Bryan D. Brown

Today is my mother’s birthday, so Happy Birthday, Mom. Our Thanksgiving trip to visit my folks in St. George, Utah was a lot of fun - one of my most memorable Thanksgivings we’ve had in recent years, hampered only by the lack of polygamist sightings while at the Wal-Mart. It was the first time in a while my family really got to spend time together, and I managed to not ruin the moment with my political diatribes. I hope your holiday was excellent as well.

Now the the holiday is over, on with the political diatribes. I need to get it out of my system.

Something I recently learned is that Ben Stein - the teacher from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off - has a new film coming out in February of 2008. The film, EXPELLED: No Intelligence Allowed, has the following description:

EXPELLED: No Intelligence Allowed, is an upcoming feature film in which host Ben Stein (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off) goes on a quest to expose the suppression by science’s anti-theist elite, and unveil new scientific facts that may suggest evidence of intelligent design in the universe.

Along with the release of this highly controversial movie, we’re launching a nationwide campaign LED BY THE YOUTH OF AMERICA to bring this debate into the public square, and impact what is taught in our schools.

It’s what the world needs - an intelligent design propaganda film draped in the form of religious persecution. Keep in mind, these religious beliefs are so heavily persecuted that they are the beliefs of outcasts like the President of the United States.

Incidentally, it takes a lot of intelligently-designed guts to talk about the “anti-theist elite” while the Trinity Broadcasting Network is currently holding its on-air fundraiser. John W. Whitehead of The Rutherford Institute quotes TBN co-founder Paul Crouch (who’s probably not gay, and who, along with his wife, earn take home a combined $700,000 a year from their “non-profit” network):

If my heart really, honestly desires a nice Cadillac…would there be something terribly wrong with me saying, ‘Lord, it is the desire of my heart to have a nice car…and I’ll use it for Your glory?’ I think I could do that and in time, as I walked in obedience with God, I believe I’d have it.

I’m sure that’s what Jesus would do. Oh, and if Jesus is listening, my heart really, honestly desires a 60″ plasma screen television and a 2007 BMW 7 Series 760Li Sedan. Will I be willing to walk in obedience with God? For those things, if Jesus threw a frisbee, I’d catch it in my mouth.

The movie goes on to interview a number of scientists who perpetrate such religious persecutions - such as evolutionary biologist (and über-atheist) Richard Dawkins, physical anthropologist Eugenie C. Scott, and others. According to an article in the New York Times:

Dr. Dawkins and other scientists who agreed to be interviewed say they are surprised — and in some cases, angered — to find themselves not in “Crossroads” but in a film with a new name and one that makes the case for intelligent design, an ideological cousin of creationism. The film, “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed,” also has a different producer, Premise Media.

The movie also tells the stories of scientists who claim to have experienced religious persecution - granted, not on the level of the Spanish Inquisition or the Crusades. One notable absence from these stories is Dr. Francis Collins - an evangelical Christian who also heads the National Center for Human Genome Research. Again, the New York Times:

Mr. Ruloff also cited Dr. Francis S. Collins, a geneticist who directs the National Human Genome Research Institute and whose book, “The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief” (Simon & Schuster, 2006), explains how he came to embrace his Christian faith. Dr. Collins separates his religious beliefs from his scientific work only because “he is toeing the party line,” Mr. Ruloff said.

That’s “just ludicrous,” Dr. Collins said in a telephone interview. While many of his scientific colleagues are not religious and some are “a bit puzzled” by his faith, he said, “they are generally very respectful.” He said that if the problem Mr. Ruloff describes existed, he is certain he would know about it.

So let me see if I understand this.

Intelligent design is an explanation for the creation of life based on the principle of there being a designer. The basis by which we can tell whether something was designed is if it looks like it was designed. If it does, assuming the designer was not an abstract expressionist, then there’s your… um… proof.

Oddly enough, this hasn’t gained any footing in high schools or colleges - so these intelligent design proponents have created a propaganda film in order to reveal some “anti-theist” conspiracy, which, oddly enough, doesn’t exist. It’s almost as though this conspiracy was designed by a designer as well. Anyone care to guess who designed this conspiracy?

Anyone? Anyone?