Buddy Davis

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'''Buddy Davis''' {{lived|1949|2024}} was an [[American]] [[music]]ian, [[Christian fundamentalism|Christian fundamentalist]], [[Young Earth creationism|young Earth creationist]], and one of [[Ken Ham]]'s top goons. He was employed by [[Answers in Genesis|Answers in Genesis (AiG)]], a Creationist apologetics organization run by Ham that operates the [[Creation Museum]] and the [[Ark Encounter]]. He led the "Creation Adventure" children’s workshop at AiG conferences and at the Creation Museum. As a folk musician, he incorporated his beliefs into the music he wrote with songs such as "I Don't Believe in Evolution" and "It's Designed To Do".

== Early life ==
Prior to his involvement with Answers in Genesis, Buddy Davis believed in [[theistic evolution]] and owned a sculpturing studio in his hometown of Mount Vernon, Ohio. One day an insurance agent stopped by his studio and asked if he could give him some literature on creation from the [[Institute for Creation Research]]. Davis agreed and when he read the material, it convinced him to believe in young Earth creationism. 

Davis' dinosaur models drew youth groups from churches in his area and when the pastors realized his knowledge on dinosaurs, they invited him to come speak to their congregations, which started his journey into the Creation ministry. In 1994 he met Ken Ham, who had just started Answers in Genesis ministries in [[Kentucky]], at a conference in Davis's hometown. After the conference, he showed him his dinosaur models and played him a song that he had written called, “He Makes Dreams Out of Nothing”. That evening opened up his music ministry as well as an opportunity to work for Ham's ministries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.christianworldview.net/2014/01/interview-with-buddy-davis-of-answers-in-genesis/|title=Interview with Buddy Davis of Answers in Genesis - Christian Worldview {{!}} Christian Worldview|website=www.christianworldview.net|language=en-US|access-date=2017-04-30}}</ref>

== Career ==
As a speaker for AiG, Davis's talks covered a wide range of topics. His "easy-to-understand"{{fact}} style made him popular at AiG with listeners of all ages.

Davis was also an author and illustrator of children’s and family books, both fiction and non-fiction.

According to Davis, the sole purpose of his music was to "uphold the authority of God's word and draw people to a closer walk with [[Jesus Christ]], our Creator and Savior".<ref> [https://creationmuseum.org/blog/2008/10/28/a-new-buddy-davis-dvd-in-the-making/ A New Buddy Davis DVD in the Making]. creationmuseum.org, 28 October 2008.</ref> His songs such as "Godly Men" and "I Believe" have been ministered worldwide. He played a variety of folk-style instruments (e.g., guitar, mandolin, and harmonica). He recorded over a dozen CDs,<ref>[https://answersingenesis.org/ministry-news/2024/08/07/everyones-buddy/?form=MG0AV3 Everyone’s Buddy] Answers in Genesis, August 7, 2024</ref> and whenever he was at the Creation Museum, he did a concert.

Davis was an avid adventurer. He traveled north of the [[Alaska]]n tundra (within the {{wpl|Arctic Circle}}) searching for [[fossil|dinosaur bones]]. He also traveled to {{wpl|Mount Ararat}} in [[Turkey]] searching for [[Noah's Ark]]. He was well recognized in certain circles{{who}} for his explorer clothes and trademark hat, allowing children to recognize him as the [[star]] of the "Creation Adventure Team".

As a "paleo-artist", Davis specialized in building life-size dinosaur sculptures. He sculpted more than 60 dinosaur models, many of them on display in the Creation Museum.<ref>[https://answersingenesis.org/blogs/ken-ham/2007/01/13/buddy-davis-sculptures-ready-for-creation-museum/ Buddy Davis' sculptures ready for Creation Museum]. answersingenesis.org, 13 January 2007.</ref>

He also hosted "Wild Game Dinners" as an evangelistic opportunity to reach out to outdoorsmen. The events usually involved a meal of wild game prepared by local outdoorsmen and folk and Appalachian-style music presented by Davis. The events concluded with Davis sharing hunting stories and a [[gospels|Gospel]] message.<ref>[https://answersingenesis.org/bios/buddy-davis/ Buddy Davis]. Answers In Genesis.</ref>

== Creationist beliefs ==
As a [[Young Earth creationism|Young Earth creationist]], Davis believed that the [[Book of Genesis]] is historical fact. Despite scientific evidence and consensus that the [[Age of the Earth|Earth]] is about 4.5 billion years old and the Universe about 13.8 billion years old,<ref name="USGS1997">{{cite web|url=http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/geotime/age.html|title=Age of the Earth|date=1997|publisher=U.S. Geological Survey|accessdate=2006-01-10|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20051223072700/http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/geotime/age.html|archivedate=23 December 2005 <!--DASHBot-->|deadurl=no}}</ref> Davis believed the age of the Universe to be about 6,000 years.

==See also==
*[[Ken Ham]]
*[[Tim Todd]]

==External links==
*[http://www.answersingenesis.org/events/bio.aspx?Speaker_ID=5 Buddy Davis' bio on AiG]
*[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FMq5Xq_svW8 Buddy Davis' "Creation Adventure Team: Jurassic Ark Mystery" Review] and [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=K_j3qzKkkT0 part 2] by [[The Bible Reloaded]] on [[YouTube]]
==References==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Davis, Buddy}}

[[Category:Answers in Genesis]]
[[Category:Christians]]
[[Category:Christian apologists]]
[[Category:Creationists]]
[[Category:Fundamentalists]]
[[Category:Musicians]]
[[Category:Ohio]]
[[Category:Pseudoscience promoters]]

Categories: Answers in Genesis, Christians, Christian apologists, Creationists, Fundamentalists, Musicians, Ohio, Pseudoscience promoters