Ben Stein's "Expelled"

Our local theater didn't show the move what it came out, so I've had to wait for the DVD release. I viewed the movie last night. I loved it. Ben Stein's sense of irony and humor weaves throughout, while maintaining an even-handed treatment of the subject.

Ben's point is that society must encourage and nurture an open and honest exchange of ideas, allowing for dissension and disagreement until all the facts are known. Neo-Darwinism's stranglehold on academia and science takes a huge hit because of its proponents unwillingness to even hear another viewpoint, especially one that challenges the status quo.

But didn't Darwin's Origin of Species challenge the status quo of his day? What about Einstien? Sir Isaac Newton? Copernicus? Galileo? And yet the theories of all these men, excepting Darwin, have been proven correct over and over. Darwin's theories remain in doubt.

Expelled simply suggests that the repression of honest debate leads us down a path of moral relativism, spiritual abiguity, and intellectual poverty.

Stein sports his almost trademark-status sneakers, and the film ends with his call for people to stand up to the establishment in the name of debate: "Anyone? Anyone?" Which movie buffs will recognize from his character in Ferris Beuller's Day Off."

We're planning on watching the film tonight in our small group.