Apparently Richard, I am an atheist, I am smarter than you and wish I could be the theists worst nightmare, Dawkins slipped into a recent pre-screening of Ben Stein's documentary Expelled. For those not familiar with the upcoming release here is a super trailer for the film.
The Discovery Institute Press release has all the details about Dawkins' crash of a screening in Minnesota. Interestingly enough, it appears Dawkins might believe in design after all...only by aliens. This thesis is actually becoming quite popular today. Really.
Here is the release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS CONTACT: ROBERT CROWTHER
DISCOVERY INSTITUTE
(206) 292-0401 X107
ROB@DISCOVERY.ORGRichard Dawkins, World’s Most Famous Darwinist, Stoops to Gate-crashing Expelled
by Bruce Chapman, www.evolutionnews.orgLike many films im pre-release, Ben Stein’s Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed is being selectively screened around the country to develop a buzz.
There is a growing fear by the producers that Darwinists may be trying get into the showings to make bootleg copies (for the Web?), possibly in hopes of damaging the commercial value. Others may be crashing because they want to trash it before it even gets reviewed by the media. P.Z. Myers, who was not let into a showing last night in Minnesota, probably falls in the latter category.
Amazingly, the best selling Oxford scientist/author Richard Dawkins also crashed a showing of Expelled in Minnesota last night and he not only was let in, but introduced at the end of the showing.
Dawkins apparently acknowledged that he had not been invited and did not have a ticket. A sophomoric side to his ideological is thus revealed.
Dawkins, understandably is nervous about this film, among other reasons because Ben Stein has him on camera acknowledging that life on Earth may, indeed, have been intelligently designed, but that it had to have been accomplished by space aliens! This is hilarious, of course, because Dawkins is death on intelligent design. But it turns out that that view applies only if it includes the possibility that the designer might be God.
Myers, of course, relished being expelled from Expelled, but objective observers know that Myers is the most vociferous advocate of expelling Darwin critics from academia. Not from movie pre-screenings where he wasn’t invited, mind you, but from their jobs. Too bad the film doesn’t show (and I wish it had), his promotion of advice to attack teachers and professors who dare question Darwin’s theory. The whole point of Myers is that he is a take-no-prisoners, crusading atheist scientist who has made it his purpose in life to harass people who disagree with him. Dawkins turns out to be his buddy and mutual admirer.
Frankly, I wish the producers would have a special pre-release screening for the Darwinists who are interviewed in the film — and invite some of the rest of us who have seen their depredations up close. We’d be glad to debate right there.
Among other things, I’d like to read some of the Darwinists’ statements and charges back to them and ask them to defend themselves. One of the most preposterous is that the well-funded’ Discovery Institute is funding this film! ( 1-They seem to have far more money available to them than we do, and 2-We are saving our pennies for the upcoming Broadway musical comedy, Darwin’s Folly.)
I have to say something else, personally. I have been sandbagged by one TV and documentary crew after another. So have Discovery-affiliated scientists. The interviewers all say they just want to understand the issue. Going in, they are quite clear about definitions, for example, and only start using Darwinist definitions of our positions when they report. They never provide questions in advance and even if they say they will stick to science questions and public policy, almost all sneak in questions about personal religious beliefs. Then, of all the footage, guess what gets on TV or in the documentary?
So it really is pathetic of Dawkins, et al to complain that when they were interviewed for Expelled they didn’t know that the film was inherently unfriendly. These are interviewees who received pre-agreed questions, signed release forms after the interviews were conducted, and actually got paid for their time.
I am getting more excited about Expelled myself and can’t wait to see the finished version. I suspect I’ll wish that the film was twice as long and had twice as much from Dawkins, P.Z. Myers, et al. From what I already have seen, they really expose themselves as the anti-intellectual, bullying poseurs they are — small men who above all are afraid of a fair contest.
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Mar 22, 2008








Comments
I'm looking forward to the film.
Note to people who get interviewed on film for anything:
-Anything you say can and will be used against you!(see ANY Michael Moore film)
Posted by: Joshua Stevenson | March 23, 2008 01:06 AM
I'm really looking forward to this film!
Posted by: Mike Radcliffe | March 23, 2008 04:12 PM
Hey, you guys want to have an Expelled night on April 18 when it opens? I have a friend in town that night but I bet he'll be up for seeing it with us.
Maybe we can watch it and hit up a pub or sports bar for discussion afterwards?
Posted by: Reid | March 23, 2008 04:32 PM
I'm up for it.
Posted by: Joshua Stevenson | March 23, 2008 08:04 PM
I am there!
Posted by: Mike Radcliffe | March 24, 2008 12:02 PM
Why wouldn't the producers of the movie want Richard to see a screening of the movie they featured him in? I mean the first line in the movie is spoken by him... Why wouldn't they want him to see a screening of the movie? Seriously... why?
Posted by: Darron S | April 8, 2008 11:18 PM
Darron, I don't think they didn't want him to see the screening...in fact, from the press release above it seemed he was a very welcomed guest. I am guessing he was in Minn and decided "drop in."
Amazingly, the best selling Oxford scientist/author Richard Dawkins also crashed a showing of Expelled in Minnesota last night and he not only was let in, but introduced at the end of the showing.
So seriously...it seems they were excited he came out.
Thanks for the note Darron
Posted by: Reid | April 9, 2008 08:18 AM
Mike,
It is probably because he did not have a ticket.
Stephen
Posted by: stephen | April 9, 2008 03:08 PM
Here is a first hand account of what happened - it sounds like chaos with the number of gate crashers that showed up!!
http://richarddawkins.net/article,2394,Lying-for-Jesus,Richard-Dawkins
Posted by: Truthyness | April 10, 2008 06:42 PM
Yeah, sounds like there was a lot going on surrounding the "gate crashing" :) Why do you think Dawkins has to take the tone he does with his opponents. His post is so full of guile and vitriol. I wish for a different tone surrounding these matters on all sides. I enjoy humor and sarcasm but I don't find Dawkins helpful.
Thanks for sending this on to us - I interacted with his post a bit on another entry.
Posted by: Reid | April 11, 2008 01:17 PM