Archive for: Expelled
This is the second part of a four part series introducing logical fallacies commonly used by Neo-Darwinists, Evolutionists, and Atheists. To better understand why we should bother to know what these fallacies are, please read the introduction.
Argumentum Ad Verecundiam
An appeal to authority exists in the debate over Intelligent Design when only those who hold an atheistic world view are considered true experts in a field of scientific study. This fallacy occurs when one person’s expert opinion is assumed to be more important than another’s; even though their comparative professional credentials are equivalent. Discriminatory authority ensues because worldview affects the perception of many scientists and, like it or not, impacts interpretation of scientific study. It is not grounded by factual results of experimentation, because neither evolution nor design can be proven by repeatable methodology.
All theories of biological origins are speculative—they are based on beliefs, not observable facts. As a result, if an individual is an educated, highly credentialed, competent scientist, he or she is fully qualified to interpret the same observations, but will do so in light of their worldview. One group is open to finding a designer or creator (often in complete separation from religious overtones), the other desperately hopes not to. Why can’t both engage in rational, respectful discourse? (We already know the answer to that.)
An argument that appeals to only one group of two distinct groups within the same expertise, when neither can be conclusively proven, is fallacious. Both sides must be considered equally and given equal due—that is really what the overall debate is about. One reason the ID scientists are not guilty of this fallacy is that they are not attempting to attack or discredit evolutionary researchers. Their platform is to achieve equal ground and opportunity within scientific academia to pursue research of their own: objective, scientific research.
Ad Hominem
No doubt you have read and heard many examples of this fallacy. Now you know what to call it. This argument attempts to reject or dismiss another person’s statement or position by attacking the person rather than the statement or position itself. Ad Hominem is the most frequent tactic employed by the Neo-Darwinist movement and their supporters. The most commonly used words in the works of these scientists when addressing intelligent design proponents are: “stupid, idiots, imbeciles, ignorant, crackpots, loons, irrational (this one’s ironic considering their use of the term in an Ad Hominem fallacy)” and many, many more (some unprintable). But you get the picture.
Did they really just say that?
A very small, but striking example containing both fallacies (italics mine) is below. There are so many more out there to be read…
“…the DI [Discovery Institute] got its list by asking crackpots and specialists in irrelevant disciplines to volunteer to sign on [To sign on to the DI’s list of scientists who support researching intelligent design.], so it is a real (but silly) list that exposes the existence of a tiny minority of loons within science.”(an excerpt from Science Blogs – Pharyngula)
This is the first part of a four part series introducing logical fallacies commonly used by Neo-Darwinists, Evolutionists, and Atheists. To better understand why we should bother to know what these fallacies are, please read the introduction.
Appeal to Majority
The majority of people (in this case, academic scientists) believe something to be true, therefore it is true. This fallacy is committed when the rhetoric turns to comments such as “everyone knows” or “any true scientist will tell you”, etc.
Wherein the appeal is to consider how many ascribe to the position instead of calmly using the merits of the position itself. This is very common among evolutionists.
Argumentum Ad Populum
An appeal to emotion occurs when rhetoric replaces logic and the intent is to make an audience act on emotion instead of rational judgment.
It is ultimately an attempt to steer the thinker toward subjectivism—a position based on the desire to believe something rather than a logical conclusion based on fact.
A Thin Smokescreen at Best
In the neo-Darwinist strategy, there is a continuous tension to ensure our children are educated in line with the rest of the world. It appeals to the emotions of parents who might somehow be concerned that we are robbing our kids of a decent “science” education by considering, for example, intelligent design. It’s funny that even though evolution has not been proven as fact, the argumentum ad populum and appeal to majority are played as smokescreens to strongly imply that it has been proven and accepted by true scientists all over the world, and therefore should not be questioned. Otherwise, we Americans might be ridiculed by the international community and left behind as other cultures embrace the implications that evolution gives society the freedom to pursue. This entire strategy is heavily rooted in these two logical fallacies.
For example:
“…remember that this is a political problem, not a scientific one. Please try to avoid “science talk.” As Eugenie Scott, our executive director at the National Center for Science Education says, “We will not solve this problem [allowing the teaching of ID theory in schools] by throwing science at it. We must appeal to the legislators as fellow citizens, parents, and educators. No academic-speak! 
…We have to stop them [ID advocates]” (excerpt from The Panda’s Thumb).
This one’s pretty clear—a thin smokescreen at best.
There are lots more examples where this came from. Proceed with caution though as you search for them. You will find the rhetoric quite harsh, illogical, venomous, insulting, condescending, and: all directed at you—the thinking believer. And if you feel the need to respond to some of these posts, remember—attract don’t attack; we must be the salt and light to a lost world…
In working on the Redeeming Darwin project with EvanTell and Probe Ministries, I started doing a little research into the world of the Neo-Darwinist, Evolutionist and Atheistic movements. With the release of Expelled I had the opportunity to learn even more. I was surprised to find very strong emotional content and very weak intellectual discourse; at least in what they publish online. I am amazed at how scornfully vitriolic and malicious the disposition is toward anyone who does not accept their philosophical (not scientific—those are still ‘theories’) conclusions. Individuals whose self-confessed missions in life are to the inquiry and discovery of science are not open to any new ideas that were threatening—not to science—but to their worldview.
