No Admission for Evolutionary Biologist at Creationist Film

[Pale Blue Dot]

Source: New York Times

Two evolutionary biologists — P. Z. Myers of the University of Minnesota, Morris, and Richard Dawkins of Oxford — tried to go to the movies at the Mall of America in Minneapolis Thursday evening. Dr. Dawkins got in. Dr. Myers did not.

On those facts, everybody agrees. After that, things break down.

The movie the two scientists wanted to see was “Expelled,” whose online trailer asserts that people in academia who see evidence of supernatural intelligence in biological processes — an idea called “intelligent design” — have unfairly lost their jobs, been denied tenure or suffered other penalties as part of a scientific conspiracy to keep God out of the nation’s laboratories and classrooms.

Dr. Myers asserts that he was unfairly barred from the film, in which both he and Dr. Dawkins appear, and that Dr. Dawkins would have been, too, if people running the screening had realized who he was — a world leader in the field of evolutionary biology.

But Walt Ruloff, a partner in Premise Media, the film’s producer, said the screening was one of a series the producers have organized for the film, which opens April 18, in hopes of building favorable word-of-mouth among people likely to be sympathetic to its message. People like Dr. Myers and Dr. Dawkins would not have been invited, he said.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/21/science/21expelledw.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

---

It's important to note that both Dawkins and Myers were interviewed for the film, and that this film is about the supposed ways in which "Big Science" is stifling debate on evolution. The filmmakers need to look up "irony" in the dictionary.

[msongs]

1. they shoulda brought a wheelbarrow full of bibles nt

[Sarah Ibarruri]

2. E-mail them and ask them for free tickets. I did.

http://www.expelledthemovie.com/contactus.php?sent=1

Go see it, analyze the dumbass propaganda film, then tear it apart logically. I plan to.

I saw the preview. It looks like all the other pieces of propaganda brainwashing crap all creationistic mythology is about. I would wager anything it is badly done, calls creationist mythology a "science," and is absent of any scientific proof or discussion.

[jeff30997]

9. "is absent of any scientific proof or discussion"

Of course.But I'm pretty sure that it's full of bull...er...good intentions.

[varkam]

3. What's deliciously ironic is that...

Dawkins, who is arguably much more famous and recognizable than PZ Meyers (Sorry!), got in no problem.

[alarimer]

5. I can't understand this. They interviewed Dawkins too.

So they must know what he looks like. I guess they thought Myers was more of a troublemaker. I have no idea.

Hilarious though.

[vixengrl]

11. I chuckled my behind off when I read that at Pharyngula!

Darn those sneaky atheist biology-types. They oughtta wear signs...

[Dudley_DUright]

17. I have been ROFLMAO as well

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

Glad to see that it was picked up by the NYTimes. A short article also appeared in the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

http://www.twincities.com/ci_8657674

Here is the negative Orlando Sentinel review of the "movie" by Roger Moore.

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_movies_blog/2008/02/is-ben-stein-th.html

[BlueJazz]

25. Thanks..The Orlando Sentinel review was a GREAT read! n/t

[wolfgangmo]

26. Stein is not stupid

He is marketing this shrewdly and stand to make gobs of cash, ala Mel 'aint no holocaust' Gibson, from the Christofascist idiots who will "flock" like the brain dead homing pigeons that they are to this hit piece of a movie. Stand by to have it quoted to you by lots of idiots that you have the misfortune to know.

[Realityhack]

37. Well thats half correct.

It would appear he actually believes this stuff. He isn't stupid but ignorant and possibly deluded are probably fair.

[wolfgangmo]

24. It's the local connection.

Myers is a local guy and is very well known internationally.

My guess is that the local zealots, having been shot down and stomped by the Prof's erudition locally had an ax to grind and ground it when they saw him while they chanted to themselves "vengeance is MINE, sayeth the lord," of course missing the point and the irony of said chanting.

Then having denied their nemesis admission to the movie they ran down the hallway to the bathroom and self sinned until they "raptured."

