, and Jonathan Sarfati noted that some claims made by Hovind are "fraudulent" and "mistakes in facts and logic which do the creationist cause no good." He is also criticized by Creation Ministries International (formerly AiG Australia). Their article "Maintaining Creationist Integrity" responds to Hovind's criticism of the original Answers in Genesis article.

Hovind who has stated carbon dating is unreliable, was criticized by Greg Neyman of Answers In Creation noting that in his statements "Hovind goes on to show that he knows absolutely nothing about the science of Carbon Dating." In fact, as Neyman explained, Hovind's claim that "scientists assume the amount of carbon-14 is constant" is wrong and Neyman writes "there are many periods of decreasing C-14, which disproves his theory that the earth is young based on C-14 equilibrium."

From mainstream critics

Hovind is known for his debates against atheists, skeptics and scientists. However, some scientists like Richard Dawkins refuse creationists as they believe debate is not how science works and gives charlatans more of an advantage than systematic inquiry (see: scientific method). Others like evolutionary biologist Massimo Pigliucci have debated Hovind, and were surprised how ignorant Hovind was of evolutionary theory. Pigliucci was surprised to hear to Hovind try "to convince the audience that evolutionists believe humans came from rocks" and claimed biologists believe humans "evolved from bananas."

In Hovind's debates, he traditionally focuses on points that he claims serve to discredit evolutionary theory, physical cosmology, and geology. He also presents what he claims is evidence for a Biblical flood, a young earth, and the canopy theory. However, conventional scientists working in the appropriate fields[6], as well as some young Earth creationists[7], do not agree with Hovind's assertions.

Others criticize Hovind for his involvement with Arkansas state Representative Jim Holt's Anti-Evolution Bill in 2001 (House Bill 2548). This bill "would have required that when public schools refer to evolution that it be identified as an unproven theory." Some politicians claimed this bill "would have made Arkansas a laughingstock." Holt called upon Hovind as an expert who "testified for Holt before the State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee, alleging much of the information pertaining to evolution in our science textbooks is false." As for the legislation, "Holt admitted much of the information in his bill came from Jonathan Wells' ' Icons of Evolution.' "

Critics charge that Kent Hovind's creation/evolution presentations are a mix of Christian Fundamentalism and conspiracy theories. The Southern Poverty Law Center has criticized Hovind as a result of his selling books such as Fourth Reich of the Rich, and recommending The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, an established hoax that has been widely used as a justification for anti-Semitism. The center explained "Are you worried that Darwin's idea produced 'Communism, Socialism, Naziism, abortion, liberalism and the New Age Movement?' Then Dr. Kent Hovind is for you." Also the center criticized Hovind for claiming "Democracy is evil and contrary to God's law." Hovind has stated that the Jews were in fact framed by the Protocols: "I love the Jews. But The Protocols of Zion [sic] was written to explain how to control the world, I mean, it lays it all out. But it’s really carefully done so that if it is ever discovered the Jews take the blame for it."

The SPLC also criticized Hovind for pointing "his followers to Citizens Rule Book, popular among antigovernment 'Christian Patriots'; Media Bypass, an antigovernment magazine with strong anti-Semitic leanings; and titles by America's leading authority on tax-dodging, Irwin Schiff, who was indicted on criminal tax evasion charges in March 2004." (Schiff was eventually convicted and is serving a prison sentence.)

Hovind's $250,000 offer

According to Hovind's website, he has offered $10,000 since 1990 to those who can "prove the theory of evolution." Since at least 1999 the offer has been for $250,000

Hovind has made the following offer:

I have a standing offer of $250,000 to anyone who can give any empirical evidence (scientific proof) for evolution.* My $250,000 offer demonstrates that the hypothesis of evolution is nothing more than a religious belief.

Critics view this to be spurious however, not least because of the conditions which Hovind imposes. The winner would have to convince Hovind that evolution is real and would be required to scientifically prove that God doesn't exist,even though the belief in God is unrelated to evolution and the two are not mutually exclusive. The asterisk denotes the terms which he claims show significant gaps in the gradual progression predicted by the theory of evolution:

*NOTE: When I use the word evolution, I am not referring to the minor variations found in all of the various life forms (microevolution). I am referring to the general theory of evolution which believes these five major events took place without God:

1. Time, space, and matter came into existence by themselves.

2. Planets and stars formed from space dust.

3. Matter created life by itself.

4. Early life-forms learned to reproduce themselves.

5. Major changes occurred between these diverse life forms (i.e., fish changed to amphibians, amphibians changed to reptiles, and reptiles changed to birds or mammals).

Of the above, only number five and microevolution deal with the process of evolution, with number one and two falling under cosmology and astronomy, number three falling under particle physics, and number four would be Abiogenesis.

