In the News
Archives for: 2008
05/14/08
Bills would give teachers freedom teaching evolution
Legislatures in three states - Louisiana, Michigan and Missouri - are considering academic freedom bills that would give teachers greater protection and freedom in teaching the strengths and weaknesses of Darwinian evolution.
"There has definitely been a raising of consciousness among people that there is a problem of censoring scientific information that challenges evolution," the Discovery Institute's Casey Luskin told Baptist Press.
The language of the bills in Louisiana, Michigan and Missouri does not allow for ID to be taught.
05/12/08
Science Teacher Symposium at Biola - July 17-18
Science Teachers and Professors...
You are invited to attend Biola's 2008 Science Teacher Symposium: Intelligent Design after "Expelled"
Presented by Biola University's M.A. Program in Science and Religion
Thursday July 17, 2008, 8:00 a.m. - 9:45 p.m., Biola University
Friday, July 18, 2008, 8:30 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., Biola University
Cost: $99 ($109 if postmarked after July 1).
What will it be like to teach about Intelligent Design in the wake of the movie "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed". Internationally known design theorist Dr. Paul Nelson, who appeared in "Expelled", will give us an answer. Dr. John Bloom and Dr. Mike Keas of Biola's M.A. Program in Science and Religion will also contribute to the program. The symposium grants teachers with ACSI (Christian) Continuing Education Units. Public and home school educators are also welcomed.
Symposium Topics Important to all Science Teachers
- Introduction to Science and Religion
- Resources for Teaching about Intelligent Design
- Human Origins: Issues in Physical Science and Biology
Parallel Sessions
- Physical Sciences
- Inferring Design from Anthropic Correspondences
- Biochemistry: The Biochemical Prerequisites for Life
- Life Sciences
- Recent Advances in Biological Intelligent Design Research
- Using the "Explore Evolution" Curriculum (going beyond topics in our
2007 Symposium)
NOTE: We do not favor mandating (as public policy) the teaching of intelligent design (ID) in schools. Even so, many teachers will want to know more about ID as an exciting new scientific research agenda. After "Expelled" more students will be asking about ID than every before. Be prepared to respond to student curiosity!
To get more information and register, click HERE.
Slaughter of the Dissidents
A new Web site covers the problem of discrimination against Darwin skeptics. The Web site will document each case learned of and give advice on how to survive in academia. The Web site will also respond to the common false charges against individuals, such as the claim that there was no evidence that Dr. Gonzalez (Iowa State University) was denied tenure due to his support of intelligent design.
On the Web site, there is a form at the bottom of the page, which will give you a free chapter of an upcoming book. You will also get updates on what is going on with this projects.
Click HERE for the Web site.
05/10/08
Baylor University president labels faculty senate's criticism 'false'
Tim Woods, of the Waco-Tribune Herald, reports that the school's faculty senate passed a "failure of shared governance" resolution, complaining that Lilley and Provost Randall O'Brien exercised their own judgment in denying tenure to 12 of 30 candidates this spring, in at least some cases overruling University Tenure Committee recommendations.
The resolution goes on to state that "standards in academia provide that the President and Provost should 'concur with the faculty judgment except in rare instances and for compelling reasons which should be stated in detail.' "
The faculty senate also complains there are other university matters where the faculty's voice isn't heard or its recommendations aren't followed.
President John Lilley has not been friendly to ID at BU, and an upcoming Board of Regents meeting could mean he's out.
05/07/08
Expelled: Where's The Beef? ID Documentary Special
For a limited time only save over 50% when you buy this 3-DVD package
One of the criticisms of Ben Stein's movie Expelled is that very little time was spent on the scientific evidence for intelligent design. Of course this was not the purpose of the movie, which instead focused on the need for free inquiry and the rights of scientists, educators and the media to critique prevailing theories of origins and explore scientific alternatives. But for those of you who felt like the little old lady in the old Wendy's commercial wanting to know "Where's the Beef?" we've put together a package of three of our best selling science documentaries on ID at an unbelievable price. Normally these DVDs sell for $25 each, but for a limited time you can get all three for only $35 including shipping--a savings of over 50%. This impressive 3-DVD documentary set by Illustra Media presents a comprehensive, visually stunning and intellectually compelling argument for intelligent design. You can watch samples clips or place your order here.
