New movie explores Darwinism and Intelligent Design

Bill Howard and I attended a screening of the director's cut of the movie "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed" at Focus on the Family. The producers are showing the independently produced and distributed film to churches, universities and media outlets with the hope of creating a grassroots swell to get it onto 800-1,000 screens when they release it in mid-April.

The documentary, starring Ben Stein, takes to task evolutionary teaching and why the mere mention of intelligent design as a viable theory of human existence and development is met with vitriol and has ruined scientific careers. The movie basically says that there are questions with Darwinism, and people should have the freedom to explore alternative theories. Instead, questioning Charles Darwin has led to academic persecution, according to the film.

There were some effective elements in the film, and there is one very poignant moment when producers show Darwinism taken to extremes in Nazi Germany.

I think the film is effective in advancing the idea that we need more academic openness in considering this theory, since no Darwinist has an explanation for how life began. Evolutionary theory deals with life after it originated. Where I think the film misses the mark, however, is getting into some tendentious arguments. But the producers claimed they were trying for a Michael Moore style documentary.

At any rate, check the Expelled Web site for yourself.