Hosted By: Ben Stein
Directed By: Nathan Frankowski
Released: 2008
Grade: B+
Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed argues that there are holes in the theory of evolution that intelligent design might be able to fill. However, thus far it has not even given a full opportunity to do this since the theory is dismissed before any discussion on it can really begin. Anything that slightly questions evolution or hints that it might not be 100% credible is marked as anti-science, ignorant, and mythical. Scientists are supposed to question everything and conduct research to try to find answers. It is not a proven fact where life initially came from. Yes, we know it started from one cell, but there is still room for discovery on how that cell came to be.
Scientists, educators, and journalists have had their careers ruined and their lives torn apart, many just from mentioning intelligent design and considering its possibilities. They are described as intellectual terrorists. One women not only lost her job but became blacklisted and any career she had was long gone. When Robert J. Marks’ work showed to have a link to intelligent design, he lost his job, and the grant money he was given was taken back. He said he had never received the treatment he did because of this in his 30 years as an educator. Pamela Winnick wrote an article where she didn’t even necessarily support intelligent design. She explored both evolution and intelligent design and refused to take a position supporting either one. For this she received hate letters and her career in journalism was destroyed. Many people who have been affected by it in this way advise others who value their careers to just keep quiet about their thoughts on intelligent design. So much for free speech.
The fight that so many are engaging in against intelligent design has spawned a war of science and religion. However, there are many scientists who research and study intelligent design. Science is not void of this theory as many Darwinists claim it is. They come from a large variety of religious backgrounds, some are even Atheists. Intelligent design doesn’t even necessarily mean the design by a god, just some higher power or intelligence in the guiding of the change that we have seen over time in species. For some, religion might play a part in this, but it seems for the vast majority especially the scientists who study intelligent design, it is much more about science and trying to find the true origins, how that first cell even came to be. We now know that a cell is far more complicated than Darwin could have initially imagined. Many intelligent design supporters do actually agree with the basis of evolution. Some state that they do believe that Darwin distorted science to support his theory, ignoring some of the missing pieces to make it complete. There is no doubt that things have evolved or changed over time, but there is debate whether it came from one cell alone without any type of designer. Just as there are arguments for evolution, there are counter arguments that support intelligent design. There is no chance for this debate at this point when the ideas are silenced before this debate really occurs. There is an argument that the world view came first and science was just used to support it rather than the other way around.
This lack of listening and any willingness to be at all open minded about the debate is displayed in the film. There is a dedication in doing this for many such as the organization, NCSE, to keep evolution in classrooms and intelligent design out. Teachers can actually be fired if they teach intelligent design, because it is viewed solely as creationism. Since religion isn’t allowed in public schools this throws any thought of intelligent design in the classrooms out the window. However, if intelligent design is much more science based than Darwinists give it credit for, this logic no longer stands up. It marks it as something that it is not, so there is a law to back up why it can’t be talked about. In my 10th grade biology class, my teacher passed out a sheet of paper with information on the theory of intelligent design. It wasn’t talked about or taught though and we spent weeks on evolution. I remember wishing that we could have gone in to a further discussion on intelligent design. Now I realize I was pretty lucky to even get that paper since even by presenting us with that material my teacher was putting her job in jeopardy.
Both views for intelligent design and those for evolution are given and supported. There is no question that Ben Stein and director, Nathan Frankowski, support the intelligent design side of the issue. Many of the Darwin supporters weren’t very happy with the final project. There are several inter-cuts of Nazis, storm troopers, and all types of bullies. This is clearly done to portray their ideas in a negative way. While some of this could have been left out to give us a more balanced documentary, not all of it is just unsupported propaganda. A connection is made between Hitler and evolution. Hitler had very Darwinian ideas about creating the perfect race, which led to the destruction of so many Jews thought to be biologically inferior. We are also taken in to an institution where handicapped people were murdered, 60-70 a day so only more pure or strong humans could reproduce. It was respected scientists of all backgrounds including Americans who dedicated their lives to exterminating the “weaker links”. They carried the theory of eugenics, that they were progressing evolution along by killing off the feeble minded.