05/05/08
Expelled: Berlinski Responds to Derbyshire
The critical reviews of the movie Expelled are almost more instructive than the movie itself in demonstrating the absurd lengths to which champions of Darwinism will go to silence, discredit and destroy those who challenge their cherished theory. Perhaps the most stellar example is John Derbyshire's recent review in which he accuses Expelled of being creationist porn that includes dishonest interviews with scientists, and uses stolen video and music clips. Those are pretty heavy charges. Especially for a man who admits he hasn't even seen the film!
Some of Derbyshire's cheap shots are aimed at David Berlinski, who not only has seen the film, but is featured in it. Berlinski is not about to take these charges lying down and delivers Derbyshire the tongue lashing he deserves while setting the record straight in this National Review Online commentary: The Dang Thing: John Derbyshire and the movie he hasn't seen.
05/04/08
Consider Intelligent Design
Seems a librarian was motivated to gen up a compenhensive index to ID materials. "Consider Intelligent Design" also has blogs. Consider checking out this Web site...
05/02/08
What you Ought to Know about Richard Dawkins and Al Gore
There is a pretty funny guy at www.whatyououghttoknow.com that has entertaining opinions about lots of stuff like Richard Dawkins and Al Gore. Someone needs to straighten him out on the definition of intelligent design, but other than that, we find him pretty well informed on stuff you ought to know (at least regarding evolution and global warming...we haven't watched all of his stuff). Apparently his goal is to irritate everyone, no matter what your position on origins, and he does a pretty good job of that. We think he's ready for a monologue on the Jay Leno show.
The standard media definition he uses is "Intelligent design is so complex it must have been designed." The actual definition of intelligent design is "The study of patterns in nature that are best explained as the result of intelligence" which is further elaborated in The New World Encylopedia.
Wall Street Journal on Academic Freedom Bills
The Wall Street Journal reported today (5/2/08, pg A10) on the academic freedom bills sweeping the nation that would protect teachers who want to teach scientific evidence for and against neo-Darwinian evolution. Bills are currently being considered by legislators in Florida, Louisiana, Missouri, Alabama and Michigan. Some legislative efforts have included private screenings of the documentary Expelled.
The story includes this quote from John West of Discovery Institute:
"It shouldn't be a crime for teachers to give the best evidence for evolutionary theory and then, if they want, spend a day saying, 'Some people are raising questions,'"
and then this curious statement from the opponents of the academic freedom bills:
Evolution's defenders respond that there are no credible scientific critiques of evolution, any more than there are credible alternatives to the theory of gravity.
In a related online article(subscription required), The Wall Street Journal asked the Discovery Institute's John West, a prominent advocate of intelligent design, to list several critiques of evolution that he'd like to see teachers present in class. Then we sought responses from Eric Meikle, who promotes evolution instruction through the National Center for Science Education.
05/01/08
Stanford Law School's Fair Use Project to Represent Filmmakers in Lawsuit Brought by Yoko Ono
The Fair Use Project of Stanford Law School's Center for Internet and Society today announced that it is signing on to defend Premise Media's right to use a clip of John Lennon's song "Imagine" in its documentary, "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed," [www.expelledthemovie.com] for the purposes of commentary and criticism.
The film, released in the United States on April 18, 2008, is about alleged discrimination against people who support alternative theories of evolution such as intelligent design. The song is played for roughly 15 seconds to illustrate and criticize the ideas suggested in it - that the world might be a better place without religion.
04/29/08
Evolution of a think tank
Ross Anderson, in Crosscut Seattle, writes on the Discovery Institute, and offers an extended biography of Bruce Chapman.
The "Ivorygate Documents"
This just in from our IDArts website:
"We recently received a large brown envelop from our mail carrier with no return address. Inside we found photocopies of what appear to be internal memos from the Natural Sciences Department at the University of Ivory Tower. A note inside indicated that the sender was a graduate student at the university who felt these documents needed to be made available to the public. The sender simply referred to himself/herself as "Sager". We will be posting these memos (that our staff dubbed the "Ivorygate Documents") one at a time as we are able to review and authenticate them. Today we are releasing the memo entitled 'Educators Guide to dealing with intelligent design'".