[Barrett808]

4. Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed (hosted by Ben Stein)

http://imdb.com/title/tt1091617

[Peregrine]

6. See PZ's take on it

Check out PZ Myers' Blog.

[sofa king]

7. Sigh. Some day....

[Dr.Phool]

8. Former Nixon speechwriter Ben Stein is a rebel?

:rofl:

[jeff30997]

10. K&R

Bunch of weirdos.:eyes:

[HuffleClaw]

12. "a scientific conspiracy to keep God out of the nation’s laboratories and classrooms"

a conspiracy?

its plain common sense!

[kineneb]

33. who's god, which god?

If I have to choose, I'm rather found of Ahura Mazda. "He" is a lot older than the Jewish god.

there are many, and there are none

eh, omm.

[drmeow]

13. They should also look up hypocrisy n/t

[onager]

14. Obviously, Dawkins' demonic aura shielded him....

...clouding the minds of the Baby Jesus fans and letting him slip in unrecognized.

It can happen. This is mentioned somewhere in the Bible.

Ben Whine must have finally realized he is never going to win that Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. If you want to see a great example of his work, try to find the endless Eighties mini-series Amerika.

Stein allegedly wrote the original story--in which Russian Communists take over the USA, led by UN security forces and lib'rul Americn schoolteachers.

Oh, you'll have to find it on VHS tape. It sucked so hard nobody has ever wasted the money transferring it to DVD.

:rofl:

Thanks for the info.

[laconicsax]

19. I found the passage in the Bible predicting this:

You need to sort of 'bible-code' it out of Isaiah.

He saw strangers, abomination before the LORD.  Refuse one, let one in and they shall go.  The mighty man will enter.  The LORD will take away one man and he will tell you of the oppression.

If you want to discover this for yourself, grab your King James Bible and open it to the book of Isaiah.  Each piece of the prophecy can be found, in order, in the following verses:

First sentence:
1:1 (He saw)
1:7 (strangers)
1:13 (abomination)
1:16 (before)
1:18 (The LORD

Second sentence:
1:20 (refuse)
1:23 (one)
2:3 (let)
2:12 (one)
2:17 (in)
2:19 (and they shall go)

Third sentence:
3:2 (the mighty man)
3:4 (will)
3:14 (enter)

Fourth sentence:
3:17 (the LORD will)
3:18 (take away)
4:1 (one man)
4:2 (and)
4:3 (he)
5:1 (will)
5:5 (tell you)
5:7 (of), (the), (oppression)

[peacetalksforall]

27. Brilliant. Thanks for nice long laugh.. It's almost scientific the way you.

explored that. Bravo.

[NickMorgan]

15. check out the original first hand account

awesome story. Here's P.Z. Meyer's blogging the event just after it occurred. http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2008/03/expelled.php

gotta love creationists.

[orleans]

16. "gotta love creationists." (i don't think so) n/t

[NickMorgan]

21. I'm new here - what does n/t mean?

[Dudley_DUright]

22. Ironically, you used n/t correctly in your query (and I am not)

It just means no/text in the post, only a title (as a courtesy to those looking at reply titles so they know not to click it). ;-)

[Dudley_DUright]

18. The definitive collection of links about the "expelled" episode can be found at

Greg Laden's Blog:

http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2008/03/pz_myers_expelled_gains_sainth.php

See especially PZ's daughter's (Skatje) review of the movie. In a word, "boring" (sort of like Ben Stein).

http://skatje.com/?p=381

[onager]

20. And they were bribing schools to see it!

Don't bother looking for this exciting offer at the official Expelled blog. It has already been flushed down the memory hole.

But they forgot to edit their FAQ, where the brib...er, "challenge" is still mentioned. See the link below for details.

I guess they were trying to copy Tiny Mel Gibson's success with Passion Of The Fictional, where church groups were offered free blocks of tickets etc.

And these people attack evolutionists as "dishonest?" Sheesh!