Scientific expertise aside, if Neo-Darwinists, Evolutionists and Atheists claim to be such rational thinkers, wouldn’t their own dialogue be calm and logical rather than histrionic and passionate? If we Christians are truly “lunatics and liars” wouldn’t ours be the irrational, fanatical discussions? This is not the case. I found most of their writings to be laced with expletives I would not re-print, name-calling I would never think of, and arguments so full of logical fallacies it really made me take a closer look at how they defend their positions. It’s as if they are on a school ball field taunting the other kids and resorting to fighting; breaking all the rules because they just can’t seal the victory no matter how ‘good’ their players are or how hard they try. They are angry and very defensive. On the other side, you have the Intelligent Design folks (and even creationists—the two are not synonymous) who are calm and rational—simply requesting the opportunity to join the discussion.
Hmmm—typically when one side has the truth, they are cool, calm and collected—when another is standing on a weak and flawed position, they tend to resort to defensiveness, name calling, and irrational arguments. Interesting and revealing.
Therefore, I thought “how could I shed a small amount of light within this dark discussion?” I don’t have the time or desire to go search through the endless blogs (really bogs) of their rants and tirades. So, I will leave that to you. However, I do want to equip the reader (that’s you) with a few definitions and explanations of common logical fallacies you will find in their articles and posts. I am sure there are many more you can detect—I want to encourage you to think. Use your brain and really look at how the issues are addressed—not the issues themselves—consider how differently the two sides talk about them. It reveals what is truth and who holds it. Hopefully you are already firm in your faith, and this discovery process should only strengthen that faith. It certainly has mine.
Above all, be salt and light. Have patience and try not to fall into the temptation to be defensive and confrontational. Even as we arm ourselves to defend the truth; our theme should be in declaration of the power of the gospel. Attract—don’t attack. God can handle the Neo-Darwinists, Evolutionists and Atheists just fine. He created them too, even if they don’t believe it. So dive in, enjoy the discussion and never stop learning!
2 Corinthians 4:1-6
I have seen an advanced screening of the film Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, and it is amazing!!! Every thinking person must see this movie! Not only is the information very compelling, but the way in which it is presented is engaging and keeps you interested. It is no secret that documentaries can be either boring – or – largely fictitious and contrived (as is the case with one very well-known “documentarian”); however, neither is the case with Expelled.
I am pleased to be able to reprint this article about the upcoming movie written by one of our great friends; Dr. Ray Bohlin – the President of Probe Ministries.
Editor’s (Probe) Note: In the land of the free, who would dream of well-reputed scholars—even tenured ones—being expelled from their own institutions? But those who dare to even cite evidence contrary to Darwinian evolution (www.redeeemingdarwin.com) are often pilloried, even terminated. A new documentary, featuring actor, lawyer, economist, former presidential speechwriter and author Ben Stein, blows the whistle on this travesty of academic and scientific freedom…
Most Christians would admit to feeling persecuted in one way or another. We may quickly add that, of course, it’s not like being thrown to the lions like the early Christians. But we see the culture undergoing decay and we perceive our perspective on ethical issues being marginalized. Occasionally we hear of people being harassed in their jobs for being a Christian.
But most of us would expect that in certain spheres of society, such viewpoint bias is quickly admonished and freedom is protected. Our universities are paragons of something called academic freedom. University professors need to be free to express themselves about wherever their research and thinking has led them.American society prides itself in allowing such ideals as freedom of expression, freedom of speech, and even religious freedom. That is a part of what has made our country a refuge for many over the centuries.
In the academic community this is even more highly prized because research is about discovering new ideas and testing them. Researchers need a generous amount of freedom to see where their ideas may lead without being restricted just because a department head doesn’t like their idea.
We tolerate even objectionable ideas like Communism in our universities precisely because it is in hearing all viewpoints that students can best discern the truth. Having been educated as a graduate student in biology departments in two different universities, I can tell you firsthand that not everybody gets along and there are frequent disagreements, both privately and publicly.
But this is seen as necessary because that is how we learn. Ideas need competition. That is how truth is pursued in our human context. During my time in the 70s and 80s as a biology graduate student I was even able to be free about my faith and my doubts about Darwin.
Such freedom is not available today. If a friendly professor learns of your doubts about St. Darwin, he or she will likely tell you to keep it to yourself if you want to graduate.
But what about professors and highly published researchers? Surely they are given a little more latitude? Guess again. Coming [April 18] to a theater near you is an explosive film… Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed starring Ben Stein which chronicles the persecution of highly trained and published scientists simply for doubting or denying Darwin.
A double Ph.D. in biology and evolution was locked out of his offices and all of his research privileges were denied. He was eventually terminated. When a U.S. Senator began asking questions, he was told it was all a mistake. Eventually, his superiors said he was making it up. When an official report came out documenting the abuse, they admitted it but claimed he deserved it.
A highly lauded university biology instructor was demoted and fired for simply including evidence contrary to Darwinism as well as evidence for it. She was told she was teaching creationism even though her lecture outlines were freely available online and the words Creator, Designer, or Higher Power never left her lips. Even the lawyer who volunteered to freely pursue a lawsuit was pressured to drop it.
A highly successful and well-published astronomer has been denied tenure even though he has published over four times the necessary peer-reviewed articles. The reason? He is open and receptive to the theory of Intelligent Design even though it has never been introduced into his courses.
Some are still fighting, some have taken early retirement. Some are blacklisted and can’t find a job. Clearly, some ideas are more tolerated than others.
Got your attention? This is really just the tip of the iceberg of these and other stories this film will explore. Plan now to attend when Expelled hits…
Stay Tuned!
For other great articles on this topic please visit www.redeemingdarwin.com
