Anyone planning to take in the sights of Washington DC next year can add the Museum of the Bible to their list. It's not a Smithsonian museum, of course, so there will be an admission charge (could be quite steep). There has been controversy about this new institution, not just over its objectivity in view of the fact that the Hobby Lobby mogul is funding it, but over the means by which many valuable antiquities ended up in his hands. If I can stomach the ticket price, I imagine I'll visit this place eventually.

http://dc.about.com/od/museums/fl/Explo ... ton-DC.htm

I suppose someone like Roy or Johnson will say this violates separation of church and state.

With all due respect, this post is in the wrong forum.
It really has nothing to do directly with religion.

It's more of a current (very near future) event.
It most certainly can be turned into a topic about religion by someone like Roy.

As long as it is funded with private money it isn't a separation issue.

Quite the contrary, I may go there to see some of those ancient manuscripts. Hope they permit photographs. But as the OP stated, there is some issue over how they acquired them but, as for me, I don't really care. Gerald L. K. Smith, a Klan preacher, also ran a large bible museum. I don't know if it's still open or how much of that collection will be part of this collection. But I may never get a chance to see the ancient manuscripts anywhere this close to me so, depending on reviews of the artifacts, I may just go.

Chris OConnor wrote:As long as it is funded with private money it isn't a separation issue.

What if certain original biblical manuscripts were purchased by a government history museum for indefinite display.
Would you have problem with public money funding the purchase and care of them?

Not at all, Ant.

As long as tax payer money isn't being spent in support of theism or a particular religion I see no problem. The Bible and Biblical artifacts are a part of history and history belongs in museums. For me it is not black and white. Many atheists go nuts every time anything religious pops up. I just want it presented objectively.