Bullseye, Ben!
Added 11/3/2009
Cha-ching! (The sound of money being made in the course of performing a valuable public service.)
I spent many years in academics, and I concur with Mr. Stein that the 'ideal' university (where diverse ideas are tolerated and explored), is nearly extinct. One of the foundational notions of tenure is that Professors may argue for various positions, regardless of widespread acceptability, without fear of losing their jobs. Intellectual freedom is supposed to be one of the university's foundational values. Instead, several liberally-biased dogmas tend to reign on most university campuses, and it is extremely politically incorrect to question them. It can easily cost you your job.
Mr. Stein gives several examples and interviews with scientists/scholars who were 'Expelled' precisely because they had the audacity to question the current paradigm of evolution. In this documentary, Mr. Stein focuses upon a group of scientists who support the biological notion of 'Intelligent Design' (ID).
But ID is just one example; there are many such off-limits topics in the academy, including race, gender, religion, and climate. Instead of open discussion and debate, the strategy of the NeoDarwinism crowd is to ignore and suppress the ideas of anyone who does not 'bow at the altar of Darwin' before publishing or presenting their work. It is comical! So much so, it has become a game for me to find the statement in editorials and scientific papers that 'inoculates' the author from being 'quoted by creationists' or criticized by NeoDarwinists. Try it for yourself, and see if you don't agree with me. The next time you read something regarding a Biology topic, look for the 'bowing' comment or statement. It is usually in the first paragraph.
Congratulations to Mr. Stein for:
a) Being clever and perceptive enough to recognize what was going on (academic intolerance of an opposing point of view);
b) Demonstrating his entrepreneurial prowess while exposing intellectual dishonesty and violations of academic freedom (Mr. Stein is clearly brilliant, and he understands capitalism);
c) Giving Richard Dawkins enough rope to hang himself (his interview with "fundamentalist Darwinist" Richard Dawkins is priceless!)
d) Bringing attention to a scientific matter that has been infected by politics; exposing this problem could actually end up effecting the progress of science in a meaningful way.
AND... all the while...
e) Being witty and entertaining.
Congratulations, and best regards, Ben Stein!
1 out of 3 people found this helpful.
|
The scientific establishment should "Tear down this wall."
Added 10/29/2009
Last night I watched Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed starring Ben Stein. Following are some of my thoughts regarding the film.
I have previously only seen Ben Stein on Fox News so I was not too familiar with him. This guy is funny! While the film was a serious documentary, his sense of humor came through in spades.
I particularly enjoyed his interview of Richard Dawkins. Dawkins was very clear about his disdain for all things religious. Christians and creationists are stupid, insane or ignorant. One odd thing from Dawkins came when he was asked to give a percentage chance that God existed. He stated he was 99% sure God did not exist. Stein asked why not 49%. Dawkins said he was very certain God did not exist but only gave 99% as a guess because Stein asked him for a number. Then he went on to explain how life absolutely originated by evolutionary means. Improbability does not exist, at least not in Dawkins' mind, concerning evolution. He said Intelligent Design could have played a part in the origin of life but only if it was aliens who deposited the seeds of life on earth. The aliens, Dawkins said, most certainly originated by evolutionary means. He mocks Christians for believing in God, a belief he equates with believing in fairies and hobgoblins. Yet, Dawkins beliefs aliens could have flown here in UFOs and deposited the beginning of life. Talk about credulity!
Several other scientists spoke of Christians in a rather hostile manner, calling us things like anti-intellectual idiots. Ideas given for the origin of life included aliens and crystals yet they called Christians gullible idiots.
Stein also interviewed a number of scientists (who were not stupid, by the way) who doubted, to one degree or another, Darwinism/materialism. Most of these scientists had lost their jobs due to their challenging big science. It was noted that scientists often speak about intellectual freedom but that one is only intellectually free if they are on the right side of the wall. They compared such a lack of freedom to the freedom of Germans who were on the wrong side of the Berlin Wall.
Stein made a good case for academic freedom and clearly demonstrated, with the help of some rather nasty evolutionists, that the scientific community is hostile towards those who don't walk the party line.
I highly recommend the movie for all audiences. In my opinion, everyone (except bitter evolutionists) will find this movie informative and enjoyable.
