Kent Hovind

This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses.

Kent Hovind

Kent E. Hovind (born January 15, 1953) is a Pensacola-based evangelist and prominent "Young Earth" creationist who operated the now-defunct Dinosaur Adventure Land from his property adjacent to Pensacola Christian Academy. He famously offered $250,000 to anyone who can prove that evolution "is the only possible way" the universe and life arose, although his numerous critics consider the challenge to be spurious because evolutionary theory has nothing to say about how the universe came about or how life began. 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 now speaks frequently in schools, churches, university debates and on radio and television broadcasts, and is the subject of controversy and public scrutiny. He is currently charged with 58 federal crimes, including separate counts of making threats against federal officials, filing false complaints and tax evasion.

Biography

Hovind said on February 9, 1969, he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. He graduated from East Peoria High School in 1971. He claims three degrees in Christian education from unaccredited institutions of higher learning. Hovind is married and has three children and 4 grandchildren.

In 1975 Hovind started a Baptist Christian school and church, at which he taught and pastored. Over the years he has claimed to have been a high school teacher at Christian schools. 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. Hovind derives "substantial revenue" from these activities that appears to be "income to [him] personally." According to the IRS, Hovind "has made deposits to bank accounts well in excess of $1 million per year."

Education

In 1974, Hovind received a bachelor's degree in religious education from Midwestern Baptist College. In 1988 and 1991 respectively, Hovind was awarded a masters's degree and doctorate in "Christian Education" from the unaccredited correspondence school Patriot University (now Patriot Bible University) in Colorado.

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 college posts a FAQ that states that accreditation of Bible colleges, seminaries, or universities is "voluntary". 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. (The university offers a monthly fee, unlike most universities, which only charge per-credit fees.) Beginning in 2004 Patriot Bible University was authorized by the State of Colorado Higher Education Commission to issue religious degrees. (Hovind received his degree, in education, in 1991.)

Patriot Bible University 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) in Berkeley, CA, NCSE 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 Barbara Forrest, "an outspoken critic of intelligent design," claims that Hovind's lack of scientific training makes it impossible to engage him on a professional level. 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.

Dinosaur Adventure Land

In 2001 Hovind started Dinosaur Adventure Land, a YEC-theme park in Pensacola, Florida. The park depicts humans and dinosaurs co-existing in the last 6-4,000 years with the more recent dinosaurs being the Loch Ness monster. The park does not explore "the Jurassic and Cretaceous eras," but rather "depicts dinosaurs as coexisting with human beings."[4] In 2004 the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP), 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 rove the planet."[5] The venture has encountered legal issues, as the owners failed to acquire a building permit for the park (see below). On July 18, 2006, the park was described as "defunct." [6] However, as of August 2006, its website indicates that it is still open, and Hovind claims the park is "flooded with visitors."

Legal problems

Kent Hovind has been in trouble with law enforcement several times.

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 5th 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)[7] and violating the county building code (case # 2002 MM 026670 A)[8]. Hovind was ordered to pay $225.00 per count. The plea brings to an end the 5-year criminal (misdemeanor) court battle over a $50.00 building permit. The 4-year civil court battle with the county remains open (Case # 2002 CA 000149)[9]. Hovind estimates he spent $40,000in legal expenses on this case. On June 19th, 2006, the delilquent 2003-2005 property taxes/penalties for Dinosaur Adventure Land were paid in an amount of $10,402.64 [10].

Tax evasion

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.

In 1996 Hovind unsuccessfully filed for bankruptcy to avoid paying federal income taxes. Hovind was found to have lied about his possessions and income[11]. 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)) [12]. The court ordered him to pay the money and upheld the IRS's 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 revoking 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 United States Internal Revenue Service 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. A separate lien was filed for each, due to previous legal maneuverings on the part of the elder Hovind 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."

