Looks like there's going to be a creationist/ID movie coming out next month, and it's already generating controversy. University of Minnesota biology professor (and outspoken atheist) P.Z. Myers was refused entry to a screening, which he had legitimately registered for along with the other attendees, Thursday at the Mall of America. (But traveling with him and allowed to enter with no problem was . . . wait for it . . . RICHARD DAWKINS.) So, the producers of a film ostensibly fighting against the suppression of free expression of ideas denied entry to a professor, who appears in the film and is thanked in the credits, because his views differ from those advocated in the film. The filmmakers also evidently deceptively requested interviews with Myers, Dawkins, and others under the false pretense that they were for an even-handed film about the evolution/ID debate called "Crossroads." I am disappointed in these goofy and/or outright cynical tactics of the filmmakers (who presumably are Christians). The film (and the buzz) are gaining a pretty high level of visibility, and therefore those involved have a responsibility to conduct themselves in a manner that positively represents Christians and brings honor to God.
I'll try to go with an open mind on April 18 (or more likely catch it on video), and will withhold final judgment until then, but you can already read quite a bit about the movie on the all-knowing world wide web. If the things that I have read are to be believed, the film defines neither evolution nor intelligent design, equates evolution with atheism, and blames the theory of evolution for Stalin, Hitler, the holocaust, genocide, abortion, etc. If so, this could be another foot-shooting exercise perpetuating the myth of the incompatibility of evolution and Christianity, fueling the hostility and suspicion of Christians toward science, and exacerbating the scientific community's contempt for creationists and other religious people.
I am alarmed that this seems to be only getting worse. Greg Boyd (I know, I know...) has been doing some sermons on the demonic influence on this world (2 Cor. 4:4, Satan as "the god of this age," etc.), particularly the stupidity of humanity. [One of his main examples is the fact that, despite how smart we obviously are in so many areas, we haven't figured out a way to stop killing each other.] The confusion and division around science and religion is one insidious way I see this diabolical influence manifested.
