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I got over thirty comments on my Facebook blog. This proved to be a relatively controversial review. Also, I wrote immediately after viewing the film and was somewhat emotional, so I apologize in advance for the slightly fiery rhetoric—
Well, last night I saw Ben Stein’s new documentary “Expelled”.
I am disgusted and appalled at those in the Intelligent Design movement. I virtually almost vomited during the film. I am not being melodramatic or unreasonable, I am being serious. Any person, with a measure of intelligence, will feel the same way after viewing the film. I don’t know where to start, but I guess the most reasonable place is the premise of the documentary.
The film is about a collection of various scientists from different universities in the US who have been fired or denied tenure allegedly for promoting Intelligent Design (hence forth, ID). The movie “investigates” the reasons behind these firings. The movie claims that there is an international conspiracy to hush-up “free thinking” in the university system, and that human rights are being violated. As a matter of fact, if it weren’t for the Soviet footage and Nazi footage continually running through the film, one would think they were joking. But they aren’t, and this is horrifying for all who love science.
Near the middle of the film, we shift from the misrepresentations from many prominent evolutionists, to a whole 30 minute section on the Holocaust. If any one has studied the Holocaust, they know that the “science” of Eugenics played an enormous role in Nazi propaganda and justification of the systematic destruction of the Jews. Eugenics was a twisted version of social Darwinism as formulated by Herbert Spencer. This movie, with an appalling lack of conscience, connects Evolutionary Biology (as taught in our schools and universities) with the Holocaust. Virtually blaming the Holocaust in Darwin. This is completely ludicrous. Obviously anti-Semitism has been part of Western Culture since the early Middle Ages. Anti-Judaism has been a part of Western Culture since before the rise of Christianity. It seems as though Christian conservative Evangelicals are so guilt-ridden with Christian responsibility for the Holocaust, they want to blame science for it. Obviously the nature of the Holocaust is much more complicated than this film makes it out to be. But the misuse of Holocaust footage is disgusting. Moreover, my friend, who is Jewish, and also a grad student in Biology, was extremely upset at Ben Stein’s (who’s Jewish!) politicizing and abuse of the victims of the Holocaust.
Not only was this simply horrendous, they also misrepresented prominent Christian theologians who are FAR FAR FAR from being promoters of ID. John Polkinghorne and Alister McGrath’s interviews are manipulated and edited to make them seem to be saying something they are not. I have read both of their many many books, and no where do they EVER promote ID or anything resembling the anti-science propaganda shoved down our throats. This is saddening as a Christian intellectual, because it will detract from the respect, dignity, and reputations of these honorable men.
This is not to mention the blatant political agenda of the film. Various images of Nixon and Regan are shown throughout the film. Making the “battle” for “free thinking” seem like the Cold War. Various scenes of the Berlin Wall being torn down are related to the “intolerance” displayed by the “establishment”.
And what is most awful about this film is that it gives materialistic evolutionists more ammunition against respectable, responsible and intellectual Christians. It reduces this enormously complicated debate to only two options ID or atheistic evolution. This is horrible and increases the perception of a “war” between Religion and Science. This myth has been thoroughly dismissed by historians and it is so sad that it is not only propagated by prominent popular science writers (like Dawkins recent “God Delusion”) but also by people in the ID camp.
As a matter of fact the producer of this film has admitted it had an agenda and wasn’t an unbiased report. He simply finds Christian belief incompatible with evolution. So this film, rather than clarifying the issue, has made it worse. Christians now look even more ridiculous than ever, and atheists can continue to say that evolution makes God obsolete. Well, for us who affirm science, and embrace our faith with the utmost seriousness, life just got a little more complicated.
I cannot express through a blog the frustration I feel. I am angered and hurt. I am sad at the state of this discussion. I am upset over the misrepresentations of McGrath and Polkinghorne. I am horrified at the politicization of the Holocaust. This movie is awful.
Finally, if you are interested in studying this debate further, I suggest the following books:
“Finding Darwin’s God”, by Kenneth Miller (a prominent biologist at Brown Universty and Roman Catholic who was conspicuously missing in the film). This book debunks any type of ID argument and young-earth Creationism. This book is HIGHLY recommended and should be read by everyone!
“Belief in God in an Age of Science” by John Polkinghorne. This fanatstic book examines religion and science by a famous physicist and theologian. Although misrepresented in the film, he fully embraces evolution. Also check out “The Faith of a Physicist” and “Science and the Trinity”.
“The Creationist” by Ronald Numbers. Published by Harvard University Press, this examines the historical roots of contemporary Creationism and ID in the late 19th century by such fundamentalist sects like the Millerites and Seventh-Day Adventists.
“Dawkins God” by Alister McGrath. This great book discusses Richard Dawkins’s critiques of religion. Not only does McGrath show Dawkin’s critiques inadequate, but also those of the ID camp.
And for the various books debunking the “religion vs science” debate see the following:
The Foundations of Modern Science in the Middle Ages:Their Religious, Institutional and Intellectual Contexts by Edward Grant
Science and Religion: A Historical Introduction by Gary B. Ferngren
The Foundations of Dialogue in Science and Religion by Alister E. McGrath
And for understanding evolution and the fossil record see (besides Miller’s excellent book on explaining science, which I recommend FIRST):
Evolution: What the Fossils Say and Why It Matters by Donald R. Prothero
Please, for the love of humanity, read at least a few of the books above, to understand the relationship between science and religion. It is important for us to fight the charlatans who misrepresent our faith.
