DVD Review - Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed

Starring: Ben Stein
Director:  Nathan Frankowski
Rating:  PG

Most people know of Ben Stein through movies like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and other character roles. Stein is also well known for his intellect - even getting a game show at one time that challenged contestants to beat Stein at trivia questions in order to get his money. In this project, Stein takes on a serious subject that concerns many people in the religious community, Intelligent Design.

Intelligent Design is the theory in science that the beginning of the world involved a designer, and while it has become synonymous with Creationism, Stein approaches the topic without taking a stance on the religious component. There are many scientists who wish to look at the theory with or without religion, but many have found that to even beginning looking at this subject is a death wish for their careers. Stein talks to scientists on both sides of the debate, and while he never explains his personal beliefs on the origin of life, he makes a strong case for freedom of thought in the scientific world.

Stein uncovers several instances in major universities of scientists that were fired or denied career advancement based on their openness in the field of intelligent design, and he argues that the reaction to their openness is very different than the reactions the scientific world has to other disagreements. Why is this question not open for debate in the scientific world that prides itself on open mindedness and freedom for research? The answer, Stein argues, is in the fact that intelligent design has become synonymous with Creationism. While that is true in general thought, should that in itself deny scientists the right to look at this theory with or without the issue of religion? Stein argues that it should not and even goes as far as to look into the extremes of Darwinism practiced by the Nazi regime in which 1,000’s of “useless eaters” or handicapped and insane people were killed off to better perfect the human race.

The documentary is very well balanced it approaches the topic without a knee jerk emotional response that many people take when looking into religious subjects. Stein simply asks why this is taboo, and what are the implications of closing off and entire world of theoretical thought. I would encourage everyone to watch this documentary.  It’s insightful, thorough, and even entertaining.

Purchase Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed.

Reader Comments

Reader Comments

Reader Comments

Reader Comments

Reader Comments

Add Comments

Name:
Email:
Location:
URL:
Comment:
	Remember my personal information
	Notify me of follow-up comments?
Please enter the word you see in the image below: