Is Answers in Genesis a Cult?

The BITE Model, developed by Steven Hassan, is a framework used to understand how cults and high-control groups manipulate and control their members. "BITE" stands for Behavior, Information, Thought, and Emotional control. Here’s a brief overview of each component:

Behavior Control: This involves regulating an individual’s physical reality, such as dictating where they live, who they associate with, and how they spend their time. It also includes strict rules, rewards, and punishments to enforce conformity.

Information Control: This includes controlling the information members receive, often through censorship and propaganda. Cults may restrict access to outside sources of information and discourage critical thinking.

Thought Control: This focuses on manipulating how members think, often by using loaded language, thought-stopping techniques, and indoctrination to suppress dissent and promote group ideology.

Emotional Control: This involves manipulating emotions to foster dependency and loyalty. Techniques include love-bombing, inducing guilt or fear, and creating an "us vs. them" mentality.

For many evangelicals it is easy to see this pattern in other religious organizations and groups claiming to be Christian but who have deviated from orthodoxy. But what happens when we apply this same model to mainstream organizations that we typically consider to be trustworthy? Take Answers in Genesis for example.

Behavior Control:

Does AiG exert behavior control over people's physical reality?

Not exactly. They do discourage people from sending their children to "state-run educational institutions" and encourage them to treat higher education and non-AiG-approved scholarship with suspicion. But they don't tell people where to live or who to associate with, etc. Nor do they use a rewards/punishment mentality to enforce conformity per-se. However, as of Jan. 2023, they have begun diverting more and more attention to destroying the credibility of other Young Earth Creationists who do not accept their particular views verbatim, branding such traitors "Young Earth Evolutionists (YEEs)." (1)

As for strict rules, this has more to do with the "creeds" and interpretive stance of AiG. (2) As noted, deviation from the party line is enough to get you blacklisted by AiG–even if you are a Young Earth Creationist. So, in a way, they do seek to control people's physical reality. Albeit indirectly though subtle manipulation and suggestion. (i.e., "Don't trust these sources or associate with people who don't share our views, or your trust in the authority of God's Word may be compromises and you might end up abandoning the faith.")

Information Control:

Does AiG control the information its followers have access to?

Yes. Again, this is done through subtle manipulation and censorship. (3) AiG presents their materials and resources as a trusted, Christ-centered alternative to "mainstream" education which they claim is riddled with "evolutionary ideas." (4, 5, 6, 7) As a result, AiG provides most of the information distributed to their followers either through physical publications or online resources. Those publications which do not originate with AiG directly come from sources approved by the organization and subsequently share their views. However, these sources are far from unbiased or trustworthy. Most YEC materials promoted or produced by AiG are filled with parroted rhetoric, logical fallacies and outright lies about science, history, theology and Scripture. AiG will not cite critical sources or materials from non-YEC sources save to criticize and misrepresent them. Further, AiG leadership regularly encourages their followers to mistrust the "words of fallible men" who's "minds are clouded by the lie of evolution and millions of years." Instead, their followers are encouraged to trust in "the authority of God's Word" alone (by which they mean their interpretation of God's Word) lest they succumb to the serpent's lie: "Did God really say?"

Thought Control:

Does AiG manipulate how its members think using loaded language, thought-stopping techniques, and indoctrination?

Absolutely. AiG's mantra is: "If you can't trust Genesis, you can't trust anything else the Bible says." They (and many other YEC organizations) also teach that they know that their interpretation is correct because they possess the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit informs both their reading of Scripture and their understanding of empirical science. (8) Additionally, AiG materials regularly encourage their followers (especially young children) to "never take off their bible glasses," (9, 10) by which AiG means their particular interpretative framework is never to be questioned. Those who disagree with AiG’s interpretation have "taken off their bible glasses" and clearly do not possess the Holy Spirit. (Which would imply that they are not saved per Romans 8:9.) This rhetoric discourages critical thinking and uses fear to keep AiG's target audience in line.

Emotional Control:

Does AiG manipulate emotions to foster dependency and loyalty by employing techniques like love-bombing, inducing guilt or fear, and creating an "us vs. them" mentality?

