Has anyone seen the movie Expelled: No Intellegence Allowed?

[genifer]

I watched it this weekend and found it very enlightening. Its about the Intellegent Design debate in America. Was wondering if anyone else had seen it and what they thought about it. Directed by Ben Stein. Very interesting documentary.

[CherryBomb]

No, but I've been planning on it. I adhere to theistic evolution, but I'm still interested in seeing it

[cagnew]

Saw it when it came out and loved it!

The thing that blows my mind is that some people who do not believe that God created the world actually find it easier to believe the possiblity that ALIENS started life here, or that "magic" crystals are responsible for our being here. Crazy!

I also find it nuts that they are teaching evolution as fact, when it is not fact at this point. Yes, things evolve over time- that happens naturally. But the evolution theory- man evolving from something totally non-human- still cannot be proved.

[Liquesce]

I thought it was rather long on manipulation and short on substance, personally. Though Ben Stein has been pushing the "science leads to gas chambers, god leads away from them" bit for a while, so I can't say I was surprised.

[genifer]

Im going to watch it again Liquesce to see what you mean. Sometimes when you watch something again you pick up things you missed the first time around. I was curious what you meant by long on manipulation and short on substance. What kind of substance do you think is missing? I know what you mean, tho, bc there are times when Im watching something and Im like 'I need a bit more'.

cagnew, yeah to everything you said. Yeah.

[philomom]

Originally Posted by Liquesce

I thought it was rather long on manipulation and short on substance, personally. Though Ben Stein has been pushing the "science leads to gas chambers, god leads away from them" bit for a while, so I can't say I was surprised.

I so agree with you. Have you seen this set of videos?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmUGJ3Jh7fc
Around minute 6 or so ... the arguments get very interesting.

[Purple Sage]

Originally Posted by philomom

I so agree with you. Have you seen this set of videos?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmUGJ3Jh7fc
Around minute 6 or so ... the arguments get very interesting.

That was interesting. Have you seen these recent episodes of NOVA? Good stuff.

I'd like to see the movie in the OP, too. Off to check Netflix...

[philomom]

Originally Posted by Purple Sage

That was interesting. Have you seen these recent episodes of NOVA? Good stuff.

I'd like to see the movie in the OP, too. Off to check Netflix...

Yes, I watched these. I highly recommend them as well.

[pants]

saw it. loved it. even if you don't agree or think it's bias. This stuff DOES go on. We had a friend that was a victim to this in the science/academic world first hand. So it does happen.

[philomom]

Originally Posted by pants

saw it. loved it. even if you don't agree or think it's bias. This stuff DOES go on. We had a friend that was a victim to this in the science/academic world first hand. So it does happen.

I don't agree that this stuff goes on. There is no witch hunt against scientists who may believe in "intelligent design". America is an xtian place...as those of us who aren't can tell you... we've suffered mightily sometimes for daring to be non xtian.

[greeneyedmama]

Originally Posted by philomom

I don't agree that this stuff goes on. There is no witch hunt against scientists who may believe in "intelligent design". America is an xtian place...as those of us who aren't can tell you... we've suffered mightily sometimes for daring to be non xtian.

That is very true, I am atheist myself, but the scientific community is not so heavily christian; many are nonbelievers. Higher than in the gen. pop. So it's possible...

[pants]

Originally Posted by philomom

I don't agree that this stuff goes on. There is no witch hunt against scientists who may believe in "intelligent design". America is an xtian place...as those of us who aren't can tell you... we've suffered mightily sometimes for daring to be non xtian.

America IS NOT a christian place. But i'm not getting into that in this thread. I'm sorry but we have first hand accounts of this. So either you can believe it or not. But it does happen. I'm not saying it's wide spread but it does happen.

Well the movie wouldn't t-off people if it didn't have some evidence of truth.

[Purple Sage]

I just started watching it, and I agree the movie is very long on manipulation. The first few scenes alone were enough to show that. I'm not sure I can watch any more of it because I have other things I need to do and don't think I can spend my time on a piece of propaganda. Are there any other sources for the arguments made in the movie that aren't so propaganda-ish?

[philomom]

Originally Posted by pants

Well the movie wouldn't t-off people if it didn't have some evidence of truth.

It didn't tick me off at all. I'm interested in how people present their facts, opinions and arguments. I was on debate team in high school. I thought it was big on fanfare and manipulation and short on facts.

[Purple Sage]

Originally Posted by pants

America IS NOT a christian place. But i'm not getting into that in this thread. I'm sorry but we have first hand accounts of this. So either you can believe it or not. But it does happen. I'm not saying it's wide spread but it does happen.

Well the movie wouldn't t-off people if it didn't have some evidence of truth.

I'd love to hear how you can say America is not a christian place....maybe another thread would be a good idea.

My problem with the movie is that it really feels like a piece of propaganda. The way the black and white clips are inserted to make certain points...I just feel like it's insulting my intelligence.

[CrunchyChristianMama]

I know one of the professors in the movie personally and can attest to the persecution he faced because of his views. I think it's a very interesting movie. Propaganda? Maybe...but what movie with this kind of message from either side doesn't use propaganda techniques?

[genifer]

Propaganda? Maybe...but what movie with this kind of message from either side doesn't use propaganda techniques?

absolutley. Every single documentary uses some kind of propaganda, imho. And to be honest I wouldnt call it propaganda, emotive maybe, but I see a lot more propaganda, brainwashing, and manipulation in the secular world that we dont even realise we are all swallowing.

[Purple Sage]

I watched up until the last 20 minutes or so. There were some interesting points made, but I feel like the points would have been made better if the movie didn't have that propaganda feel to it. It was just too much, you know? I didn't like the way it was playing to my emotions...that automatically made me skeptical of their message and left me wanting more substance.

That said, I do believe that science and the mysteries of where life came from will eventually meet somewhere - I'm not an atheist, but I'm also not a believer in the biblical story of creation.

[Mary]

I haven't seen the movie, but would recommend checking out expelledexposed.com.

[caitlinlea]

I second the idea of exploring the expelledexposed.com website. There is a lot of information, separating fact from fiction, on the scientists featured in the documentary.

I am not immersed enough in the scientific world to personally attest to any persecution of scientists researching or advocating intelligent design but I can imagine it would be difficult to hold these views in the scientific community. However, there are a LOT of half-truths and false implications and outright fiction in the documentary and it troubles me that many of these things go unquestioned by viewers. Before I get flamed let me add that I don't think false representations are uniquely made by the religious - in no way am I suggesting that or trying to offend anyone.