Threats, false complaints and criminal tax charges

On July 13, 2006, Kent Hovind was arrested and indicted in federal court on 58 charges. Of the charges filed, there is one count of corruptly endeavoring to obstruct and impede the due administration of the internal revenue laws, including falsifying bankruptcy documents, filing a false and frivolous lawsuit and complaints against the IRS, destroying records, and threatening to harm IRS investigators. 12 of the charges are for failing to pay employee-related taxes, totaling $473,818, and 45 charges of 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.

Hovind has maintained his innocence. "I still don't understand what I'm being charged for and who is charging me," he said. Magistrate Miles Davis of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida 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) has been set for Kent Hovind and his co-defendant wife, Jo, who faces 44 charges. With his attorney, Public Defender Kafahni Nkrumah, 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.

A portion of Hovind's defense seems to be that although there are 30 people working for him, all of whom receive remuneration in cash, none of them are 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 it is not working for the government.

The Hovind Theory

Hovind summarizes his highly controversial version of the argument for Creationism into the self titled “Hovind Theory." Whilst he acknowledges many contributors to his theory, he claims it is so-called that should it be found to be false, that he will personally take the blame.

Below is an exact transcript from his uncopyrighted DVD, “Part 6, The Hovind Theory” giving a summarized account of his hypothesis:

• Noah and the animals got safely into the Ark
• A minus 300° Fahrenheit (~-184°C) ice meteor came flying toward the Earth and broke up in space
• As it was breaking up, some of the fragments got caught and became the rings around the planets. They made the craters on the moon, the craters on some of the planets and what was left over came down and splattered on top of the North and South Pole.
• The super-cold snow fell on the poles mostly, burying the mammoths standing up. The dump of ice on the North and South pole cracked the crust of the earth releasing the fountains of the deep.
• The spreading ice caused the ice age effects, the glacier effects that we see. It buried the mammoths and 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 would settle out, and dead plants, and get buried. They would become coal if they’re plants and oil if they’re animals and those are still found today in huge grave yards – fossils found in grave yards, oil found in big pockets under the ground.
• During the last few months of the flood, the unstable plates of the earth would shift around – some places lift up, other places sink down - that’s going to form ocean basins and mountain ranges and the run off would cause incredible erosion like Grand Canyon in a couple of weeks.
• Over the next few hundred years, the ice caps would slowly melt back retreating to their current size. The added water from the ice melt would raise the ocean level creating what’s called a continental shelf
• It would also absorb carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere which allows more radiation to get in which is going to shorten people’s life spans and in the days of Peleg it finally took effect.
• The earth still today shows the effects of this devastating flood”

Some anti-Hovind websites critically analyse various versions of the Hovind Theory. Included in these criticisms: Hovind uses contradictions, straw man, red herring, and flat out false arguments in his theory. For example, Hovind supports his claims with material written by fellow Young Earth Creationist Walt Brown, which contains serious scientific errors.

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 criticised him [13]after he had criticised 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."[14] He is also criticised by Creation Ministries International (formerly AiG Australia). Their article "Maintaining Creationist Integrity" responds to Hovind's criticism of the original Answers in Genesis article.

From mainstream critics

Hovind is mostly known for his debates with evolutionary biology scientists. The best-known contemporary evolutionary biology scientists, Richard Dawkins and the late Stephen Jay Gould, have in the past refused to debate Hovind by claiming that debate is not how science works and gives charlatans more of an advantage than systematic inquiry [15]. Hovind disagrees, and feels that they avoid debate simply because the audience will perceive that evolution is not as factual as evolutionists claim it is. [16]

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[17], as well as some young Earth creationists[18], 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," which some politicians noted "would have made Arkansas a laughingstock."[19] 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. [20] 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 critized Hovind for claiming "Democracy is evil and contrary to God's law." Hovind has stated, "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."[21]

The SPLC also was appalled at Hovind pointing "his followers to Citizens Rule Book, popular among antigovernment "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."[22]

Hovind's $250,000 offer

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 of the reality of evolution and would be required to scientifically prove that God doesn't exist. [23] 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).