Responses

Critics argue that the offer is merely a publicity stunt, that it is deliberately designed to be impossible to win, and that it reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of both science and the scientific method. Critics say that his description of evolution does not match with the scientific definition and that he conflates evolution with other unrelated issues in the description of his challenge (see Hovind's list of "five major events" above). Furthermore, it would be impossible to prove gravity under the same conditions as Hovind requires.. Similar issues on the burden of proof are common in most fields of pseudoscience, such as cryptozoology.

Some creationists also do not approve of Hovind's offer. Answers in Genesis said it "would prefer that creationists refrained from gimmicks like this."

Hovind has said a panel of judges would decide if a claim had met his criteria, but he has refused to say who would be (or is) on that panel. He has even refused to say what their qualifications might be. Challengers who have submitted claims to Hovind have become convinced that he does not actually use a panel of judges, in spite of his promise to do so.

The winter 2005 issue of Skeptic included an article titled "Doubting Dr. Dino" by Adam Kisby. Kisby lays out Hovind's arguments in formal logic, and claims to show that the assumptions "God is a necessary cause of the universe" and "The universe is eternal, i.e., un-caused" lead to contradictions. Kisby sent his proof to Hovind and reports that "many weeks later I received a terse reply from Hovind in which he dogmatically rejected my proof." Hovind's reason was "the universe is evidence of a Designer - not proof there is no Designer." Thus Kisby concluded "I contend that either my proof is technically correct or Hovind's $250,000 offer is fundamentally flawed. If my proof is correct, then Hovind is constrained by the terms of his offer to release the money. On the other hand if Hovind's offer is flawed then he is morally obligated to withdraw it or modify it." (See also the Spring 2006 issue of Skeptic for criticisms of Kisby's proposed proof.)

Others have approached Hovind in regard to the challenge, addressing it from perspectives ranging from "large-scale evolution" and the big bang to polar bears.

Controversial remarks

Hovind has made controversial remarks regarding conspiracies, science, creation, equal rights, religion and government over the years. Hovind considers the King James Version of the Bible to be the inerrant word of God that must be taken literally. Because of this, he believes all findings of science will eventually be found to agree with Scripture — which he claims is a priori known to be true. He claims that evolutionists also have a priori assumptions, namely that God does not exist (or at least not one that performed special Creation), thereby distorting their own application of science.

Hovind maintains that biology textbooks are lying and advocates simply taking evolution out of the textbooks because he considers evolution to be a religion. He has said, "I'm not trying to get evolution out of the textbooks, nor am I trying to get creationism into the textbooks. What I'm trying to do is get the lies out of the textbooks."

Hovind has several conspiracy theories about the US government. For example, he believes that Laetrile works and teaches that the US government is conspiring to suppress a cure for cancer. On his radio program that he claims the US government was behind the 9/11 attacks and that a "lot of folks were told not to come to work." He attributes this belief to the films 911 In Plane Site and "Loose Change." He also believes the "Oklahoma City bombing was done on purpose. "Did you know the Federal Government blew up their own building to blame it on the militias and to get rid of some people that weren't cooperating with the system?" He also alleges that "UFOs are apparitions of Satan" and that the US government possesses UFOs. Additionally, Hovind believes that the Federal Reserve, the Council on Foreign Relations, the United Nations, and various other groups are actively planning to create a one world government and that the 1993 World Trade Center attack was staged by the US Government in order to pass "anti-terrorism" legislation that restricts civil liberties. He says, "I love my country, but fear my government. And you should too."

In terms of science, Hovind disregards all fossil evidence, claiming "no fossils can count as evidence for evolution," because "all we know about that animal is that it died," and we do not know that it "had any kids, much less different kids." During a debate with Farrell Till, Hovind made the following claim about Donald Johanson: "[He] found the leg bones of Lucy a mile and a half away from the head bones. The leg bones were 200 feet deeper in a deeper layer of strata. I would like to know how fast the train was going that hit that chimpanzee." However, the claim itself is false and, while Hovind has been informed of this, he continues to make it. He also claims the Grand Canyon was not created through gradual geologic processes but rather by the Great Flood as narrated in the Old Testament.

Trivia

• In 2000 Hovind was given the "P. T. Barnum: One Born Every Minute" award from the New Mexicans for Science and Reason (NMSR). This was awarded for Hovind's speech on May 7, 1999, in a packed room in Philadelphia, that "urged his audience to study convincing new evidence of humans living with dinosaurs". Hovind's evidence turned out to be the NMSR's annual April Fool's prank.
• In 2004, Hovind was interviewed on Da Ali G Show, in an episode titled "Science" from the first season of the show's U.S. run on HBO. "Ali G", played by comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, told Hovind that the fact that Hovind ate bananas proved that he was descended from monkeys and accused him of failing to flush a backstage toilet.
• Hovind's ideas on evolution, and science in general, have been published in Chick Tracts, comic strips intended to convert people to Fundamentalist Christianity.

