Ben Stein got some of my money

I did it. I saw Expelled. I told you I was torn between seeing it so I am informed about what they say and giving money to a propaganda film. Yesterday, JC philosophy professor and sometime evolution critic Dr. Brian Lang called and asked if I would like to go. He wanted someone who was informed along. So I went. Afterwards we went out for a drink and had an enjoyable talk for about an hour and a half. I think I'll have a lot to say, although I don't know when I'll have time to write about all of it.

I only have time for a quick note now, so I'll just say some things about the audience. I'll review the movie later. When I got there, there was a woman asking the owner if a lot of people were coming to see it. He said no, which pleased me. She seemed shocked or upset. She said over and over that she's here to see Ben Stein, that's why she's here. Brian got there just before the movie was to begin. Right after him, a group of about a dozen showed up. It was obviously a church group. They all greeted Brian and obviously knew him well. I found out later they were from his church, Temple Baptist. I strongly suspect that most of the audience around the country is similar to the audience I was with, mostly church groups.

Brian introduced me to a few of them. One woman seemed intent on questioning me. She asked me what I think about evolution. I said it is very well supported. She asked "How do you think that?" I think she felt she was really going to catch me. I said with my brain. She asked where my brain came from. I said from a simpler brain, which came from a still simpler brain, which came from some simple nerves, which came from cells that had ion channels. Then she said "well what about irreducible complexity?". I said I'm afraid it's all baloney. I'd love to talk to you about it some time if you are interested. But at this time we weren't entering the theater, where the film had just begun.

It's no surprise I found the film unpleasant. Dr. Lang also considered it weak, a propaganda piece. At least one recent student of mine was also there and didn't seem impressed. However, I think most of the church members enjoyed it. They laughed at parts they were supposed to laugh. Afterwards, they invited us to Perkins, where they were going to discuss it. Dr. Lang declined, and we went downtown. As Dr. Lang pointed out, I'm sure the discussion they had is very different from the discussion we had.

Dr. Lang is engaging to talk to. We didn't discuss the film much, since it is almost entirely lacking in actual content, but did spend a lot of time discussion ID. I'll write about that later, and the film, but now I have to prepare for class.