Posted on 11/25/2009 7:56:35 PM PST by GodGunsGuts
HUNTSVILLE, AL, Nov. 25 Christian Newswire -- Two creation films called "inappropriate" were denied the opportunity to be shown in government facilities this week--which marks the 150th anniversary of the publication of Charles Darwin's "Origin of Species". While the intelligent design film "Darwin's Dilemma: The Mystery of the Cambrian Fossil Record" has not been granted permission for a showing in California, "The Mysterious Islands", a new 90-minute Vision Forum film that challenges Darwin's evolution by taking audiences back to engage the enchanted Galapagos Islands, has enjoyed a victory and will premiere as previously scheduled tonight, Nov. 25, at 6:30 PM, at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL.
"We want to commend the U.S. Space and Rocket Center ("USSRC") for allowing equal access to its facilities for a private screening of 'The Mysterious Islands' this week," said a jubilant Doug Phillips, executive producer of "The Mysterious Islands". Phillips and his crew--his son Joshua Phillips, Dr. John Morris of the Institute for Creation Research and Jon and Andy Erwin, the award-winning production duo who shot and produced the documentary--have been traveling the country screening the film since its release on Nov. 12, with key members making the trip on the "Galapagos Ark" Tour Bus.
"Knowing that the USSRC was a government facility, we contacted attorneys at the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) for assistance," Phillips continued about legal action that led to the victory. In a letter dated Nov. 23, 2009, Daniel Blomberg, ADF litigation counsel, informed the USSRC executives that their "refusal is in direct violation of Vision Forum's First and Fourteenth Amendment rights," and he highlighted the fact that the USSRC had shown two pro-evolutionary films, "The Magic of Flight" and "Blue Planet", at their facility. The USSRC responded to ADF's letter within hours of receiving it and is now cordially allowing access for a screening of "The Mysterious Islands". Though the film is premiering with short notice in Huntsville, hundreds have already registered to attend at: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e2mzzpjzfd3e5dcc
"The Mysterious Islands" documents Phillips as he leads a team of Christian scientists and investigators to the Galapagos Islands to engage with the amazing creatures Darwin chronicled during his storied trip to this island chain aboard the HMS Beagle in 1835. Seen through the eyes of 16-year-old Joshua Phillips, who joins his father and noted researchers like Dr. John Morris, "The Mysterious Islands" is the story of one boy's search for answers to a great controversy of the modern world. The fast-paced adventure combines cinematically breathtaking footage with high adventure in its quest is to determine whether the Galapagos Islands are a laboratory for evolution, as Darwinists claim, or a showcase for the biblical account of creation.
Along the way, "The Mysterious Islands" examines intriguing questions that Darwin failed to answer, or that he just got wrong: Why do the animals on these islands appear to have little fear of man? Why have some of the creatures of the Galapagos developed such unusual characteristics--are these phenomena evidences of evolution or something else? Does natural selection produce new kinds of animals, or just variations within the same kinds?
Meanwhile, the fate of the other film "Darwin's Dilemma: The Mystery of the Cambrian Fossil Record" hangs in the balance. The California Science Center (CSC) has not yet reversed its decision to allow a showing at the museum's IMAX Theater.
Thanks for the ping!
That's the trouble with leftists. When they talk about "rights" they mean "entitlements from the Government"
It's this progressive idea that the purpose of Government is to to give you what you want.
Was there different criteria applied to then than to other people who rented facility space?
Nice article about the event - but would like more details of what was in the film.
Nevermind - reread the original post and have visited the website. (of Mysterious Islands)
No you didn’t answer it, though you made many assertions.
Still misrepresenting, I see.
Don’t you think you should know the science before speculating on whether the film is good or not?
you did say “any”.
Is the U.S. Space and Rocket Center a government facility? They have a copyright notice on their web page, which isn’t normally on federal government pages.
Like this : http://www.nasa.gov/home/index.html
And this :http://www.sandia.gov/
And numerous other US government websites.
The U.S. Space & Rocket Center (USSRC), an agency of the State of Alabama, established the U.S. Space & Rocket Center Foundation in September of 2000. The Foundation was designated as a 501(c)(3) organization by the Internal Revenue Service on March 22, 2002.
It strikes me that it is impossible to prove that God created the heavens and the earth and all that is therein. Proving a thing is to remove all doubt.
I can prove that a loaded gun can kill an animal by actually using it to kill any animal. The claim can be tested.
I cannot call God to a particular place & time and have Him demonstrate another creation.
Therefore, the best I can accomplish is to compile the available secondary/tertiary evidence that speaks logically to the claim that God created. That is not to say that such evidence is not very strong.
That is true, also, about any other claim to explain origins.
Whichever way one turns, one is left with compiling evidence that speaks to one’s claim.
And at some level, that involves the faith to continue searching. It is, therefore, a belief system.
The article kind of misrepresents that, doesn't it.
You can’t prove evolution either. Both deal with the unobservable, unrepeatable past. They are historical sciences, and historical sciences depend on “multiple competing hypothesis.” And from my stand point, the argument from Creation/ID wins the competition hands down.
Yes. I also wonder how much they get in tax dollars, since they seem to be supported by a nonprofit foundation.
Is this thread about the science, or the right of the creation group to show the film? You were there one who wanted to argue the science of the film.
A film can present a "competing hypothesis", and still be "religious propaganda". The are not mutually exclusive.
Indeed. Does the State of Alabama have the right to set and enforce standards for what it considers appropriate material to be shown at that venue, or does the film producer have the right to force them to let him show that film regardless of whether it meets those standards.
True, Evo's have been doing so ever since they could make movies.
Is that going to be the argument for establishing the First Amendment violation? You're going to sue the State of Alabama for not finding the theory of evolution to be religious propaganda?
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