Evolution is way more than an academic theory. It is a huge money-maker. Evolutionists have a huge enconomic stake in their theory, and will do just about anything to protect that money flow.
Evolution-related research rakes in billions of dollars every year from government and private sources. Those sources WANT evolution to be proven for a variety of personal desires... not reasons... just desires, some of those also being money-motivated.
If Intelligent Design was accepted by the academic world, all that money would stop flowing. All that research would be replaced with a simple statement: “Superior intelligence created it.”
As long as money rules this world, people are going to believe what makes money, period, end of story. Effort’s like Ben Stien’s “Expelled” will have no measurable impact.
The quoted statement above reveals another motivation behind evolution. Academia cannot bear the thought that they might not be the most superior intelligence around.
Academia is all about arrogance. Admitting there might be an intelligence superior to theirs is unthinkable. Admitting they might be wrong is unthinkable. Admitting they have been wrong for 150+ years is unthinkable.
Truth has no place in academia. Academia doesn’t care about truth, facts, and demonstrable reproducible science.
It’s all about arrogance with them. Their theories are right simply because THEY say those theories are right. They don’t need demonstrable reproducible scientific proof. Their collective belief in those theories should be enough for anyone, since they are the highest intelligence... in their minds.
“How DARE you question what WE say?!?!?!” is the only argument they can bring to the table.
That is why they won’t come to the table.
Pretty much sums up the entirety of intelligent design.
"Excuse me Dr. Smith, but this bacterial infection seems oddly resistant to previously effective drugs, have you noticed?"
"Must be a new bacterial strain."
"Where do you suppose it came from?"
"A superior intelligence created it."
"Oh. Ok. Wanna' play some golf?"