The Freedom from Religion Foundation has written to schools in Kentucky and in surrounding states about the Ark Encounter, located in Williamstown.

Mark Looy of Answers in Genesis, which created the project, says the atheist groups seem to be “more angry than ever” at public displays of Christian faith.

“It’s not surprising,” he says, “that groups like the FFRF and the ACLU are becoming even more aggressive in attacking any vestige of biblical Christianity in our culture.”

Kentucky’s education commissioner, Stephen Pruitt, has sent his own letter to school districts telling them that neither outside groups nor state education officials should dictate a field trip selections.

Looy says public schools that attend the exhibit don’t have to fear that they’re violating the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

If a school allows its students to attend, Looy says, that’s not an endorsement of Answers and the Ark Encounter.

“They’re just exposing young people to viewpoints that they’re normally not allowed to see,” he tells OneNewsNow.