Creationist film row - September 28, 2007
Richard Dawkins is annoyed. Having been interviewed for a film entitled ‘Crossroads’ about science and religion he was surprised to find he was actually appearing in ‘Expelled’, a film promoting intelligent design (NY Times, Spiegel). “At no time was I given the slightest clue that these people were a creationist front,” he told the Times. This isn’t the first time Dawkins has had trouble with a creationist film crew.
It’s not just Dawkins though. Leading science blogger PZ Myers also features in the film and has previously written about how underhand the interviews were, and how the producers responded to his complaints. “We were lied to, and they tricked us. It's that simple. They ought to simply 'fess up to it — it's not as if we can take legal action against them or do anything to suppress their movie, since we all signed quite legal releases,” he states in his comments on the NY Times piece.
In a press release from last month Walt Ruloff, co-executive producer of the film, said: “The incredible thing about Expelled is that we don't resort to manipulating our interviews for the purpose of achieving the 'shock effect,' something that has become common in documentary film these days. People will be stunned to actually find out what elitist scientists proclaim, which is that a large majority of Americans are simpletons who believe in a fairy tale.”
But don’t believe this blog. As the Expelled website will tell you “‘Big Science Academy’ is proud to have the support of the ‘Mainstream Press’ in stifling the rise of freedom of speech in our science classrooms. In so many ways, ‘Big Science’ and ‘Big Media’ are on exactly the same page, when it comes to making sure that dissenters and troublemakers are properly expelled.”
Comments
Is intellectual rigor a family value?
Clearly not among the Christian right here in America.
(For those of you not steeped in the rhetoric of American politics the catchphrase "family values" has become code for an anti-abortion, anti-gay agenda.)
These folks know they can't confront the scientific establishment on its own turf and terms, hence the subterfuge.
Posted by: Mike Wagner | October 1, 2007 05:02 PM