RTB Scholars Expound on EXPELLED, the Movie.

The theater release of EXPELLED: No Intelligence Allowed has generated much discussion about the interaction between scientific and Christian thought. The movie gives the impression that any deviation from naturalistic, Darwinian thought leads to censorship and removal from their occupations, especially in the academic environment. Many people have asked Reasons to Believe (RTB) to comment on the movie. Some have asked us to endorse or promote it, but we cannot.

We can, however, highlight the essential attitudes that characterize our approach to the creation/evolution debate. RTB views the scientific enterprise as a vital component of carrying out one of God's first recorded commands to Adam and Eve. Without the understanding derived from scientific investigation, it would be impossible to take care of this home God provided for us. Because the roots of the scientific enterprise rest on principles derived from a Christian worldview, RTB believes scientific advances bring us a growing understanding of the way God made the world and filled it with life.

Nevertheless, the conclusions drawn by the scientific community sometimes appear to contradict essential Christian principles. In numerous instances, individuals and/or institutions within the scientific community have treated Christians unfairly. In these situations, RTB actively seeks to engage the scientific community in dialogue, demonstrating how the biblical and scientific pictures of the world can be integrated. We view any disagreement between the two pictures as a call for more detailed model building and testing. Thus, the battles are restricted to figuring out which model provides the most consistent and comprehensive view of the universe and most closely matches the measured data. RTB scholars believe that advancing scientific research will ultimately discredit any explanation that contradicts a sound interpretation of Scripture. Our approach to engagement is to hold a high view of Scripture, acknowledge the legitimacy of the scientific enterprise, and integrate the knowledge gained from both to build a more complete understanding of God's creation.

This approach of seeking the right to be heard avoids denigrating the scientific enterprise, either its individuals or institutions. However, individual scientists and even institutions sometimes fail to demonstrate the impartiality and objectivity good science demands. We acknowledge that scientists are human and avoid questioning their integrity, competency and moral character. After all, we within the church appreciate the same treatment.

In Reasons To Believe's interaction with professional scientists, scientific institutions, universities, and publishers of scientific journals we have encountered no significant evidence of censorship, blackballing, or disrespect. As we have persisted in publicly presenting our testable creation model in the context of the scientific method, we have witnessed an increasing openness on the part of unbelieving scientists to offer their honest and respectful critique.

Our main concern about EXPELLED is that it paints a distorted picture. It certainly doesn't match our experience. Sadly, it may do more to alienate than to engage the scientific community, and that can only harm our mission.

Hugh Ross, Fazale Rana, Jeff Zweerink, David Rogstad, and Kenneth Samples