Florida House passes bill requiring 'critical analysis' of evolution
AP reports that a requirement for public schools to teach "critical analysis" has passed in the Florida House.
The issue now returns to the Senate, which already has rejected the House approach and passed a different version.
The term "critical analysis" is one used by intelligent design advocates. The bill's sponsor, though, denies it would require or allow teaching intelligent design.
Film puts Baylor dust-up over intelligent design in the cinematic limelight
Tim Woods of the Waco Tribune-Herald reports on Baylor's part in the documentary "Expelled".
(to read this article you will need to provide some information)
The Impact of Darwinism - Ruse v. Weikart
Tristen Abbey reports in the Stanford Review on Darwinism's impact on the world.
In a point-counterpoint Q & A, Michael Ruse and Richard Weikart weigh in.
04/24/08
Neuroscience Debate: PZ Myers vs. Angus Menuge
Does neuroscience leave room for God? That was a question debated Saturday April 19, 2008 at the University of Minnesota. While Dr. PZ Myers was appearing in theaters around the country that night as Darwin's bulldog in the movie Expelled, he also appeared in person to debate Dr. Angus Menuge, Professor of Philosophy at Concordia University Wisconsin. The central issue of the debate was to examine the materialist contention that the brain reduces to the mind. Does the scientific evidence indicate that something more is going on in the brain that can't be explained purely by material causes? Dr. Menuge provided us a full report of the event along with a copy of his Powerpoint presention, and a link to a web video of the debate.
Here are a couple quotes from the report:
Myers was surprisingly passive in debate and did not really seem eager to spar. I got the sense that he had previously dismissed me as another creationist "ID-iot," and that he was not really prepared for me to make a serious case. Here are some of the main points of our discussion...
I had two very big surprises. First, Dr. Myers denied being a Darwinist, which produced the kind of stunned silence one would expect if the Pope announced his non-Catholicity. Myers' stated grounds were that Darwin has been dead for over a hundred years. I wished I had pointed out that I am on many issues a Platonist, even though Plato has been dead for 2400 years. Second, as I mentioned, Myers denied that science is really about truth. I had to wonder why it was so important for him to exclude design from science if all that matters is what works. After all, I had noted earlier on in my presentation that the Darwinist philosopher Michael Ruse agrees that methodological design does work in biology by helping scientists decode the machinery of life.
04/22/08
Is the "Science" of Richard Dawkins Science Fiction?
In ENV, Jonathan Wells writes that "surprisingly, in a lengthy interview with Ben Stein in Expelled, Dawkins says that living things on the Earth could be actually (and not just apparently) designed - and that the design might be detectable. Dawkins thereby concedes the central claim of ID, though he insists that the designers - if there were any - must have been highly evolved space aliens, not God."
04/21/08
Guillermo Gonzalez to leave ISU
From AP...
An assistant professor at Iowa State University who says he was denied tenure because of his support of intelligent design has accepted a new position.
Guillermo Gonzalez will continue to work in ISU's physics and astronomy department until the end of the semester, but is leaving by August 1st to take an associate professor position at Grove City College in Pennsylvania.
Five Stars for this review of "Expelled"
William Mayer, in Pipeline News, wordsmiths one of my favorite reviews of "Expelled" and reaction from the opposition.
"Expelled" a box office success
Chris Mooney, no friend of ID, tells it like it is...
Darwin and the Nazis - Richard Weikart
In the American Spectator, Richard Weikart, who appeared in "Expelled", writes that Richard Dawkins, PZ Myers, and some other Darwinists are horrified that the documentary, Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, will promote Intelligent Design to a large audience. Ironically, their campaign to discredit Ben Stein and the film confirms its main point, which is to expose the persecution meted out by Darwinists to those daring to criticize Darwinian theory.
Expelled Critics: So Bored They Can't See Straight
A review of "Expelled" and reactions of critics by Martin Cothran in ENV...