The film does not try to claim that evolution believers are Nazis or evil at all. Similarities to evil are made, but it is not equated to the same thing. Regardless of some of the non-flattering images that are associated with the Darwinians, it is more balanced than you would think. It is easy enough to see what both sides are saying and to have belief in either. However, intelligent design is the side of it that hasn’t been heard and that is what the film has set out to do: to expose the unfair treatment of discussion of intelligent design and to make its valid points about the theory. It admits that it is a theory and doesn’t try to claim it is fact just as evolution is just a theory as well. I recommend this film to everyone even if you strongly believe in evolution and believe that there is nothing to debate. Its shows clear biases in our society about the topics of both and how hearing out both sides is vital. For those who are unsure or those who have an interest or belief in intelligent design this is a must see film. The film explores severely underrepresented ideas regarding intelligent design. Expelled: No Intelligence Aloud is a very needed, important, and rewarding film. Most importantly, the film wasn’t made to try to convince people to believe in intelligent design and abandon evolution. It just fights for discussion and free thought. It argues that we should be able to have this debate about evolution and intelligent design, both sides need to be listened to and considered.
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I recommend this film to everyone even if you strongly believe in evolution and believe that there is nothing to debate.
I don't "believe" in evolution. Biologists don't "believe" in evolution. Scientific facts supported by massive powerful evidence (including biological evolution) are not beliefs.
The words "intelligent design" are code words that mean "supernatural magic". Real scientists don't invoke magic in the lab. There is nothing scientific about magic.
After the Supreme Court ruled in 1987 that "creation science" is a religious belief, and not scientific, and can't be taught in public school science classrooms, some Christian theocrats got together to plan another strategy to stick their idiotic belief in magic into public schools. They decided to rename "creation science" to "intelligent design" as if renaming a belief in magic would make it any less childish.
Then in 2005 a Federal court ruled that "intelligent design" is a religious belief, and not scientific, and can't be taught in public school science classrooms.
The fake scientists who invoke intelligent design magic are idiots who deserve to be fired. Magic is for brain-dead preachers. Real scientists don't need magic to explain the natural world.
To watch a video that talks about a tiny fraction of the extremely powerful and undeniable evidence for evolution from molecular biology, click my name.
The documentary is very good, some of my friends have seen it, and one of their friends who is an atheist seen the movie "Expelled" as well and now is questioning his belief in the godless. I would also recommend Christians and non-Christians alike to view the movie.
I like to address bob'sxxxx anti-creationist, anti-intelligent design response.
Kitzmiller, vs Dover Area School District in 2005.
Judge Jones in his judgement for the requirement of "science" is based on the majority of the scientific community attacks or refutes an intelligent design claim, then it’s not science.
It's an invalid conclusion. Because there have been scientific theories out there over the years which have been eventually dismissed by the scientific community with new discoveries.
However, those theories even though they were proven to be wrong and the vast majority of the science community rejects them, those theories are still considered as science.
So even if the vast majority of the scientific community funded with US taxpayer money rejects an ID claim, that in itself doesn't make it unscientific.
In the Dover case, “irreducible complexity.” was mentioned as the sole principle of the ID movement. This reverts back to my first point, scientists can agree or disagree with “irreducible complexity” but it's still science. Nor is “irreducible complexity” found in the Bible. It's strictly a science term that can be used to disprove evolution.
Then the last argument which I know Bobxxxx would bring up if he was more of a scientist than advocating special interest arguments, is called; “scientific methodology.”
While it’s true there are no science literature that is published in the major publications which appeal to the supernatural. It in no way follows that appeals to the supernatural should be excluded on methodological grounds.
For example, there are no appeals of the existence of a particle with a mass 1.89993487 times that of a electron. In no way should this be excluded on the reasoning of methodology.
In conclusion, the debate and ruling on the criteria for science was a bias one with no foundation. And that is why Expelled was a much needed movie to expose all of that bias.
I am with you Michael, I think people of all backgrounds can get something from Expelled. It leans towards Intelligent Design, but it is the far underrepresented side and I agree it needed a film to expose and explore it a bit. Just an open discussion on it is needed and I thank you for both of your comments. They are from completely different sides but it is good to hear both sides of the argument.
You people don't understand because you're scientifically illiterate. Intelligent design means one thing and one thing only: supernatural magic. If you think real scientists invoke magic in the lab, then you don't know what science is.