A word about naysayers: It seems many who believe in Darwinism are openly hostile to any opposing views. If you have never taken a look at Intelligent Design books on Amazon.com you should consider doing so. Typically you will find many ratings of 5-star and 1-star with several in the middle. If you actually look into the 1-star ratings you will find many of them have reviewed only books on Intelligent Design and rated them all 1-star. It seems in many cases that these folks have nothing better to do than criticize (without a critical mind) such books. Sad.
This DVD is no exception to that rule. Currently, the ratings for the movie are as follows:
5-star: 350
4-star: 67
3-star: 17
2-star: 15
1-star: 191
With so many 1-star ratings you can be sure that it has many Darwinists feeling uncomfortable. Thus, it is a safe bet that the movie accomplished part of its mission, namely upsetting the applecart.
My rating of the movie will be the 351st 5-star rating.
I agree with Ben Stein. The scientific establishment should "Tear down this wall."
5 out of 8 people found this helpful.
|
GOOD STUFF
Added 10/28/2009
Well , although not a disappointment , movie isn't as 'funny' as trailers might have you believe . Having said that , Ben's information and dry humor do make knowledge FUN . For the 'cerebral' , you will be belly laughing in many parts and interviews ; YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS STUFF UP!!
WELL WORTH the TIME and money . TITLE is EXACTLY the movie . DUMBFOUNDED is how i would describe your thoughts and expressions thru this film . Ben and company perform a great public service as well as 'film' .
I believe this a "MUST SEE!!" and i dont think a week has gone by i dont play this DVD thru past year ; It's that good .
pops howard apalachin,new yuck
5 out of 7 people found this helpful.
|
Very interesting
Added 10/26/2009
This movie is very interesting and worth watching regardless of whether or not you agree with Ben Stein on intelligent design. I recommend that everyone in academia watch this.
4 out of 7 people found this helpful.
|
Fundamentally Dishonest
Added 10/25/2009
Expelled tries to make a case that scientists are unfairly having their careers cut short due to their biblical-literalist beliefs, but the "evidence" they present is very one-sided (they never even consider the possibility that the scientists were incompetent as well). Also, one of the scientists wasn't even employed at the job he was supposedly fired from. You can check the Expelled Exposed website to confirm this. There's no nice way to put it: Ben Stein lies.
3 out of 7 people found this helpful.
|
Thought provoking and humorous!
Added 5/11/2009
This is a thought provoking and humorous documentary showing how just allowing for the possibility of Intelligent Design will get you ostracized or worse in modern academic and scientific circles. It shows how adherents of the current prevailing dogma of unguided Darwinian Evolution will grasp any straw to hang on to their beliefs despite the evidence (one even explains that life on Earth might have been started by space aliens while denying any possibility that it could have been started by God). Yes it has gotten that bad in the world of academia and so-called science.
Stein also brings to light how Darwinian Evolution influenced the Nazis and was used by them to justify the slaughter of millions of supposedly "less evolved" groups such as Jews. Ideas have consequences and they are not always good.
This should be shown in every high school and college campus in America, no the whole world.
2 out of 5 people found this helpful.
|
Challenges the American Propaganda Machine
Added 4/12/2009
This is a terrific documentary, well put together. The thing that I like most about this film is the fact that the American Propaganda Machine hated it. Newsweek, Time, New York Times, Washington Post all railed against it, with the Al Gore and Michael Moore worshipers chiming in. The fact is, no one knows, and this piece may be spot on or total poopie, but the establishment hates it, and that makes me want to watch.
2 out of 5 people found this helpful.
|
OUTSTANDING! Way to go Ben Stein ...
Added 2/6/2009
My wife and I have enjoyed this documentary-style movie immensely. As so many individuals know, the premises set forth by Ben Stein by this movie are absolutely TRUE. And all who go to such great lengths to attempt to discredit it are testimonies to the very things which Ben Stein attempts - and succeeds - in revealing to his fellow Americans. It IS rather amazing, isn't it, that some folks are SO heavily invested in Darwinian evolutionarianism that they will go to rather great lengths to attempt to discredit Ben Stein or anyone else who they see as a potential threat to Darwinian evolutionarianism. Their rather extreme efforts are a testimony to the truth of the premises in this fantastic movie. My wife and I have watched it a number of times and EVERY time we feel that we get something new from it that we somehow did not get before.
4 out of 10 people found this helpful.
|