04/19/08
Expelled Impressions from Around the Country
The Uncommon Descent website has a blog entry with impressions of opening day for the Expelled movie. The early showings were sparsely attended (as expected on a work day) but Friday night showings were selling out to enthusiastic audiences.
04/18/08
Reviews of "Expelled" line up with worldviews
With the opening of Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed on over 1000 screens, the rhetoric on the evolution side has been at fever pitch. It has been said that "people believe what they want to believe, not the truth". People's judgment can be warped by prejudices, emotions, and plain bullheadedness.
At the base level, there are those who do not want to surrender self-autonomy to a higher power. They will claim that there is no debate.
They defend their view by going for emotional appeal, and by personal attacks on their opponents. It is easier to call someone an ignoramous or a moron, then to debate the science.
They say Intelligent Design cannot be determined by science, and yet science can determine intelligent agency in archaelogy, forsenics, search for extraterrestial life, etc. Of course, in their thinking, in those disciplines of science, the intelligent agent is a being created by evolution...so, no problem. But, if a cause is posited outside the physical cosmos, forget it. Even though science sees remarkable evidence of design in microbiology, THAT intelligent agency is forbidden...that is religion. Funny, because the multiverse theory, which attempts to explain the fine-tuned cosmos we live in, is putting faith in an entity which cannot be seen or measured, the multiverse. So who has to exercise more faith, the atheists/agnostics or the theists? Evolutionists in the past 50 years have been walking on thin ice, especially in the discipline of microbiology, and the cracks are widening.
Roger Moore, the man who snuck into a private screening of the documentary film in Orlando months ago, gives Expelled a poor rating. Because the film was not released to film critics, his review is getting a lot of play this week. See the review...
Meantime...Brent Bozell III, who initially was expecting little from Expelled, came out of the showing stunned. See his review...
The LA Times reports that the film could have a bigger opening than expected by many. See story here...
We shall see. One thing for sure, the blogs will be on fire with comments about Expelled once people see it for themselves.
Watch for one of the most stunning parts of the film, which was the interview with Richard Dawkins near the end. His bumbling response to the question, "How did life arise" is priceless.
04/16/08
Darwin and the Nazis
Darwin and the Nazis
By Richard Weikart
Published 4/16/2008, The American Spectator
Richard Dawkins, PZ Myers, and some other Darwinists are horrified that the forthcoming documentary, Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, will promote Intelligent Design to a large audience when it opens at over a thousand theaters nationwide on April 18. Ironically, their campaign to discredit Ben Stein and the film confirms its main point, which is to expose the persecution meted out by Darwinists to those daring to criticize Darwinian theory. more...
Academic Freedom Loses Again
Regis Nicoll, in the Salvo Blog...
For those who think that the object of science is to follow the truth wherever it leads, there's this in from the AP: "Some scientists are urging Florida's Legislature to reject a bill that would protect teachers from being fired if they present information challenging evolution."
If you're wondering why any scientific theory should be immune from criticism in institutions which are supposedly training young people for critical thinking, it's because the stalwarts of science orthodoxy have proclaimed, ex academia, that evolution is "a scientific fact" and that its alternative, Intelligent Design, is "religion posing as science." Neither is true.
Behe to speak in northern Colorado about Intelligent Design
Michael Behe will give his first lecture at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 17th in the Ballrooms of the University Center of the University of Northern Colorado, 11th Avenue and 20th Street in Greeley. He will then speak at 3 p.m. on Friday, April 18th at the Colorado State University Lory Student Center Theater and again at 7 p.m. on Friday at Timberline Church, 2908 S. Timberline Road in Fort Collins.
All of the lectures will be free and open to the public.
Clunky Attack on "Expelled" Reveals More Than Intended
In ENV...The National Center for Science Education has just unveiled its expanded website denouncing the upcoming movie "Expelled," but the website's clunky attacks merely provide confirmation that the film's essential thesis is correct: Darwinists really don't believe in academic freedom regarding evolution, and they're more than willing to smear any scientist who disagrees with them.
The basic thrust of the NCSE's website seems to be the preposterous claim that pro-ID scientists never, ever face harassment, intimidation, or persecution. Not ever! Scientists who claim otherwise - such as biologist Richard Sternberg, astronomer Guillermo Gonzalez, and Baylor University engineering professor Robert Marks - must be cry-babies or worse.
