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Quentin Schultze, professor of communication at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and author of Communicating for Life: Christian Stewardship in Community and Media (Baker), said an attraction like Holy Land "makes religion more superficial and transitory" and contributes to a "consumerization" of faith. When people visit a tourist attraction, he said, they bring with them "a tourist mindset, which is: spend money and have a good time."

Marvin Rosenthal, whose vision is responsible for Holy Land, believes his attraction does pass that test, although he fully expects some people to disagree with what he is doing. "Holy Land has been my dream for 20 years," he says. "Even before our ministry moved to central Florida in 1989, I believed that there was a need for a concept that utilizes all the tools of modern technology, that presents accurate biblical history and creates a one-of-a-kind experience. This is not only for Christians, but for people from all walks of life. When people come here, we hope the Bible will come alive for them and, I pray, change their lives."

Mark I. Pinsky covers religion for The Orlando Sentinel.

Copyright © 2001 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Previous Christianity Today articles about the Holy Land Experience:

Holy Land 'Living Museum' Planned | (Oct. 4, 1999)

Is Orlando New Promised Land? | (Feb. 8, 1999)

Other media coverage of the park includes:

Theme park on a hill | As Orlando's Holy Land Experience shows, even virtual history is messy — The New York Times Magazine (Feb. 25, 2001)

Orlando's Newest Attraction Leaves Some Unamused | Minister Denies His Park Proselytizes Jews — The Washington Post (Feb. 20, 2001)

Holy Land theme park is a place for reflection — The Miami Herald (Feb. 18, 2001)

Fantasy Lands | Ride an artichoke! Visit Christ's tomb! Eat with Martians! Theme parks take shtick to the extreme — The San Francisco Chronicle (Feb. 15, 2001)

New Christian theme park troubles rabbis in Orlando — Detroit News (Feb. 15, 2001)

Controversial Holy Land surpassing expectations — The Miami Herald (Feb. 7, 2001)

Bible theme park accused of 'soul-snatching' — The Independent (Feb. 6, 2001)

New park no amusement to some — The Seattle Times (Feb. 6, 2001)

Holy Land park opens to mixed reviews — The Boston Globe (Feb. 6, 2001)

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March 5 2001, Vol. 45, No. 4