I don't like to do this, but I'm going to cut and paste an article from AiG's website. The new film coming out, Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, is a huge opportunity to bring the creation/evolution debate into more, mainstream outlets.
The article begins here:
Two of the better-known challengers of the evolutionary belief system met in Nashville, Tennessee, on Tuesday to discuss ways that the upcoming movie Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed can have a major impact on the creation/evolution debate.
Expelled is hosted by the brilliant Ben Stein, actor/economist/lawyer/presidential speechwriter/science observer—a 21st-century Einsteinian figure. While his film arrives at American movie theaters on the weekend of April 18, Mr. Stein came to Nashville for a special preview showing of Expelled for several hundred attendees at the annual convention of the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB). The audience leapt to its feet with generous applause at the film’s conclusion—moved by the undaunted attempts of the Darwin-doubters (and their filmmaking allies) as they challenge the elites in America’s educational and scientific establishments. Many of these Darwin challengers find themselves pitted against powerful evolutionists who despotically protect their evolution belief system, and sometimes expel those who would dare question Darwin.
Before Tuesday’s film preview, Mr. Stein spent 15 minutes chatting with AiG-U.S. President Ken Ham, who informed Mr. Stein that he had seen a director’s cut of Expelled last month at AiG’s Creation Museum. Ben told Ken that he was aware of the “wonderful” facility near Cincinnati and hoped to visit one day (and also to enjoy his favorite ice cream at a parlor chain in our area called Graeter’s, he told Ken!).
“I urge everyone not to miss Expelled. I found it riveting, eye-opening, even astonishing. Ben Stein does a masterful job of exposing the ruthlessness of evolutionists who will go after anyone who challenges or merely questions Darwinian orthodoxy. I was on the edge of my seat—entertained yet instructed.
“This movie is a must-see. Congratulations to Ben and the producers for the courage to create a much-needed perspective on the erosion of freedoms in America.”
—Ken Ham, president, AiG–U.S.
Ken pledged AiG’s strong promotional support to Mr. Stein, indicating that AiG will use its multiple outlets to spread the word about his excellent film. After previewing the documentary last month, Ken declared that the film was “riveting, eye-opening, even astonishing. Ben does a masterful job of exposing the ruthlessness of evolutionists who will go after anyone who challenges or merely questions Darwinian orthodoxy. I was on the edge of my seat—entertained yet instructed.”
Ken noted that while Stein is not a biblical creationist, the film he hosts provides a valuable service, as it exposes the tyranny of leaders in the evolutionist community. The film, notes Ken, also reveals the massive scientific problems with evolution theory.
“Freedom is the essence of America,” Stein declares in his narration. He adds that science is supposed “to pursue any line of inquiry,” but when it comes to evolution, that practice is not just ignored, but the freedoms of Darwin-questioners are trampled upon. Several such examples are presented in the film.
One of the saddest moments in the film occurs when a self-described Christian university (Baylor University in Texas) is documented as persecuting one of its own because he questioned evolution. Ironically, the façade of one of its building has a verse inscribed on it from the book of Colossians, which declares that, in God, all things were created by Him.
How You Can Help
Ben and Ken are requesting the backing of AiG supporters to get out the word about this both entertaining (which features flashes of humor even amidst some tragic moments) and important film. Mr. Stein and the film’s producers told Ken on Tuesday that if large numbers of people come to the movie theaters during its opening weekend (April 18–20), it would send a strong message to other movie houses to carry it, for the film’s theme of repressive censorship and a call for a restoration of freedoms is resonating with so many people.
Here’s what you can do even now to ensure that hundreds of additional theaters not only show the film, but will keep it running for several weeks:
1) Call or go to your local movie theater and ask the manager to show the film. If you are not sure where/whom to call in your area, then call this toll-free number in the U.S. and someone will share that local information with you: 800-705-0485.
2) Go to your church leadership and encourage them to buy out a local theater so that Expelled could be shown there—and then make sure as many people from that church attend as possible.
3) Send the following e-mail link about the film to your email contact list: www.expelledthemovie.com/playground.php and also send them this AiG article you are reading.
These actions are key to a successful promotion of this heroic film, for a backlash is already building against it by the evolutionist community.
Ken Ham declares that this movie “is a must-see. Encourage your local school board members to watch this well-produced documentary. Even pay for their tickets, but get them there! This is a much-needed perspective on the erosion of freedoms in America.”
We encourage you to spend time browsing the interactive Expelled website: www.ExpelledTheMovie.com. Our movie review of Expelled will be posted to this website later this month.
5 comments:
For those of you reading this blog who think that Ben Stein was in any way the motivating force behind this movie, please reconsider.
From the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention Texan interview with Logan Craft (executive producer of Expelled):
http://www.sbtexan.com/default.asp?action=article&aid=5533&issue=2/4/2008
TEXAN: How did Ben Stein come to be involved in the film?
CRAFT: Well, John (Sullivan, producer of Expelled) had a real insight, we believe, into the necessity to have a person, first of all, who wasn’t overtly Christian or overtly religious…
Ben Stein is a hack!
This film is a manufactured argument, cleverly crafted to advance a conservative christian agenda. ID at this point, after almost 20 years and millions of dollars tossed at it by the Discovery Institute, is still merely a vague idea. It has not yet even been fleshed out into a valid scientific hypothesis, and certainly hasn’t developed into a viable or testable theory.
So at this point, the ID/creationist movement is merely a well-funded public relations effort trying to rally public support by falsely decrying "There is no Freedom of Speech!", and promoting “science/evolution = atheists = Naziism”, rather than offering any positive evidence for why ID should even be considered as science.
To see what people who have seen the movie are saying, go to
www.expelledexposed.com
“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.”
—Isaac Asimov
"This film is a manufactured argument, cleverly crafted to advance a conservative christian agenda."
Thank you Mr. Anonymous for summing it up so nicely. I'm specifically highlighting this film to advance the creation agenda (in my case it's both conservative and Christian). Indeed, I stated as much in my intro to this article. I want to bring this argument into the mainstream discourse.
I'm not sure exactly what you're objecting to. I suspect you simply have a disdain for creation and so are maligning this film, Mr. Stein, and creationists in general.
I wish you would have posted some real arguments as I may have used them in a future blog.
Thank you for visiting my blog. Please come back often.
God bless!!
RKBentley
What I object to is that the films' main thesis, that anyone in the science community who believes in God 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.
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 Discovery Institute "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 Biology, and she decided to ignore the schools' curriculum and substitute her own curriculum.
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, it is usually because they are producing bad science.
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You invited me to come back often, but you didn't post my response with additional arguments, even though you didn't address the arguments I presented in the inital post about the scientific vacuity of inelligent design.
So much for your stated desire to bring this argument into the mainstream discourse. It seems you only desire to present your discourse.
I'm sorry I didn't post your comments immediately but I've been out of town and wasn't able to check my blog until today.
I moderate comments only to remove offensive language. I do not block unfavorable comments. When I have a little more time, I'll reply to your comments.
Thanks again for visiting.
RKBentley
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