On December 19, 2005, Hovind announced while on Truth Radio, that he is increasing the offer to $1,000,000 for the Christmas holiday week. And that he is doing it with confidence that no one will ever be able to prove evolution. The vast majority of scientists do not take Hovind's work very seriously or agree with his interpretation of the facts.

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.

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[24]. Kisby lays out Hovind's arguments in formal logic, asserting that Hovind's challenge is logically invalid. The proof states "that our first and second hypotheses are reducible to the equation <math>\mathrm{U} = \varnothing</math>, which describes a non-existing universe". Kisby "dispatched my proof to Dr. Dino after committing it to paper" and "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." Thusly 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." The following (Spring 2006) issue of Skeptic, though, suggests that Kisby's proof may have some flaws. Various objections to the proof appear in the magazine's "Doubting Dr. Dino's Doubter Forum" (p. 21).

Controversial remarks

Hovind has made controversial remarks regarding conspiracies, science, creation, 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[25] [26].

He has a social conservative stance demonstrated with his presentations are fused with political messages that are socially conservative. Hovind maintains that Biology textbooks are "lying" and advocates simply taking evolution out of the textbooks because he considers evolution to be a "religion." [27] Hovind's presentations are also fused with other political comments, including posting political cartoons on his PowerPoint slides as the audience waits for his presentation, and comments saying: "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." (www.drdino.com video tape #3.)

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. [28] 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."[29] He attributes this belief to the films 9/11 In Plane Site [30] 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?"[31] He also allegeds that "UFOs are apparitions of Satan" and that the US government possesses UFOs. [32]

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". [33] 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."[34]. However, the claim itself is false and, while Hovind has been informed of this, he continues to make it. [35]. He also claims the Grand Canyon was not created over millions of years, as geologists explain. Rather, Hovind claims the Grand Canyon was created by the Great Flood (as told in the story of Noah's Ark) in the Old Testament.[36]

Trivia

• In 2000 Hovind was given the "P. T. Barnum: One Born Every Minute" award from the New Mexicans for Science and Reason (NMSR).[37] 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 annual NMSR 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" (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 Christian Baptism. [38] [39]

External links

Official Hovind and Pro-Hovind

• Dr Dino - Kent Hovind's website
• Dinosaur Adventure Land - Hovind's YEC-theme park website
• Truth Radio - Hovind's Daily Radio Program 4:30pm-6:00pm Central time.
• 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

• Unmasking the False Prophet of Creationism by Barbara Forrest. September 1999.
• A Miracle Occurs by Michael Shermer
• Talk.origins on Hovind
• Analysis of Kent Hovind Includes a section on Hovind's relationship with Chick Publishing and responses to the $250,000 Challenge.
• The Kent Hovind Page
• Doubting Dr. Dino: Kent Hovind's $250,000 Challenge Met by Adam Kisby
• Know Your Creationists: Kent Hovind
• When Giants Roamed
• Hovind's Dissertation An Academic Review/Description of Hovind's Dissertation.
• A 2004 Journey to Hovind's Dinosaur Adventure Land by CSICOP in the November 2004 issue of Skeptical Inquirer.
• Other views: Kent Hovind

Court records

• Hovind bankruptcy decision, 1996
• Escambia County Florida Clerk of the Circuit Court Affidavit 08/10/2005 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
• Hovind v. Schneider, 2002
• US Tax Court: Hovind v. Commissioner Internal Revenue Memo Opinion 07/06/2006
• Various documents provided from Richardsayshome.com, which is suspected to be ran by Hovind.[40]
• Escambia County Clerk of Courts

Media sources

• Pensacola News Journal, 7 April 2006
• Pensacola News Journal, 14 July 2006
• Pensacola News Journal, 18 July 2006
• Pensacola News Journal, 19 July 2006
• Pensacola News Journal, 21 July 2006
• Pensacola News Journal, 28 July 2006
• Pensacola News Journal, 1 September 2006