Ben Stein "Intelligent Design" documentary

[Steven]

I came across this movie, Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, which is to be released in Feb. 2008.

Watch the trailer here: http://www.expelledthemovie.com/playground.php

It worries me that people may believe the ideas in this film just because of Ben Stein and his know-it-all intellectual persona. Newsflash: Ben Stein has no scientific training; he is a lawyer (there seem to be a lot of lawyers who are proponents of ID - maybe because it's all rhetoric and no substance).

Also they appear to have interviewed Richard Dawkins, Dan Dennett, and others and you can bet that they've quote-mined the shit out of them; there is some evidence of this in the trailer even. There's an interview with Michael Behe, who is a huge piece of shit with no scientific credibility whatsoever.

Those IDers.....still trotting out the same tired counterexamples, such as the bacterial flagellum. I'm sure they'll also use the peppered moth one and possibly the bombardier beetle. If there was so much evidence, you'd think they could come up with something that would completely shock everyone.

And crying discrimination in academic circles and scientific publications?!? Scientific journals exist to advance scientific knowledge. Saying "God did it" (or "an intelligence" - I think we all know which "intelligence" they believe it to be) contributes nothing.

I do, however, hope they put this movie in a theatre near us as it would be an interesting outing for our group, to say the least.

[brian]

First, I find it hilarious how he used Galileo as an example of a guy who could publish a paper without being persecuted...

I also find it funny that all he is doing is mocking Darwinism and theories regarding the origin of life by oversimplifying and ridiculing them, and also trying to state that everything was made by god.

But really, all Ben Stein has going for him is that he is a lawyer (so he can debate eloquently), a quiz show host (to show he's smart) and a right wing hack still pissed that Nixon had to resign.

I also seem to remember reading a speech or essay by him about culture wars, ans complaining about atheism being shoved down his throat (yeah, right)

But you can tell that the trailer was quote mined pretty badly in order to give the viewer the impression that there is a big conspiracy.


And on the subject, a toothpaste for dinner from earlier this week,
http://www.toothpastefordinner.com/112707/scientific-advancement.gif

[january]

I used to watch his game show. He could be quite the misogynistic, self-adoring asshole. I shouldn't associate those characteristics with right-leaning intelligent design proponents...but I sort of do. I guess I'm saying I'm not surprised.

[wordwan]

I sat down to a snippet of "Fight Club" last night. Anyone ever seen that movie? So much of what the main characters were saying stuck in my mind, this time round.

That idea...that we WASTE so much time, being distracted. By materialism. Striving for successful. Winning the argument? Am I making some sense here.

When was the last time anyone here did something unique, new, creative?

I remember asking the Ayn Rand crowd that. I wanna create things. I don't just want to dissect needles and angels dancing on a pin.

Anyone?

Heather, getting this in a way I bet you might not. Interesting weekend. Hm. Thanks!

[Killbot9]

HA HA! Ben Stein's a lawyer not a scientist. He also appears to be a damn good businessman cashing in on the evolution debate.

[Brennan]

Sigh, I was hoping they wouldn't say that the theory of evolution is on par with chance.

[brian]

So, while you were all in Minneapolis at the convention and I was home sick, apparently PZ Myers, who runs the blog Pharyngula, managed to get expelled from Expelled.

But don't worry, they let Richard Dawkins in!

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2008/03/expelled.php
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2008/03/a_late_night_quick_one.php

Apparently, (and unsurprisingly) the movie sucks and tries to link atheism and evolution to the Nazis

[Katie]

Ah, yes. We heard all about it.

Interestingly enough, the next day, someone texted a member of the expert panel to tell him that those events were prophesized in the Bible. I can't remember the verse, but it was somewhere in Isiah. "Two came, one was let in, the other cast away. The one who was cast away later spoke of the discrimination", or something like that.

[Steven]

If I ever have the urge to satisfy my morbid curiosity for this film, I will do everything I can to avoid paying money for it (hopefully others will too). I think for now, though, I am content simply reading the reviews of it and knowing that it is, in fact, a huge piece of shit.

[Katie Hamilton]

The ever-entertaining Digital Cuttlefish has penned a rather charming poem about this whole affair: http://digitalcuttlefish.blogspot.com/2008/03/expelled-ballad.html

If you're not already familiar with this mysterious internet wordsmith, I suggest you check out his blog. Most of his poetry has atheistic or secular themes.

[Steven]

The ever-entertaining Digital Cuttlefish has penned a rather charming poem about this whole affair: http://digitalcuttlefish.blogspot.com/2008/03/expelled-ballad.html

If you're not already familiar with this mysterious internet wordsmith, I suggest you check out his blog. Most of his poetry has atheistic or secular themes.

That's quite impressive.