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“EXPELLED: No Intelligence Allowed” with Ben Stein
On Saturday I viewed this newly released feature length documentary film; I recommend it highly. I had heard about this movie for some time; I had understood that it would document how the scientific ‘establishment’ has stonewalled any debate on ‘Intelligent Design’ and black-lists anyone who suggests that ID has raised legitimate scientific questions. The movie does do that very effectively, but it pushes this matter much further. It shows how this is not simply a matter of science but is the expression of a war of world-views. As such it shows linkage between the Darwinian world-view, the Nazi program, and the promotion of eugenics, euthanasia, and abortion. There is also a clear linkage demonstrated between the protection of Darwinism and the ideological promotion of atheism.
This is all done in a visually engaging way; I never felt bored by the presentation. There were times when I would have liked to have heard a person develop their point further; but I recognize that this might have ‘bogged down’ the flow of the over-all presentation.

[SPOILER ALERT]

One jaw-dropping moment was when Ben Stein closely questioned Richard Dawkins (author of ‘The God Delusion’) about how life started here on earth. He suggested it might have started by other intelligent beings from another part of the universe who ‘seeded’ life on earth. Yes, this scientist suggested that ALIENS DID IT!

I encourage you to see this film in the theaters; that is, see it now! Don’t wait for the DVD to come out! Our support now will encourage more films like this in the future.

<>< Ron Troup

Hi Ron,
I'm going looking for it in Ripon WI this evening. (Just down the road from Green Lake)
love
Art

A friend of mine saw it and here's her review:

[web]http://domesticallyinclined.blogspot.com/2008/04/movie-review-on-expelled.html#links[/web]

OK, I'll jump in with my review too . . .

Expelled is the kind of documentary for those who like their highly technical information served up with a wry sense of humor, lots of creative use of old fashioned video clips, and an exposition of the topic using a relentless metaphor of the Berlin Wall as the intellectual backdrop. And, for good measure, process the whole thing through the sardonic Buster Keaton deadpan of economist, Yale Law valedictorian, White House speech writer, law professor, columnist, game show host, and actor famous for the words: “Bueller, Bueller.”

Expelled is the vehicle for Ben Stein to present a sustained call for freedom of thought and inquiry against the environment of academic totalitarianism. Exposed are the deans, PR flacks, and professors who are willing to deny tenure and ruin the careers of well educated science professors for the singular crime of suggesting that the Darwinian emperor has no clothes. Citing both the defenders of evolutionary ideology and those who have raised questions challenging it, we see more Cambridge, Berkeley, and University of Chicago trained PhD's than have probably appeared in any movie in history.

Stein traipses through the documentary in suit and tennis shoes, asking awkward questions, pushing fabulously educated scholars to affirm the logical conclusions of their pronouncements. Especially ill-served by the format is the narcissistic atheist Richard Dawkins. He actually says on film that Darwinism leads logically to atheism, that atheists make common cause with gullible mainstream Christians to win their support in the pro-evolution war, and that belief in God is irrational and virtually impossible but life on earth may have been “seeded” by space aliens.

Stein is no fundamentalist and he strongly denies young earth creationism. He simply argues that the complexity of life at the molecular level cannot be conceived of without some kind of intelligent design. And, his documentary parades scientists, journalists, and public intellectuals—some of whom are either agnostic or irreligious—through the film with cutouts to scenes of totalitarianism and repeated images of the Berlin Wall.

The “Wall” is Stein’s metaphor for what he sees as the storm trooper tactics of the academic establishment, the media, and the courts to stifle dissent. In his view, this kind of policy robs Americans of precious freedom of thought, speech, and religion. Indeed, for Stein, we are in danger of losing our freedoms at the hands of these intellectual fascists.

For those who rankle at the term “fascist,” the most difficult part of the movie may be Stein’s assertion that Darwinian thought motivated not only Hitler and his final solution, but the Eugenics movement behind people such as Planned Parenthood’s founder Margaret Sanger. Here Stein uses interviews to make his point, one that might more convincingly have been made simply by citing chapter and verse out of Mein Kampf where Hitler drew the same causal line of association between Darwin and his own ideas.

Stein recognizes that behind the equations, talk of scientific method, and calls for progress one can often discern an implacable hatred of God. Some of those interviewed in defense of evolution seemed to harbor a visceral antipathy to God and condescending disdain for religious people. Near the end of the documentary when Stein pushes Dawkins to admit that the chances of God existing are less than 1%, he also goads him into saying that one of the more likely scenarios for the emergence of life from non-life would be aliens seeding this planet with the original organisms from which we all evolved.

Radio host and film reviewer Michael Medved reports that wherever the movie screens, there has been a tendency for audiences to cheer at the end. Indeed, Stein appears unperturbed by the height of the wall erected to keep out free inquiry. But, he has made this movie to challenge some to dare to scale it. The only question is who will do it?

Anyone? Anyone?

Thank you for these--all great!
chip.

Now Yoko Ono is suing: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=62489

Art,

Thanks. These are good questions on that Yoko Ono article.

Expelled" covers the following key questions:

Were we designed or are we simply products of random chance, mutations and evolution occurring without any plan over billions of years?


Is the debate over origins settled?


How should science deal with what appears to be evidence of design?


What should be taught to children and college students about our origins?


Is there any room for dissent from the evolutionary point of view?


Is it appropriate for eminent scientists who depart from strict evolutionary dogma to be fired and blacklisted, as is occurring in academia today?


Should government schools and other institutions be engaged in promoting the secular, materialistic worldview to the total exclusion of differing points of view?


Is science so advanced and so certain that it should be exempt from the societal norms of open dialogue and free debate?


Why is it simply inconceivable and unacceptable for some evolutionists to consider the possibility – no matter how remote – that our world might actually have a Creator?

chip.

Friends -

The Get Religion site has a post on the lack of MSM coverage of 'Expelled;' and how the few articles out there completely miss the main message of the film.

There is also info on the Yoko Ono suit; the Fair Use Project of Stanford Law School’s Center for Internet and Society is serving as counsel for the producers of the movie.

<>< Ron Troup