The NCSE's approach is otherwise known as "blaming the victim."
04/15/08
Reasons To Believe "Expelled" event
Where does the truth lie, Neo-Darwinian Evolution or Creative Design? On the heels of the April 18th release of the film "Expelled" by Ben Stein, the Antelope Valley Chapter of Reasons to Believe in cooperation with the Department of Biology at Antelope Valley College will be hosting a "free to the public" scientific discussion of creation and evolution presented by three distinguished scientific authors and educators. On Wednesday evening, April 23rd at 7:00 pm at the Lancaster Performing Arts Center in Lancaster, California, Dr. Hugh Ross, Ph.D., and Dr. Fazale Rana, Ph. D. will be presenting scientific arguments on the evidential merits of Creative Design theory. They will be questioned by Dr. Matthew Rainbow from the Biology Department at Antelope Valley College. Dr. Rainbow favors a naturalistic interpretation of the evolution of life. The implications and scientific merits behind both positions either supports or negates the plausibility of a Creator of the universe. For additional event information, please contact: Lee Bush at (661) 724-0341 or by email at leebush@verizon.net.
Expelled to Open on 1,000 Screens this Friday
(Los Angeles, Calif.) April 14, 2008. - Even before its April 18 release nationwide, Ben Stein's movie, EXPELLED: No Intelligence Allowed has triggered heated reactions from both sides of the debate between religion and science.
Atheists are "crashing" EXPELLED screenings and conference calls; critics are slamming it; and leaders are raving about it. One organization is urging theaters to reject the film, while another is holding a movie marathon for all 15 EXPELLED showings at their theater.
And EXPELLED screenings for legislators in Florida and Missouri are causing political firestorms and driving "Academic Freedom" bills that challenge Darwinism. more
04/11/08
The Menuge/Myers debate at the University of Minnesota at Morris
Agnus Menuge, Professor of Philosophy at Concordia University in Mequon, Wisconsin will debate PZ Myers on April 19th at 8 p.m. in the Science Auditorium.
Myers has postulated that "religious belief is an emergent consequence of much broader genetically determined property of the brain." He will argue that "there is no 'god gene', no specific hard-coding of religion into human brains, and that religion itself is a kind of conceptual parasite that takes advantage of other desirable and even 'virtuous' intrinsic qualities of the brain."
FreeGonzalez.com and Academic Freedom for Guillermo Gonzalez
Casey Luskin interviews Iowa State University alumnus Dave Eaton on FreeGonzalez.com, a new organization created by ISU alumni concerned about supporting renowned astronomer Guillermo Gonzalez, who was recently denied tenure at ISU.
Dave Eaton explains how FreeGonzalez.com came about and why it is necessary to support scientists such as Dr. Gonzalez who have been expelled.
Florida Submits 'Evolution Academic Freedom Act' to Senate
The Florida Senate Judiciary Committee voted 7-3 this week to submit the Evolution Academic Freedom Act, which would guarantee the freedom of teachers and students in Florida public schools who challenge theories of Darwinism, for debate in the Senate.
Lawmakers felt prompted for the need of an academic freedom bill after the Florida Board of Education voted for the first time in its history to require the teaching of evolution in schools back in February.
04/10/08
Amazing underwater life
On TED.com, the incredible innovations of underwater life are looked at in this short video. Having just finished Michael Behe's book "Edge of Evolution", and seeing the paltry innovations that random mutation and natural selection can achieve, the only conclusion you can draw from these sea creatures is "DESIGNED!"
Summer Seminars on Intelligent Design, Science, and Culture
Discovery Institute is pleased to announce two intensive summer seminars on intelligent design, science, and culture from July 11-20, 2008 in Seattle. The first seminar is for students in the natural sciences and philosophy of science; the second seminar is for students in the social sciences and humanities (including politics, law, journalism, and theology). Both seminars are designed for highly-motivated college students who seek a deeper understanding of science and its implications for society.