Yes. AiG celebrates people who abandon their "evolutionary upbringing" in order to accept Christ. (We should absolutely rejoice when a person comes to Christ. But nowhere in Scripture is the Gospel tied to a person's acceptance or denial of evolution and deep time.) As previously outlined, AiG absolutely uses guilt and fear in their materials to keep people from critically assessing AiG's claims. And they without a shadow of a doubt create an "us vs. them" mentality in their followers. If you were to pick up any given resource produced by AiG today, you will find it rife with pejorative language directed not only at critics of Christianity, but fellow Christians as well. Christians who do not hold AiG's views verbatim–even other YECs–are called "compromisers," "scoffers," (11) "wolves in sheep's clothing," "fallible human beings/men" who’s "minds have been clouded by evolutionary lies" in nearly every single book, article, social media post and DVD produced by AiG. Perhaps worst of all, devout followers of Christ who question YEC hermeneutics are frequently compared to the serpent in Eden and are in turn condemned by AiG and its followers for "calling God a liar" and "encouraging people to doubt the authority of God's infallible Word." Furthermore, AiG teaches that there is a Satanic conspiracy at work in mainstream science and academia, and that every non-AiG-approved source is actively trying to replace the "true history of the world revealed in Scripture" with the "pagan religion of evolution and millions of years," whether they are consciously aware of it or not. (12, 13) As such, some regard AiG to be the vanguard of a new reformation with Ken Ham acting as something of a modern-day Martin Luther. (14) This means that if you do not agree with AiG's interpretation of Scripture or the way their ministry conducts itself, then you are essentially working for the enemy (i.e., Satan). If you claim to be a Christian but disagree with them or their tactics, then they and their most die-hard adherents view your faith as either weak or counterfeit. 

All that to say, I want to be clear that Answers in Genesis is not openly preaching a false gospel. They do conform to Christian orthodoxy on all essential doctrines, and I actually agree with them on many issues. It is their methodology and interpretation of a handful of prooftexts that I disagree with. Furthermore, while they strongly imply that a Christian must accept their views in order to be a "true Christian," as far as I am aware of, they have never explicitly stated this in any of their materials. But the organization has definitely lost its focus in my opinion. They are more concerned with ensuring that Christians all over the world accept their interpretation of Scripture than preaching the Gospel to the lost. So much so that they cannot separate the Gospel from their interpretive dogma. Nor can they distinguish between their interpretation of Scripture–"the opinion of fallible man"–and Scripture itself.

All in all, I have my concerns. While AiG cannot be officially classified as a cult, they are employing cult-like elements according to the BITE model and could easily devolve into a cult if the organization's leadership does not take corrective action.

See Also:

Scoffers and Young Earth Creationism

Ken Ham and Answers in Genesis: The word of Fallible Man or the Authority of God's Word?

Scoffers and Young Earth Creationism

 

“We constantly hear from those who scoff at what we do at Answers in Genesis, the Creation Museum, and the Ark Encounter. They hate the message. Now, we should not be surprised that so many unbelievers scoff when we stand up for God’s Word because “men [love] darkness rather than light” (John 3:19).

In 2 Peter we’re warned that in the last days (since God’s Son became a man) there’d be scoffers mocking those who stand on the truth of God’s Word.

“‘Knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.’ For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water (2 Peter 3:3-6).’

“This passage tells us that scoffers in the last days will reject creation and Noah’s Flood—we certainly see that today with scoffers of the Ark Encounter and the Creation Museum. These scoffers "willingly forget" the truths of the history of God’s Word—they deliberately reject the truth despite obvious evidence.

“But, in this same passage, God’s Word reminds us that He is long-suffering toward scoffers and not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9)—a reminder to pray for scoffers. Will you join us in praying for those who mock and scoff, that they will come to know the truth of God’s Word and the gospel?”

~Ken Ham, Jan. 17, 2016
“Scoffers and the Last Days”
Accessed 2/25/2025
(Scoffers and the Last Days | Answers in Genesis)

According to Ken Ham and many other YEC proponents, the “scoffers” in 2 Peter 3 are those living since Christ ascended to heaven who “reject creation and Noah’s Flood.” This includes fellow Christians who reject their expanded definition of the word “creation” (cited via the link in the quotation above). If a professing believer accepts the overwhelming scientific evidence for an ancient cosmos or evolution, or if they believe the Flood of Noah was a regional deluge or disagree with any other point in Answers in Genesis’ definition of “creation,” then they are considered to be a “scoffer” who "willingly forget(s) the truths of the history of God’s Word.”