External links

Official Hovind and Pro-Hovind

• Dr Dino - Kent Hovind's website
• Dinosaur Adventure Land - Hovind's YEC-theme park website
• The Creation Science Hour (Hovind's radio program) hosted by Truth Radio
• About Kent Hovind, by Chick Publications
• Kent Hovind's Creation Seminar Series Watch and Listen - Online Media

Creationist but critical of Hovind

• Rebuttals to the works of Kent Hovind by Answers In Creation
• Point-by-Point Rebuttal of Dr. Dino's Critique of the "Gap Theory" of Genesis Creationism at Christian Geology website
• Maintaining Creationist Integrity: A response to Kent Hovind, by Answers in Genesis archived at web.archive.org.
• Ross–Hovind Debate, John Ankerberg Show, October 2000; Analysis by Jonathan Sarfati of Answers in Genesis.

Critical of creationism and Hovind

• Analysis of Kent Hovind Includes a section on Hovind's relationship with Chick Publishing and responses to the $250,000 Challenge.
• Unmasking the False Prophet of Creationism by Barbara Forrest. September 1999.
• A Miracle Occurs by Michael Shermer
• Kent Hovind FAQs from TalkOrigins
• How Good Are Those Young-Earth Arguments? a detailed critique by Dave E. Matson
• The Kent Hovind Page
• Kisby, Adam (Vol. 12, No. 1). "Doubting Dr. Dino: Kent Hovind's $250,000 Challenge Met" (PDF). Skeptic. Retrieved 2006-10-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
• Know Your Creationists: Kent Hovind
• When Giants Roamed by the Southern Poverty Law Center (2004)
• Hovind's Dissertation An Academic Review/Description of Hovind's Dissertation.
• Martinez, Greg (November 2004). "A Journey to Hovind's Dinosaur Adventure Land". Skeptical Inquirer. Retrieved 2006-10-19.
• Other views: Kent Hovind
• Hoag vs Hovind Media (mp3s)

Court records

• Hovind bankruptcy decision (1996)
• Escambia County Florida Clerk of the Circuit Court Affidavit (August 10, 2005) A court affidavit Hovind presented containing his biography.
• Hovind, 197 B.R. 157 (Bankr. N.D. Fla. 1996) - A description of the 1996 seizure of property
• Kent Hovind v Scott Schneider (2002)
• US Tax Court: Hovind v. Commissioner Internal Revenue Memo Opinion (July 6, 2006)
• Various documents provided from Richardsayshome.com, which some believe is run by Hovind.[8]
• United States of America v Kent Hovind and Jo Hovind (July 2006)
• Escambia County (Pensacola, Florida) Clerk of Courts – Court database

Media sources

• "Biblical theme park's finances investigated: Dr. Dino owes taxes dating back to 1997". St. Petersburg Times. April 18, 2004. Retrieved 2006-12-18.
• Rabb, William (7 April 2006). "Park could face extinction: Lack of building permits closes dinosaur museum". Pensacola News Journal.
• Stewart, Michael (14 July 2006). "Evangelist arrested on federal charges". Pensacola News Journal.
• Stewart, Michael (18 July 2006). "Park owner pleads not guilty to tax fraud: Evangelist says he's owned by God". Pensacola News Journal.
• Stewart, Michael (19 July 2006). "Creationist's fight with Uncle Sam may evolve into painful defeat". Pensacola News Journal.
• Stewart, Michael (21 July 2006). "Lift restrictions, evangelist asks". Pensacola News Journal.
• Stewart, Michael (28 July 2006). "No travel for evangelist, judge says". Pensacola News Journal.
• Stewart, Michael (1 September 2006). "Evangelist's trial postponed". Pensacola News Journal.
• Fail, Angela (October 18, 2006). "Evangelist's trial begins: Dinosaur Adventure Land owner, wife face 58 counts of tax fraud". Pensacola News Journal.
• Sowder, Amy (October 19, 2006). "Workers testify in 'Dr. Dino' trial". Pensacola News Journal.
• Fail, Angela (October 20, 2006). "Christian College leader says taxes are part of religion: Hovind argues God's workers are exempt". Pensacola News Journal.

• Michael Stewart (21 October 2006). "Lawyer: Hovind detailed actions: Evangelist said he 'beat the system'". {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |pub= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help)

• Staff (25 October 2006). "Hovind trial resumes Monday". Pensacola News Journal.

• Lozare, Nicole (October 31, 2006). "IRS agent testifies in Hovind trial, Case could go to jury Thursday". Pensacola News Journal.

• Lozare, Nicole (November 1, 2006). "Judge admonishes Hovind attorney". Pensacola News Journal.

• Lozare, Nicole (November 1, 2006). "Prosecutors rest case against Hovind". Pensacola News Journal.

• Lozare, Nicole (November 2, 2006). "'Dr. Dino,' wife guilty". Pensacola News Journal.

• O'Brien, Mark (November 3, 2006). "Hard to believe a man with a Ph.D didn't know of a basic tax law". Pensacola News Journal.