04/05/08
Intelligent Design foes no match for Stein in 'Expelled'
In the Baptist Press, Michael Foust writes on an interview with Ben Stein, and the upcoming documentary film "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed".
The film opens April 18, and Stein believes he's involved in one of the leading cultural and political battles of his life: the fight for academic freedom against an establishment that teaches Darwinian evolution as fact. Intelligent Design (ID) - the belief that certain aspects of the world are so complex that they must have been created by an intelligent being, instead of by a random process - deserves a place at the academic table, he says.
"I think I'm engaged in a struggle that's very much uphill in which the establishment is very much against me," he said in a recent telephone conference call with reporters. "But I'm a rebel to my core ... and happy to be in an uphill struggle, as long as the cause is right."
Dr. Larry Moran and Censorship of Intelligent Design
Dr. Larry Moran is a professor of biochemistry at the University of Toronto. He is a materialist, and some striking comments he makes tie in nicely with the upcoming release of "Expelled".
Intellectual bullying is going strong.
Berlinski on CSPAN2 this weekend
David Berlinski, teacher and author of books on mathematics, challenges the fields of science and atheist thought by arguing that science has not been able to prove the inexistence of a God nor explain the start of the universe. This event was hosted by the Discovery Institute in Washington, D.C.
04/03/08
03/28/08
Bill Allowing Teachers to Question Evolution Advances
Katherine Phan, of the Christian Post, reports that The Florida Senate's pre-K-through-12 education committee approved a bill Wednesday that protects teachers who include theories questioning evolution in their coverage of the much-debated topic.
Legislators voted 4-1 to advance the "Academic Freedom Act," or SB2692, which provides "public school teachers with a right to present scientific information relevant to the full range of views" on evolution.
03/26/08
EXPELLED Controversy Top Issue in Blogosphere
The controversy around Premise Media's upcoming movie Ben Stein's EXPELLED: No Intelligence Allowed became the hottest topic in the blogosphere. According to BlogPulse, a service of Nielsen Buzzmetrics, the issue held the number one slot throughout the day on Monday, March 24th (http://www.blogpulse.com). There were also over 800 results on Technorati (www.technorati.com).
"It is amazing to see the reaction of PZ Myers, Richard Dawkins and their cohorts when one of them is simply expelled from a movie. Yet these men applaud when professors throughout the nation are fired from their jobs and permanently excluded from their profession for mentioning Intelligent Design," said producer Mark Mathis. Mathis was at the event that has raised this controversy.
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Some are wondering why Premise did not use Myers' comment about taking out the steel toes boots and brass knuckles.
This shows Myers expicit intemperance and hostility.
03/21/08
"Save Our Selves from Science Gone Wrong"
A new, provocative book, attempts to take a middle road in the origins and evolution debate.
Born in London, Shaun Johnston's father was a Church of England clergyman, He read biochemistry at London's University College, then turned to graphic design. On moving to New York City he became a medical and science writer.
He claims his upbringing makes him immune to the lure of the supernatural. He says he matured first into epiphenomalism, from that into a non-supernatural intelligent design theory. As a result he finds himself lodged halfway between the two extremes of scientific materialism and creationism.
This could be a unique niche...an atheist who believes in intelligent design. Excuse me? See for yourself.
Francis Collins at Fairfax Community Church
The Fairfax Community Church, in Fairfax, Virgina, invites all ASA members in the area to participate in their conference "Awesome Wonders: The Genome, the Oceans, and the Heavens".
Dawkins Crashes 'Expelled' Party
Christianity Today reports that several critics have worked their way in to some of the screenings, most notably Roger Moore of The Orlando Sentinel, who recently trashed the movie in his blog.
A critic of another kind "crashed" a screening in Minnesota on Thursday night - Richard Dawkins, author of The God Delusion and arguably the most outspoken critic of Intelligent Design and Creationism. Dawkins himself appears in the documentary - but claims he was duped into believing it was going to be an objective account of Darwinism vs. ID.
03/19/08
Ben Stein's Film Blew Rush Away
Whatever you think of Rush Limbaugh, one thing is sure; he has influence. Seems he got a hand delivered copy of Expelled from Ben Stein. Check out his take on the upcoming documentary.