Re: News: Evolution Exposed on the Big Screen

On 3 Oct, 12:36, Ye Old One <use...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Evolution Exposed on the Big Screen
By Michael F. Haverluck
CBNNews.com
October 2, 2007

http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/242196.aspx

CBNNews.com - Scheduled for release in February, "Expelled: No
Intelligence Allowed," will be one of next year's major box office
releases. The documentary stars Ben Stein, known for his roles in
"Ferris Bueller's Day Off" and "The Wonder Years."

But drawing laughs is not the focus of this upcoming film. Instead,
the film brings questions of our origins to the table.

Stein challenges evolutionary thought, provoking audiences to think
instead of unquestioningly believing the troubled, yet widely accepted
theory of evolution.

FALSEHOOD #1
Evolutionary theory, far from being troubled, is one of the most
robust and thoroughly tested theories in any field of science.

"Were we designed or are we simply the end result of an ancient mud
puddle struck by lightning?" the actor asks.

FALSE DICHOTOMY #1
The question being asked is "When we don't have a scientific
explanation for something, do we abandon the tried, tested and
incredibly productive tool which is science in favour of religious
dogma, or do we keep on using the tools of science to try to find an
explanation."?


Challenge the Norm

Whether one walks into a school, museum, library, theme park or media
room, evolution is the doctrine

FALSEHOOD #2
Evolution is not a doctrine. It's a process we can observe in action
in nature, and replicate experimentally in the laboratory. It is a
fact that evolution occurs.

thrown before millions as scientific
proof

FALSEHOOD #3
The fact that evolution has occurred is not offered as "proof" of
anything, especially as science does not offer proof.

that the earth and universe has been here for billions of years.

FALSEHOOD #4
The age of the earth and the universe have been established using
scientific tools completely independent of evolutionary theory. If
those ages are wrong, we need to rewrite almost everything we know
about physics.


However, Stein exposes the indoctrination of evolution

FALSEHOOD #5
Educating people in science is not indoctrination.

in this
documentary. The film explains how the America has been victimized by
an elite group

FALSEHOOD #6
Evolutionary scientists, far from being an "elite group", have far
less political influence that religious and political interests.

that has pushed the

MISREPRESENTATION #1
As there is no other scientific theory which explains the current
diversity of living organisms and the fossil record, it is the only
theory which can honesty be taught in schools.

theory of evolution until it has
become accepted by many as fact.

"Along the way, Stein uncovers a long line of biologists, astronomers,
chemists and philosophers who have had their reputations destroyed and
their careers ruined by scientific establishment that allows
absolutely no dissent


FALSEHOOD #7
There is no barrier in science to anyone presenting an alternative to
evolutionary theory provided it is based on evidence. Religious
conviction does not count as evidence.

from Charles Darwin's theory of random mutation
and natural selection."

FALSEHOOD #8
Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection is only one element
in modern evolutionary theory. Darwin made no mention of random
mutation, as gene theory was not been developed until after his death.


the film's publicists say.

Terminations, incessant slander

FALSEHOOD #9
If someone has been slandered, they have legal recourse. To my
knowledge no ID supporter has ever successfully promoted a case of
slander against any evolutionary scientist. Telling the truth - which
is that ID is not a scientific theory and has no place in science
teaching - is not slander.

and rejected tenure are some of the
consequences faced by educators and scientists whose research

FALSEHOOD #10
There is no such research.

supports
the belief that the universe was designed by an intelligent Creator,
and is not the product of a haphazard explosion.

FALSEHOOD #11
The "Big Bang" is not a "haphazard explosion"


So, what will the audience take from the film produced by Premise
Media?

A bunch of lies if this press release is anything to go by.


Publicists say it provides "a startling revelation that freedom of
thought and freedom of inquiry have been expelled from publicly funded
high schools, universities and research institutions."

Freedom of Thought

Along with his acting career, Stein is an accomplished author, lawyer,
social commentator, economist and former presidential speechwriter.

Not an evolutionary scientist, then. What a surprise.
Not a scientist of any sort, in fact.


"Big Science in this area of biology has lost its way," Stein said.

FALSEHOOD #12
Far from having "lost its way", biology is one of the most active
fields in science, in particular in the area of genetics.

"Scientists are supposed to be allowed to follow the evidence wherever
it may lead, no matter what the implications are. Freedom of inquiry
has been greatly compromised, and this is not only anti-American, it's
anti-science. It's anti-the whole concept of learning."

FALSEHOOD #13
Freedom of inquiry has not been compromised. Opposition to blatant
falsehood is not limiting freedom of inquiry.



"Expelled" encourages students to think outside the school gate and
urges adults to examine the scientific facts,

FALSEHOOD #14
No form of creationism presents any "scientific facts" in anything
other than a dishonest way.


as opposed to absorbing
the stories and baseless assertions of evolution.

"What freedom-loving student wouldn't be outraged to discover that his
high school science teacher is teaching a theory as indisputable fact,
and what university professors unmercifully crush any fellow
scientists who dare question the prevailing system of belief?"

EMPTY RHETORIC #1
No scientist will "crush" anyone who questions any aspect of any
scientific theory provided they do so honestly. It's the systematic
dishonesty of creationists which leads to the opposition of
scientists.


publicists state on the "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed" Web site.
"This isn't the latest Hollywood comedy; it's a disturbing new
documentary that will shock anyone who thinks all scientists are free
to follow the evidence wherever it may lead."

FALSEHOOD #15
Science is free to follow the evidence. It is not free to accept
religious dogma as science.


In the documentary, the audience meets a biologist with two doctorate
degress, who endured a smear campaign because he consented to a
pro-intelligent design research paper being published in a scientific
journal.

Officials from the National Center for Science Education and the
Smithsonian Institution spearheaded the assault on the biologist in an
effort to get him terminated, which later resulted in a congressional
investigation.

You Decide

Will they include the fact that Meyer evaded the normal processes of
editorial review to get the paper published, something which would be
solid grounds for dismissal in any organisation?


"Expelled" provides a platform to both sides of the debate.

World-renowned evolutionist Richard Dawkins and National Center for
Science Education Executive Director Eugenie Scott were questioned in
the documentary, along with dozens of other leading evolutionists
across the globe, over a two-year period.

Recently, Dawkins, Scott and others defending the theory of evolution
contended that the producers of the film misled them by inferring that
the documentary was not advocating "Intelligent Design."

"I don't remember a single person asking me what the movie was about,"
said Stein, who claims he did not deceive anyone.


Given that this press release contains 15 falsehoods so far, why
should anyone believe him?


The film is marketed as being unique in scope.

"The incredible thing about "Expelled" is that we don't resort to
manipulating our interviews for the purpose of achieving the 'shock
effect,' something that has become common in documentary films these
days," Premise Media's co-founder Walt Ruloff said, who is also the
documentary's co-executive producer.

I strongly suspect that this is falsehood #16, but as I have not seen
the film I am not in a position to comment.


"People will be stunned to actually find out what elitist scientists
proclaim, which is that a large majority of Americans are simpletons
who believe in a fairy tale," he added.

Coming after the previous statement, such emotive language suggests
that they *will* be relying no "shock effect" and misrepresentation to
make their case.

Motive Entertainment, which also marketed "The Passion of the Christ"
and "The Chronicles of Narnia," is representing "Expelled." The film
will be distributed by Rocky Mountain Pictures.

Given the level of dishonestly in the rest of this document, I'm
inclined to doubt that even this is true.

RF



Sources: World Net Daily, Expelledthemovie.com, CBN News, The New York
Times

--
Bob.


.

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