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Evolution: Now Showing at a Theater Near You
April 18, 2008 8:35 AM
The Ben Stein anti-Darwinist film, "Expelled," opens today in 1,100 Theaters. We've posted before on it (look back HERE and HERE), so we thought we'd give you a sampling of what others have to say so far:
Ronald Bailey at REASON Magazine has a headline: "Flunk This Movie! Ben Stein's new anti-science movie Expelled is all worldview and no evidence."
He writes that "despite its topic, the film is entirely free of scientific content -- no scientific evidence against biological evolution and none for "intelligent design" (ID) theory is given. Which makes sense because biological evolution is amply supported by evidence from the fossil record, molecular biology, and morphology."
Matt Barber, writing at TOWNHALL.COM: "If you're already a person of faith, prepare to have your faith strengthened. And even if you're not, you can't possibly walk away without at least admitting that the debate over who we are and how we got here is far from over."
Jeffrey Kluger of TIME (who covers science, not film), says Stein "quickly wades into waters far too deep for him. He makes all the usual mistakes nonscientists make whenever they try to take down evolution, asking, for example, how something as complex as a living cell could have possibly arisen whole from the earth's primordial soup. The answer is it couldn't -- and it didn't. Organic chemicals needed eons of stirring and slow cooking before they could produce compounds that could begin to lead to a living thing. More dishonestly, Stein employs the common dodge of enumerating all the admittedly unanswered questions in evolutionary theory and using this to refute the whole idea. But all scientific knowledge is built this way. A fishnet is made up of a lot more holes than strings, but you can't therefore argue that the net doesn't exist. Just ask the fish."
John Rennie, Editor in Chief of SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, has posted an extensive package on the film. In his own review he writes, "Unfortunately, Expelled is a movie not quite harmless enough to be ignored. Shrugging off most of the film's attacks -- all recycled from previous pro-ID works -- would be easy, but its heavy-handed linkage of modern biology to the Holocaust demands a response for the sake of simple human decency."
Greg Stier, head of Dare 2 Share Ministries in Colorado, writing in the CHRISTIAN POST: "It was a funny, thought provoking, dangerous, serious, engaging (and did I mention “funny”?) documentary. I have been a fan of Ben Stein since his “Bueller, Bueller” days, but now he is a rock star to me. He was so tongue-in-cheek that he almost bit it off."
Sean P. Means of the SALT LAKE TRIBUNE complains he was not able to see the film in advance: "To keep a movie away from critics is usually a sign that things are really, really bad."
He concludes, "I can't help but be struck by the irony of Stein's own words in the movie's introduction (which is also on YouTube):
"'In my experience, people who are confident in their ideas are not afraid of criticism. So that tells me the Darwinists are afraid. They're hiding something.'
"What, pray tell, are Stein and the "Expelled" producers hiding? And what are they afraid of?"
And this from Charles Colson, who, like Stein, worked in the Nixon Administration, and later founded Prison Fellowship Ministries: "I urge you to go see Expelled when it opens at a theater near you. Believe me, in this case the truth really is stranger -- and more compelling -- than any fiction the film’s detractors could possibly dream up."
April 18, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (1343)
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I haven't seen a good comedy in a while - I might add this to my list of "silly little movies" to check out.
Posted by: cturple | Apr 18, 2008 8:51:08 AM
only Americans are "debating" evolution in 2008...smh
Posted by: smh | Apr 18, 2008 9:26:04 AM
"only Americans are "debating" evolution in 2008...smh"
Only those still living in the stone ages. It's too bad that such an intelligent man could drink so much kool-aid.
Posted by: AtheistArchon | Apr 18, 2008 9:43:25 AM
It's so amazing to me that people have so much faith in the evolution theory, yet can never explain it.
Posted by: Jordan | Apr 18, 2008 10:31:25 AM
Well, I guess all the comments about Ben Stein's intellect can now be put to rest. Biologist don't get tired of debating/supporting evolution - we just like to discuss evolution with those that will keep an open mind (thus excluding ID folks). Once ID has supporting data and evidence I would gladly debate the merits of ID vs. evolution.
