There are actual stupid people who take the rantings of the evolution deniers seriously. This is a movie for them.
In the new science-bashing movie Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, Ben Stein and the rest of the filmmakers sincerely and seriously argue that Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution paved the way for the Holocaust. By “seriously,” I mean that Ben Stein acts grief-stricken and the director juxtaposes quotes from evolutionary biologists with archival newsreel clips from Hitler’s Reich. Prepare for an intellectual night at the cinema.
The backlash against this film is truly remarkable. Usually the scientific community is content to let ID-iocy wallow in its own filth, but from every description Ive seen of this film its just so singularly odious in its thesis (Evolution = Atheistic Hitler Communism Gay Satan), ridiculous in its promotional tactics (I’m still laughing about the bit a few weeks ago where they ban Meyers and let in Dawkins by accident) and its intellectual dishonesty, from failing to provide any evidence on either side of the ID-Evo “Debate” to taking the ID-crowd at their (often demonstrably wrong) word to lying to people like Meyers, Dennet and Dawkins and quoting them out of context to make them look like some kind of asshole (cough cough bloody cough) its hardly surprising that damn near everyone’s coming out against it. Christ even the “support” I’ve seen for it from people like Ray “Banana-man” Comfort manages to knock the whole thing backhandedly for Stein’s not being “Christian enough.”
And I’m honestly looking forward to buying a ticket to this on opening night. Probably hand out flyers with the facts against the crap the movie tries to pull. Anything that keeps this film in theaters long enough for the general public to take the hint about how generally repulsive the whole ID movement is can only be good for everyone.
Ben Sten? You mean this guy? (Talk about changes and evolution!)
(trying again to include the image)
sigh Never mind.
Maybe there were too many winners on his old TV quiz show. So now he’s forced to make a movie: “Give Ben Stein Your Money.”
Rex - it gets even better. In addition to all the issues you mention, it looks like the XVIVO group, which produced an excellent CGI animation of microscopic cellular structures which was blatantly ripped off in Expelled, has demanded that the movie strip the hijacked footage out of the film before its formal release or face legal action!
When Dawkins told PZ Myers after seeing the film (in the imbroglio you mentioned) that the best part of this excresence was some CG footage which seemed quite different from the rest of the movie, Myers speculated this could be the XVIVO footage because Creationists have stolen it before. However it looks like, being aware of the actions taken against Dembski after he stole it, the Expelled crew cobbled up their own animation which just copies the XVIVO work with some different colors so as to avoid direct theft. But it looks like just filing the serial numbers off isn’t quite enough to weasel around the intellectual property issues outlined by Peter Irons.
(gets popcorn ready)
For the last couple of weeks, I have spent way too much time posting an essay I had written about Expelled to virtually all the new posts showing up on google blog search for expelled, ben stein.
So at this point I have seen over 200 sites, the vast, vast majority posting either the trailer for Expelled, or the interview Stein had with Sproul, and the bloggers exhorting their readers to go see expelled, and pass the info on to all their pastors, churches, church memebers, youth groups, etc.
The sad part is that most of these folks are just GOD-crazed nutty. In Denver they are going to have Expelled marathons, where, I kid you not, people are going to see it 12 times straight!@
Another sad thing, is even though I tried to be non-attack in my essay, just pointing out facts - (I will post it at the end of this message), and supporting those facts, I would say that 90% of my posts never made it through moderation. These people are not even willing to listen to another position.
But when James Dobson personally endorses Expelled, these people think that Jesus is knocking them on the side of the head, telling them that if they don’t see this movie, they are going straight to hell. - It’s scary, but probably at least 20% of the population falls into this category.
Its like Isaac Asimov wrote in a great article about creationists -
“It is religion that recruits their squadrons. Tens of millions of Americans, who neither know nor understand the actual arguments for or even against evolution, march in the army of the night with their Bibles held high. And they are a strong and frightening force, impervious to, and immunized against, the feeble lance of mere reason.”
http://www.stephenjaygould.org/ctrl/azimov_creationism.html
Asimov wrote this in 1984 (huh?)
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here is the essay I have been posting-
This films’ main thesis, that anyone in the science community who believes in God, or is a Darwin dissenter is being “expelled” is false at its core.
In a New York Times interview, Walter Ruloff (producer of Expelled) said that researchers, who had studied cellular mechanisms, made findings suggestive of an intelligent designer. “But they are afraid to report them”.
Mr. Ruloff also cited Dr. Francis S. Collins, a geneticist who directs the National Human Genome Research Institute and whose book, “The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief”, explains how he came to embrace his Christian faith. Mr. Ruloff said that Dr. Collins separates his religious beliefs from his scientific work only because “he is toeing the party line”.
That’s “just ludicrous,” Dr. Collins said in a telephone interview. While many of his scientific colleagues are not religious and some are “a bit puzzled” by his faith, he said, “they are generally very respectful.” He said that if the problem Mr. Ruloff describes existed, he is certain he would know about it.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/27/science/27expelled.html?pagewanted=2
Similarly, Dr. Ken Miller is a professed Christian who wrote “Finding Darwin’s God” (which I suggest you read). Dr. Miller has not been “expelled” in any fashion for his belief in God.
The movie tries to make the case that “Big Science” is nothing but a huge atheist conspiracy out to silence believers, but only presents a very one-sided look at some of the Discovery Institute’s “martyrs”.
Carolyn Crocker “expelled”? - No.
Her annual teaching contract was not renewed. Was she “fired” for daring to bring God into research? - No. She was hired to teach Cell Biology, and she decided to ignore the schools’ curriculum and substitute her own curriculum. Here is her powerpoint presentation.
http://www.antievolution.org/cgi-bin/ikonboard/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=14;t=5152;st=210#entry97227
Guillermo Gonzalez “expelled”? - No.
He was not granted tenure. The film doesn’t bring up the fact that in all his years at ISU he had only brought in only a miniscule amount of grant money. Nor does it bring up the fact that in all his years at ISU he failed to mentor a single student through to their PhD. Nor does it mention that in his career at ISU, his previous excellent record of publication had dropped precipitously.
Richard von Sternberg “expelled”? - No.
Sternberg continues to work for NIH in the same capacity. Of course the movie doesn’t bring up his underhanded tactics in getting Meyers work published.
This movie attempts to influence it’s viewers with dishonesty, half-truths, and by a completely one-sided presentation of the facts.
If a scientists’ research is not accepted by the scientific community, it isn’t because the scientist either believes or doesn’t believe in God or Darwin, it is usually because they are producing bad science. Like the idea of Intelligent Design.
For additional information on the truth about this movie go to
http://www.expelledexposed.com
any comments as to how I can improve it so as to break thru the brick walls I’ve been coming up against would be appreciated.
Benjamin Franklin