This makes Ken’s following comments all the more telling.

“…in this same passage, God’s Word reminds us that He is long-suffering toward scoffers and not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9)—a reminder to pray for scoffers. Will you join us in praying for those who mock and scoff, that they will come to know the truth of God’s Word and the gospel?”

Since the word “scoffer” here essentially refers to anyone who does not hold YEC views–including professing Christians–this statement indicates that Ken views non-YECs as being under God’s judgment. Furthermore, he asks his followers to pray for such people, “that they will come to know the truth of God’s Word and the gospel.” The clear implication here is that he believes those who reject his interpretation of Genesis 1-11 are unsaved (or at the very least, deceived or spiritually immature).

But what of 2 Peter 3? Does this passage actually say what Ken and other YEC teachers claim?

“Dear friends, this is now the second letter I have written to you; in both letters, I want to stir up your sincere understanding by way of reminder, so that you recall the words previously spoken by the holy prophets and the command of our Lord and Savior given through your apostles. Above all, be aware of this: Scoffers will come in the last days scoffing and following their own evil desires, saying, ‘Where is his ‘coming’ that he promised? Ever since our ancestors fell asleep, all things continue as they have been since the beginning of creation.’ They deliberately overlook this: By the word of God the heavens came into being long ago and the earth was brought about from water and through water. Through these the world of that time perished when it was flooded. By the same word, the present heavens and earth are stored up for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

“Dear friends, don’t overlook this one fact: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed.”
~2 Peter 3:1-10 (CSB)

When read in context, 2 Peter 3:3-6, 9 does not say what Ken and other YECs seem to think it says. First of all, the end of verse 4 clearly states that the scoffers in question do not deny that God or a god created, “‘...Ever since our ancestors fell asleep, all things continue as they have been since the beginning of creation (ktisis [κτίσις]).’” This is consistent with the supernatural worldview of the ancient world. Philosophical naturalism was a non-issue at the time 2 Peter was written–everyone believed that nature came to be through supernatural means. So, Ken’s first claim, that “scoffers in the last days will reject creation,” is refuted by the very passage he cites to support his claim.

Secondly, if these scoffers already believe in a supernatural creation, then what exactly are they scoffing at? Obviously, it has to be Noah’s Flood, right? Wrong. According to verse 3 and the first part of verse 4, these scoffers are specifically mocking Christ’s return: “Above all, be aware of this: Scoffers will come in the last days scoffing and following their own evil desires, saying, ‘Where is his [Jesus’] ‘coming’ that he promised?’”

According to God’s Word, in the last days (i.e., the period of time between Christ’s ascension and return) scoffers will arise who will scoff at the return of Christ because of their evil desires and misplaced belief that life will continue just as it always has since the world began until the end of time.

But what of verses 5-6? Surely these verses support the view that these scoffers in particular are those who deny the global flood, correct? Wrong again. Verse 7 adds clarity to the point Peter is trying to make: “By the same word, the present heavens and earth are stored up for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.”

The reason why the flood is mentioned here is because the flood (regardless of its extent) was an act of divine judgment against human wickedness according to Genesis 6:11-13. What the last days scoffers of 2 Peter 3 are “deliberately overlooking” is God’s role as the supreme creator and judge of all mankind. God judged the ungodly people of the ancient world for their wickedness (see also 2 Peter 2:1-10) and He will judge again.

In conclusion, 2 Peter 3:1-10 teaches that people living in the last days will mock the return of Christ, deliberately overlooking the fact that God is both their creator and judge and will scoff at the idea that they will be held accountable for their sins if they reject Christ.

2 Peter 3 closes with the following comments, which I also feel are a great way to close things out here:

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed. Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness as you wait for the day of God and hasten its coming. Because of that day, the heavens will be dissolved with fire and the elements will melt with heat. But based on his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

“Therefore, dear friends, while you wait for these things, make every effort to be found without spot or blemish in his sight, at peace. Also, regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our dear brother Paul has written to you according to the wisdom given to him. He speaks about these things in all his letters. There are some things hard to understand in them. The untaught and unstable will twist them to their own destruction, as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures.

“Therefore, dear friends, since you know this in advance, be on your guard, so that you are not led away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own stable position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.”
~2 Peter 3:10-18 (CSB) See Also: Ken Ham and Answers in Genesis: The word of Fallible Man or the Authority of God's Word?