Ben Stein Expelled Movie Upset Me
Ben Stein's documentary hit theaters this weekend - showing on more than 1000 screens nationwide - a rare wide release for a non-entertainment motion picture.
The film does a compelling job of raising important questions about intellectual freedom in the United States, and how the entrenched scientific community actually stifles, no, rather, smothers in the crib, any opportunities for logical pursuit of research that doesn't fit pre-conceived positions.
This is, of course, totally the opposite of the "scientific method" which rightly requires open investigation of the evidence to bear out facts.
Stein also does a terrific job of exploring the logical consequences of a society convinced of a religionless natural selection perspective - in the Master Race Eugenics pursued by Nazi Germany.
What upset me was that the whole time I sat there considering what a personal risk Stein was taking by going up against the societal current and bringing up such a controversial topic - was that my life is fundamentally helping people trying to make money on the Internet.
I had this flash of my life being summed up as "He helped people make money" or "he motivated people in a speech" and what I could possibly do with the time I have left on this planet.
Obviously I'm too altruistic for my own good. I mean, who do I think I am to believe I might make a bigger difference in the world?
Please don't get from this Big Life Question that I'm asking myself, any insinuation on you or what you are pursuing in your life or work.
Perhaps, I have rested long enough in my big soft chair in front of the "anytime you want it" Internet - all worried about clicks, conversions, and what is Page Rank…?
Perhaps, instead of pursing that fantasy about working a season on that extremely dangerous crab fisherman boat I have seen on The Discovery Channel - maybe I ought to devote this blog, and my life, to something very important to me - something that has been demanding my attention, and fueling my passion for years.
As Spencer S. Johnson said in Yes or No The Guide to Better Decisions - "What would you do if you were not afriad?"
To see the trailer and info on Ben Stein Movie Expelled Click Here
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Expelled: A Review - I posted here a bit ago that I had heard good things about Ben Stein's new movie, Expelled. I was not disappointed. For anyone who does not know who Ben Stein is, he is best known for his role as the boring teacher in the 80s flick …
Expelled exposed needs more promotion - First of all, if you haven’t heard about Ben Stein’s movie Expelled, go watch the trailer and read a previous post I wrote about losing respect for Ben Stein. ‘Expelled: no intelligence allowed’ is a pro-creationist movie that is …
Reactions to Ben Stein’s “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed” - Though Stein's "Expelled" ranks 12th among documentary films, the anti-Darwinian nature of this film has brought on the wrath of the scientific community.
Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed - Last week I went to see Ben Stein's documentary, "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed" http://www.expelledthemovie.com/ , which was playing in movie theaters. I do not know how well the movie is doing at the box office, but if you have a …
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Comments on Ben Stein Expelled Movie Upset Me »
Hi Rick,
It is GREAT that Ben Stein inspired you(and me)!
I am also asking myself "Why am I so focused on making money?" Yes I want to help people make money, but there are also OTHER things-like helping people Spiritually!
I encourage YOU to go for it! I, too, am going to further pursue something that I feel the Lord has put on my heart, that has nothing to do with money, but everything to do with helping people!
Rick,
There is no such thing as 'only sitting here…'. We all contribute in our own way so no-one should be concerned whether what they are doing is 'enough' - just as long as it is something.
The issue you are raising seems to be more about whether what you are doing is meaningful to you - and we all have to make that decision.
The crux of the issue is that having money, or the ability to make money, very often makes it possible for you to do the more meaningful things.
No charity on the ground can have any effect without benefactors who gave them the money to make their work possible.
Bruce Bird's last blog post..The Day After the Day Before..
Thanks Bruce
Your comment is well received. I didn't mean to imply that any one person's work is irrelevant - only, as you say, what it means to me.
Thanks!
Rick
Great question to raise, Rick.
I think anybody involved in making money, whether it's on the Internet or not, at some point wonders if they should be doing something different.
The question is easy to ask, hard to answer. Even harder to act on the answer.
Ryan Healys last blog post..The FeedBurner Deception
Hi Rick,
I think its great that the movie inspired you, I didn't see it but I watched the trailer it sounds very interesting.
I'm also always thinking how to make money, but with money comes the responsiblity and a lot of people do not have that. Some people can't handle a lot of money, others do, they spend it wiseley and make more out of it, that's a rich guy's tought, how to make 1000$ out of 100$ not how to spend 1000$ fast!
Best regards,
Matt
Matts last blog post..Election update North Carolina & Indiana
Hi Rick.
You think "Helping people make money" is a bad thing? Or … not meaningful enough?
FEH!
What you're doing is help a mom stay home with her kids.
You're helping grandpa afford his prescription medicine.
Or play a round of golf with his old friends.
You're helping a kid earn his own way through college.
Or maybe you're just showing someone how they can talk about what they are most passionate about — knitting, travel, politics, global warming (or cooling), baseball or butterflies — and get some recognition in the form of a check from Google.
Or a comment from strangers around the world.
No Rick. You're not teaching useless or meaningless stuff.
You're teaching life.
Keep it up!
-Mark
Mark Widawers last blog post..Blog pre-announcement (please read)
Hey Mark Widawer -
I can't tell you how much your comments mean to me. I have been through a real strange time in my life - like a postponed midlife meaning qwest.
Funny you should say what you have here - because I've been moving toward being happy about these very things. I just get so frustrated with the hype and B.S. of the Gold-digger Internet marketing slime product launch stuff.
Every time I do a 1 on 1 consulting session with a client I get so excited because I know that I am helping a real person toward a real goal - and yes, the single mom's and folks who want to get free are my passion…
Thanks for the encouragement friend…
Rick
It's been amazing to watch the reaction to this film. Without realizing it, the "scientific" community has confirmed the basis of Stein's point. If you aren't aligned with the current world view of evolution then you are going to be maligned and made to look like an idiot.
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