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Can the near century-old debate over evolution vs creation ever be resolved? Probably not. The new film Expelled attempts to state its case for intelligent design--a broader term for "creationism"--but will only result in further polarization on this issue. The film begins with the premise that the scientific community has expelled reputable scientists who view any possibility or discussion of an intelligence behind the origins of the universe. Several examples are used to illustrate this idea. It then attempts to draw extreme conclusions, including the inevitable descent from evolution into atheism and even to the Holocaust.

Ben Stein, as narrator, also helps write the film; the use of inter-cut amusing and not-so-amusing clips, are used to reinforce the drama of the story. As Stein delves further into the issue, he is astounded to uncover the scientific bias and historical evidence of fascism in this community of intelligent scientists. This venture leads to an ultimate showdown between Stein and renowned atheist scientist, Richard Dawkins. In this interview, after being asked about the origins of life, Dawkins concedes to the possibility of intelligent design.

Like most films of this kind, the conclusions are convincing, the story is entertaining and engaging, and the editing is especially convincing and creative. The problem here is in terms of originality and the exclusion of much of the actual discussion of this issue. This film uses Michael Moore's work as its model. There is little done to disguise this venue throughout which, like Moore's film, removes it from the pursuit of objectivity to a polemic on the necessity of intelligent design to be regarded a science. Interviews with disgruntled professors are given without divulging all of the facts behind their situations. Richard Dawkins, as a representative of the scientific community, is the most extreme person who could be used in a film like this one. Perhaps less entertaining, but certainly worthy of inclusion, would be the people who fall in the middle. They are out there and a part of the scientific community. There are committed Christians who believe the two views have a degree of compatibility. But this fact is left out of the film in order to build a case against any form of Darwin's theory to be atheistic.

On a positive note, the film invites further investigation and does expose a certain lack of objectivity in the scientific community. Certainly, to question and invite to debate and dialogue is a good and necessary part of our culture. To explore presuppositions is also important. _Expelled_ does expose the unwillingness of the scientific community to do this while maintaining an air of objectivity.

As a starting point,Expelled, gives us a place to begin to explore a view of science that certainly encourages questions--especially regarding the origins of the universe. The question remains: is this a question to be left to religion? It also encourages us to ask question regarding the "how" of the origins of this universe. While this question is best left to scientists, the attempt to expose those scientists, like Dawkins, who wish to jump into theology is certainly successful. But, I am left to wonder, what of the rest of the scientific community? We must explore this idea for ourselves.

Terry Roland April 30, 2008