It seems to me that Darwinism is to this election cycle as Family Values and Abortion have been to previous ones. There has been a recent rash of books and now a movie all pointing out how a conspiracy of elites are following the Darwin manifesto to create a facist atheist state.
Am I overstating it? Read this criticism (including their own release blurb) [1] of Ben Stein’s new movie, “Expelled”. This movie about how bully tactics are what keeps the theory of evolution uncontested is scheduled for a mid-April release. But is already playing to mega-churches and closed-door sessions of school boards and state legislatures. Mainstream press has not yet officially had access to it.
Legislatures? According to NowPress.com in this short article [2]:
The invitation to “Expelled” is just for legislators and their spouses, along with legislative aides. The press and public is excluded.
House Minority Leader Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach, asked House general counsel Jeremiah Hawkes if that’s legal — since Florida law requires open meetings whenever two or more lawmakers meet to discuss pending business. Hawkes replied that, as long as they just watch the film and don’t discuss the issue or arrange any future votes, it’s technically legal.
Why? Because Florida just modified its education policy to require the Evolution to be mentioned in biology classes as a Scientific Theory. Two representatives have now introduced bills that would allow teachers to present discussion of “Intelligent Design” in science classes. The Florida Family Policy Council (one of the many branches of Focus on the Family) is the group sponsoring the showing.
Scientists discovered in the 1980’s that it is futile to debate Creationism in a live public forum. “God Did It, it’s in the Bible” is an easy to absorb sound bite. But delivering the background necessary to explain why evolution is solid science puts an audience to sleep, even if they are initially receptive. Scientists do not have the storyteller training that ministers receive. One cannot connect with an audience without this skill. Facts never have swayed an audience.
However, the damage done by not publicly resisting Creation “Science” claims (or those of Intelligent Design) is that the public sees only one set of arguments with an apparently embarrassed silence on the other side. This article from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation [3] describes the problem quite well. It also points out how Dawkins and his ilk may have done a great disservice to understanding evolution by openly claiming that one cannot believe in both God and in Evolution.
Most Americans internalize God as a significant part of their identity. Given the implication of atheism attached to evolution, they cannot accept the latter. But that is fodder for another ramble. It actually gives the Bible thumpers ammunition against Evolution, as a tool of Satan.
So this year, voters may well be presented with a choice between a man of Truth (as determined by their church) or a closet atheist who will use the Darwin Conspiracy to lead our country to ruin.
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