Posted by: CJM | Apr 18, 2008 10:40:48 AM
Jordan - you obviously have not set a foot in any college-level biology course. We are ALL willing to explain evolution. COme on by and join the class, I will be happy to explain evolution to you. In fact - here you go: evolution is the change in the DNA of a population of living organisms over long period of time. Evolution can and HAS lead to the creation of new species. There you go, an explanation in a nutshell.
Posted by: CJM | Apr 18, 2008 10:43:21 AM
The only appropriate answer to his movie is to ignore it. And then work to improve science education in this country.
Posted by: jock59801 | Apr 18, 2008 10:54:07 AM
Jordan : Evolution = change over time.
Posted by: cturple | Apr 18, 2008 10:55:00 AM
Atheism and materialist "science" is a religion. Darwinism is a religion. It takes a huge leap of faith to buy into these materialist philosophies. Evolution, Darwinism and the "BIG BANG" don't explain why we're here. It doesn't explain gravity. It doesn't explain the size of the universe. It doesn't explain life outside of earth. It doesn't explain why we have ingrained morals. It doesn't explain intelligence and awareness. It doesn't explain why humans are so completely different than any other life on this planet. It doesn't explain imagination and memory. It doesn't explain how life first started. It doesn't explain what created the first cell, if that's how it happened. It doesn't explain how life first started. It doesn't explain matter and energy. It doesn't explain how many people can recall past lives. It doesn't explain mediums who can speak to the dead. It doesn't explain much at all and confuses the subject of life trememdously. Atheism, Darwinism and modern popular "science" is a religion for materialists and these materialists hijacked a position of "authority" to make it a sin to ask many obvious questions. Is it more likely this universe is an accident that came out of nothing or is it more likely that life and this universe isn't just an accident that came from nothing?
Posted by: SCIENCE = RELIGION FOR MATERIALISTS | Apr 18, 2008 10:58:23 AM
I think the proponents of ID have it backwards. The very fact that life is so complex is the best argument against ID, that it must have evolved slowly, over the millenia. If it is truly ID, then the designer must have been Rube Goldberg's mentor.
Posted by: Andy | Apr 18, 2008 11:00:27 AM
science=religion...
Of course evolution doesn't explain gravity - that is a different theory and a different field of science. If you are going to spout such garbage at least pretend to attend college (or even high school first). Additionlly, evolution isn't design to answer why we are here - it explains how organiosms change over time. Again, evolution is not designed to answer the question as to how life on earth began, but there are theories out there that deal with that specific question. Like my father siad, better to keep ones moth shut and be thought a fool, than to open ones mouth and remove all doubt...
Posted by: CJM | Apr 18, 2008 11:05:54 AM
I HAVE FAMILY FROM POLAND AND UNDERSTAND THE SUBJECT OF EUGENICS WELL. CHARLES DARWIN'S COUSIN, FRANCIS GALTON, IS THE FATHER OF EUGENICS. EUGENICS SOCIETIES WERE ALL THE RAGE DURING THE NAZI REIGN AND FOR YEARS BEFORE. IT WAS THE DOCTORS WHO CREATED POLICIES OF STERILAZATION AND MURDER OF THOSE THESE DEEMED "LIFE UNWORTH LIVING". IT WAS POLICIES OF THE STATE WHICH THE NAZI'S ACTED UPON WHEN THEY EXTERMINATED HANDICAPPED CHILDREN, JEWS, SLAVS, HOMOSEXUALS, GYPSIES, COMMUNISTS, THE SO-CALLED MENTALLY ILL ETC.. ANYONE WHO WAS A THREAT TO THE GENES OF SOCIETY. MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DEATHS AROUND THE WORLD CAME ABOUT AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE SOCIAL DARWINISN. READ UP ON THE VAST AMOUNT OF INFORMATION ON THIS SUBJECT.