Welcome to the Expelled Challenge web site where, as a Christian school or a Christian home school group, you will have a chance to win up to a $10,000 donation while educating your students, parents, and staff of the controversy that is surrounding the Intelligent Design and evolution debate. This is an extremely important project for those of us who believe our world was designed by a creator and not an act of random chance.

Your school will be awarded a donation based upon the number of ticket stubs you turn in (see submission instructions in FAQ section). That structure is as follows:

0-99 ticket stubs submitted = $5 per ticket stub
100-299 ticket stubs submitted = $1,000 donated to your school
300-499 ticket stubs submitted = $2,500 donated to your school
500 ticket stubs submitted = $5,000 donated to your school

http://iarnuocon.newsvine.com/_news/2008/02/05/1280114-create-the-controversy-expelled-movie-team-to-bribe-moviegoers

[Hugabear]

23. Honestly, people who believe in literal creation SHOULD be shunned

I don't want religious fanatics teaching children in schools, they don't deserve to hold teaching positions in college, and they sure as hell aren't scientists.

[kineneb]

34. really get under their skin, demand ALL creation myths be taught

yeah, I know, I'm "evil". Heh.

:evilgrin:

[CGrantt57]

28. We need to point out,

at every possible instance with these bozoes, that the only debate is the masturbatory nonsense going on in their own minds.

No reputable scientist disagrees with the fact that evolution has and is occurring. Evolution is the way the life came to be in the form that it is on this planet.

Now, you can argue over the mechanisms of evolution: gradualism or punctuated equilibrium. And, you can argue about whether or not a deity was prima causa, but, the evidence is clear: species evolve.

To continue arguing that species do not evolve brands the arguer as a close-minded idiot, or a fundamentalist moron, but, I repeat myself.

Regards,

[peacetalksforall]

29. So, the theatre at Mall of America is AMC - were the producers just a rent paying customer?

Does AMC rent out theatres to anyone?

[madmom]

30. Ben Stein is funny?

[Malikshah]

31. Wow-- so persecution only occurs when it comes to one side?

Hypocrisy at its worst.

[bronxiteforever]

32. "a level playing field with evolution",If 9 in 10 people denied a heliocentric

solar system would it be untrue? Poll driven science. And we wonder why we are falling behind in science as a country?



:banghead:

[fascisthunter]

35. Backward Right Wingers Need to Protect their BS at all Costs

no integrity

[Dudley_DUright]

36. Youtube account from PZ Myers and Richard Dawkins

http://youtube.com/watch?v=c39jYgsvUOY

[Dudley_DUright]

38. Richard Dawkins' review of the movie PZ was "Expelled" from

The blogs are ringing with ridicule. Mark Mathis, duplicitous producer of the much hyped film Expelled, shot himself in the foot so spectacularly that the phrase might have been invented for him. Goals don't come more own than this. How is it possible that a man who makes his living from partisan propaganda could hand so stunning a propaganda coup to his opponents? Hand it to them on a plate, so ignominiously and so UNNECESSARILY.

In writing this for RichardDawkins.net, I have assumed that our readers will already be familiar with the facts of the case, from Pharyngula and the more than 40 other blogs that have picked up the story and are listed at
http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2008/03/pz_myers_expelled_gains_sainth.php
For the same reason, I shall not discuss the main message of the film -- that American creationist scientists are being victimized for their views -- except to say that it was very much NOT its main message when the film was called Crossroads, and when I, together with PZ Myers, Eugenie Scott and others, were conned into taking part.
The blogs are ringing with ridicule. Mark Mathis, duplicitous producer of the much hyped film Expelled, shot himself in the foot so spectacularly that the phrase might have been invented for him. Goals don't come more own than this. How is it possible that a man who makes his living from partisan propaganda could hand so stunning a propaganda coup to his opponents? Hand it to them on a plate, so ignominiously and so UNNECESSARILY.

more...

http://richarddawkins.net/article,2394,Lying-for-Jesus,Richard-Dawkins

[and-justice-for-all]

39. You dont need a ticket to know its a heaping pile of horse shit!! nt

[Blue_Tires]

40. lol at that!