Friday, April 11, 2008

Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed


Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed

Ben Stein has a new movie coming out soon. He's tackling the topic of intelligent design. I have always enjoyed Ben, and I'm really looking forward to seeing his new movie. It should be good. I'll give you a report after I see it.

2 comments:

Benjamin Franklin said...

Hi Mike-

Sorry to dissapoint you, but this movie is about as far from "good" as you can get.

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 interspersing video clips of Nazi atrocities within interviews of scientists.

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.

For additional information on the truth about this movie go to
www.expelledexposed.com

Pick a better movie to go see.

Benjamin Franklin

Mike Messerli said...

Ben, thanks, but I still want to see it....I need to make these choices myself.

I assume you have done a Google search on this movie to find my blog and post these comments. You have done a detailed job of making your position against it clear, and yet....I want to decide what I think about it myself.

I'm glad I know enough to be able to evaluate something like this, and yes, I will give you a report.

Thanks for your comments.