Posted by: EUGENICS | Apr 18, 2008 11:10:24 AM
In response to "EUGENICS" the perversion of Darwianin evolution into some perverse idea of social darwinism in NO WAY invalidates evolution as a way to explain the diversity of life. The two are completely separate topics and ideas.
Posted by: CJM | Apr 18, 2008 11:13:33 AM
The funny this is, if you consider how badly we've messed up the planet we live on, WHERE we came from and HOW we got here are really irrelevant to the question WHAT are we going to do to allow our species (think "our children") to continue existing? It's like people debating where they boarded a subway train while the train hurtles toward a wall.
Posted by: Steve Hazell | Apr 18, 2008 11:16:36 AM
Who designed the designer? If your answer is no one, he just is, then why is that answer not satisfactory for the universe itself, it just is.
Posted by: Blaine d'Entremont | Apr 18, 2008 11:27:11 AM
Wow, 'you' must really feel strongly about that since you made 'eugenics' your hat.
But then, So, What? Einstein's E=Mc2 'led to' nukes (And 80% of France's pollution free power.) and chinese fireworks to guns and bombs. (And methods better then digging for dams, etc.)
A little knowledge can be a deadly thing when used by those with deadly intent. (I'm guessing that the Holocaust would have happened even without 'social Darwinism' as an excuse, let alone a reason.)
The truth is the truth and reality is for those people who can't handle drugs.
Which I guess is why ID is for those who can't handle 'evolution' no matter how much proof and evidence it has.
BTW-General Relativity isn't EXACTLY right, either-although it does explain things that Newton's gravitational theory couldn't approach. So by the 'logic' here with over 400 years Newton's 'theory' falls to Einstein's which falls before the singularity. Therefore gravity doesn't exist-go ahead and take that step off Everest because the 'fearful and arrogant' scientists are just fear moongering about the results.
Posted by: JeffsterCo | Apr 18, 2008 12:03:57 PM
It is very depressing to continue to read the postings of those who have no clue as to science or the scientific method. They do not even know what fields of science study which phenomena. This country needs to improve science education! NOW!
"Science = Religion", are you seriously looking for evolution theory to answer why people believe they had a past life? Really? Why not look at the theories of psychology that address that topic? Or the theories of neurological science? Speaking to the dead? Really? How can you seriously discuss evolution when you believe in such nonsense? This is why I agree with Jock59801. But I have to take my hat off to Ben, he has found another way to separate a sucker from his money. With the word of mouth advertising he will get from the church pulpits, he will make a mint! All of those born agains will be flocking (pun intended) t see this movie.
Posted by: John1959 | Apr 18, 2008 12:04:57 PM
"Modern" science tells us that life started on Earth with lightening hitting a puddle and a highly developed, highly intelligent one-celled organism emerged from it. Science class also tells us that the universe and all life in it began with an explosion of a gaseous cloud and here we are today. See, what do you need a god for? It's all explained right there. Next question....
Posted by: No god!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | Apr 18, 2008 12:39:11 PM
Science should be able to stand up to scrutiny. It should be able to handle every angle of an argument. That's why it's considered science right? If millions questioned gravity and we wanted to put it to the test, scientists wouldn't object. They'd welcome it because it's a chance to prove the validity of gravity. So why are scientists so completely opposed to us common-folk questioning Darwinism? I believe in evolution, don't get me wrong, but to apply this theory to everyone and everything is just wrong-headed. Not allowing people to question the meaning of life is just oppressive. Is it really that harmful to just ask why we are here and how did we get here and where are we going after this life? It's everyone's right to question and no ones right to suppress this questioning.
Posted by: Loaded questions | Apr 18, 2008 12:51:44 PM
Loaded questions - Scientists ponder the meaning of life too, just not when doing science. Science has absolutely nothing to say about the meaning of life.
Scientists are happy to discuss and test anything about evolution, and for the most part already have. That's the problem. Most of the "critics" of evolution just keep saying things that have been refuted hundreds of times before, or else things that can't be addressed by science in the first place. Nobody is against questioning. The problem with creationists is that they just don't like the answers.
Posted by: jock59801 | Apr 18, 2008 1:02:04 PM
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