Film generates controversy: Religion meets science head-on in new movie starring Ben Stein
By Debra Mayeux | The Daily Times
Article Launched: 04/16/2008 12:00:00 AM MDT
Were humans created in the image of God, or did life start with a big bang?
This is a place where religion meets science and some people are not OK with that, according to a new movie, "EXPELLED: No Intelligence Allowed," which starts Friday at the Animas 10 in Farmington.
The motion picture, starring Ben Stein, is done documentary style and looks at the lives of educators and researchers — biologists, astronomers, chemists and philosophers — forced out of or denied tenure based on a belief in intelligent design, which claims the universe and everything in it were created by a higher power.
"Big Science in this area has lost its way," Stein said in a press release. "Scientists are supposed to be allowed to follow the evidence wherever it may lead, no matter what the implications are. Freedom of inquiry has been greatly compromised, and this is not only anti-science, it's anti-American."
In the movie, Stein interviews Richard Sternberg, a double Ph.D. biologist who published a paper on intelligent design; astrobiologist Guillermo Gonzalez, who was denied tenure at Iowa State University after documenting a design he observed in the universe; Caroline Crocker, a biology teacher at George Mason University who briefly discussed problems with Darwinian Theory and told students that some scientists believe there is evidence of design in the universe.
Merrill Adams, interim dean of science at San Juan College, was aware of some claims by scientists that they were forced out of the scientific community after supporting intelligent design, but he said most universities gave other reasons for such people losing their tenure.
"I know many Christian scientists who have no problem with their faith and their work," Adams said. "It should never be framed science vs. religion. That is not a useful debate, not a winnable debate."
Adams has been keeping up with the debate of creation vs. evolution for some 30 years.
Creation vs. evolution
"The church explains it (life) with religion; Darwin on an evolutionary basis," he said.
Creationism was a phrase coined to promote an anti-evolutionary movement that based life on a literal interpretation of the Book of Genesis in the Old Testament. Creationists tried to have school textbooks reprinted to include biblical interpretation in the discussion of life. The movement was not successful, Adams said.
He believes intelligent design to be a "re-outfitting of creationism that got rid of the heavy-duty religious words."
Not so, said Keith Berryman, pastor of First Baptist Church of Farmington. He understood that intelligent design came from the scientific community that did not want to "pigeon-hole" the creationist crowd. "It really is a different approach."
Intelligent design teaches "there is a mind thinking this up. ... There is a purpose. It is very purpose-oriented," Adams said. "Evolution really takes the viewpoint that you take purpose out of it."
At San Juan College students are taught evolution, not intelligent design.
"Evolution holds all of biology together," Adams said.
Catholicism would agree with this perception, so long as God is accepted into the equation.
"We have no problem with evolution as long as it is understood that God instilled human beings with a soul and God created the world as a whole," said the Rev. Tim Farrell, pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Farrell would like to see God being given his due. "Out of chaos came order. God put everything in motion and cares for it deeply."
Classroom discussion
A student with this belief or offering a discussion on intelligent design would not be ridiculed at San Juan College.
"This college is a place for students to try out ideas and their own beliefs. They should feel comfortable asking questions," Adams said.
While the conversation might come up in class, Adams said, it is not part of the curriculum and discussions about intelligent design may be left for after-class discussions.
This is "haughty and arrogant" in Berryman's view, because he would like to see some aspect of a creator taught in the classroom.
"If there are options that are viable, why are you slamming the door on them? High-handed people need to be put in their place sometimes. We need to be able to teach," he said.
Berryman and his team at First Baptist decided to take matters into their own hands with a Vacation Bible School program, "Answers in Genesis," by Ken Hamm.
"Our church is trying to be a part of this conversation and give our children a chance to see a different side of this argument, of where the Bible is coming from," Berryman said.
Fear on both sides
The Rev. Jim Fleming, pastor of Christ the Rock Lutheran Church, said he thinks the intelligent design debate does not promote any religion.
"It does not teach about Christianity or the Bible, but there seems to be a fear in the intellectual community," Fleming said.
The pastor also found a fear in the Christian community about the teaching of evolution, but he looks forward to the film and the discussion it will create.
"It's really keeping on something that mankind has known. ... I can look around and see that someone put this here," Fleming said.
Scientists, however, want proof. That is the basis of science.
"Things have to be able to be replicated. There has to be evidence," Adams pointed out, saying that he understands the fear. "Science has become very powerful and drawn tough lines in the sand."
Stein does present this point of view in the film, confronting scientists such as Richard Dawkins, author of "The God Delusion;" PZ Myers, influential biologist and atheist blogger; and Eugenie Scott, head of the National Center for Science Education.
