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Well, My Opinion Of The US Public Just Went Down Again...
Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 12:11 pm
by Sionnach Glic
A BRITISH film about Charles Darwin has failed to find a US distributor because his theory of evolution is too controversial for American audiences, according to its producer.
Creation, starring Briton Paul Bettany, details the naturalist's "struggle between faith and reason" as he wrote On the Origin of Species.
It depicts him as a man who loses faith in God after the death of his daughter, Annie, 10.
The film was chosen to open the Toronto Film Festival and has its British premiere today. It has been sold in almost every territory around the world, from Australia to Scandinavia.
However, US distributors turned down the film that will prove divisive in a country where, according to a Gallup poll taken in February, only 39 per cent of people believe in the theory of evolution.
Movieguide.org, an influential site that reviews films from a Christian perspective, described Darwin as the father of eugenics and denounced him as "a racist, a bigot and an 1800s naturalist whose legacy is mass murder". His "half-baked theory" influenced Adolf Hitler and led to "atrocities, crimes against humanity, cloning and genetic engineering", the site stated.
The film, based on the book Annie's Box by Darwin's great-great-grand-son, Randal Keynes, has caused debate on other Christian websites in America.
Jeremy Thomas, the Oscar-winning producer, said he was surprised that such attitudes still existed.
"That's what we're up against, in 2009," he said. "It's amazing. It has got a deal everywhere else in the world but in the US, and it's because of what the film is about."
Early reviews have rated the film highly. The Hollywood Reporter said: "It would be a great shame if those with religious convictions spurned the film out of hand as they will find it even-handed and wise."
according to a Gallup poll taken in February, only 39 per cent of people believe in the theory of evolution.
Just....wow.
Re: Well, My Opinion Of The US Public Just Went Down Again...
Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 1:28 pm
by IanKennedy
Well I'm not overly surprised after all some of these people are the salt of the earth, I'm reminded of blazing saddles
Re: Well, My Opinion Of The US Public Just Went Down Again...
Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 1:57 pm
by Mikey
Re: Well, My Opinion Of The US Public Just Went Down Again...
Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 2:19 pm
by Teaos
according to a Gallup poll taken in February, only 39 per cent of people believe in the theory of evolution.
Is it wrong for a grown man to cry?
Re: Well, My Opinion Of The US Public Just Went Down Again...
Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 2:29 pm
by Aaron
America, the first world nation with a third world attitude.
Man, this is pathetic.
Re: Well, My Opinion Of The US Public Just Went Down Again...
Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 3:42 pm
by Nutso
It's not my fault these distributors are pussies.
Re: Well, My Opinion Of The US Public Just Went Down Again...
Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 5:24 pm
by Monroe
It may be only 39% but if you add intelligent design the number goes above 60% I think.
Re: Well, My Opinion Of The US Public Just Went Down Again...
Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 5:43 pm
by Nickswitz
I have no problem with this... What's the problem with not thinking evolution is a viable theory, I personally don't think of evolution as one, and as America is largely, well, 'God-fearing' that may be why so few believe in evolution...
Re: Well, My Opinion Of The US Public Just Went Down Again...
Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 5:50 pm
by Sonic Glitch
"And I'm proud to be an American..." No, not this time. Not really.
Re: Well, My Opinion Of The US Public Just Went Down Again...
Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 6:34 pm
by stitch626
described Darwin as the father of eugenics and denounced him as "a racist, a bigot and an 1800s naturalist whose legacy is mass murder". His "half-baked theory" influenced Adolf Hitler and led to "atrocities, crimes against humanity, cloning and genetic engineering"
This made be laugh. While he may have been racist (can't know that one), the rest of that is nonsense.
Besides, whats wrong with crimes against humanity.
Re: Well, My Opinion Of The US Public Just Went Down Again...
Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 6:52 pm
by Aaron
Nickswitz wrote:I have no problem with this... What's the problem with not thinking evolution is a viable theory, I personally don't think of evolution as one, and as America is largely, well, 'God-fearing' that may be why so few believe in evolution...
The problem is that is basically a complete rejection of science and logical thinking, which brings us to the slippery slope of why your country is slowly spiralling into the shitter.
Re: Well, My Opinion Of The US Public Just Went Down Again...
Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 7:24 pm
by Sionnach Glic
Nickswitz wrote:I have no problem with this... What's the problem with not thinking evolution is a viable theory, I personally don't think of evolution as one,
The problem is that it ignores science and logic. Exactly what other possibilities
are there, short of "God did it"?
Nickswitz wrote:and as America is largely, well, 'God-fearing' that may be why so few believe in evolution...
Indeed, that's the cause of this whole mess. While other nations have been getting more and more secular, the US seems hell-bent on going in the opposite direction.
Monroe wrote:It may be only 39% but if you add intelligent design the number goes above 60% I think.
That still leaves us with 40% of the population being utter idiots. It really doesn't look good, regardless of which way you want to view it.
Re: Well, My Opinion Of The US Public Just Went Down Again...
Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 7:25 pm
by stitch626
Cpl Kendall wrote:Nickswitz wrote:I have no problem with this... What's the problem with not thinking evolution is a viable theory, I personally don't think of evolution as one, and as America is largely, well, 'God-fearing' that may be why so few believe in evolution...
The problem is that is basically a complete rejection of science and logical thinking, which brings us to the slippery slope of why your country is slowly spiralling into the shitter.
In you're opinion. In mine, believing in evolution is a complete rejection of logic and the scientific method.
Re: Well, My Opinion Of The US Public Just Went Down Again...
Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 7:27 pm
by Sionnach Glic
By all means, explain what your theory is.
Re: Well, My Opinion Of The US Public Just Went Down Again...
Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 7:38 pm
by Captain Picard's Hair
stitch626 wrote:Cpl Kendall wrote:Nickswitz wrote:I have no problem with this... What's the problem with not thinking evolution is a viable theory, I personally don't think of evolution as one, and as America is largely, well, 'God-fearing' that may be why so few believe in evolution...
The problem is that is basically a complete rejection of science and logical thinking, which brings us to the slippery slope of why your country is slowly spiralling into the shitter.
In you're opinion. In mine, believing in evolution is a complete rejection of logic and the scientific method.
Ah, so that's why it's been the prevailing theory in biology for decades.
Science is all about natural, logical propositions. It is logical, grounded in observation, and makes testable predictions. There is no other such viable theory in contention without resorting to the supernatural in some sense, whether out-and-out creationism or creationism in a lab coat (i.e., intelligent design) - supernatural == anti-science. The supernatural cannot be measured and it cannot be the basis of logically consistent predictions. Saying there is a creator is nice, but how do we scientifically observe [it], how do we make predictions based on an unknown intelligence?
To expand on Rochey's challenge: what testable predictions does your theory make?
