Science is the Devil!

[WayAbvPar]

Southern cities refuse to show IMAX film that mentions evolution.

CHARLESTON, South Carolina (AP) -- IMAX theaters in several Southern cities have decided not to show a film on volcanoes out of concern that its references to evolution might offend those with fundamental religious beliefs.

"We've got to pick a film that's going to sell in our area. If it's not going to sell, we're not going to take it," said Lisa Buzzelli, director of an IMAX theater in Charleston that is not showing the movie. "Many people here believe in creationism, not evolution."

The film, "Volcanoes of the Deep Sea," makes a connection between human DNA and microbes inside undersea volcanoes.

Buzzelli doesn't rule out showing the movie in the future.

IMAX theaters in Texas, Georgia and the Carolinas have declined to show the film, said Pietro Serapiglia, who handles distribution for Stephen Low, the film's Montreal-based director and producer.

"I find it's only in the South," Serapiglia said.

Critics worry screening out films that mention evolution will discourage the production of others in the future.

"It's going to restrain the creative approach by directors who refer to evolution," said Joe DeAmicis, vice president for marketing at the California Science Center in Los Angeles and a former director of an IMAX theater. "References to evolution will be dropped."

Sigh. This just makes me sad. 

[Riggswolfe]

The thing that fascinates me about this is that the more we push religion out of public life (IE prayer in schools etc) the more it seems to gain a stranglehold on private life.

[Paelos]

It's capitalism at work.

[HaemishM]

What a bunch of fucking tools.

[MaceVanHoffen]

See, the problem I have with this attitude is not so much the creationism vs. evolutionism debate itself; rather, it's people who are closeminded and have no interest in hearing another point of view.  Even further, they seem interested in stopping the other point of view from having a voice, though that's really a larger issue.  People on both sides of the creationism/evolutionism debate have the problem.  In fact, it's really a general problem with almost any polarizing debate humans ever take part in.

Why only read/watch things that agree with one's own point of view all the time?  Does one need to be constantly re-re-re-re-convinced of what you think?  Can't a person's own mental viewpoint withstand another's?  What I call broadening horizons is what other people call cavorting with TEH ENEMY.  Wars and much human misery come from that crap.

Trends like this aren't just "capitalism at work," they're the tips of cultural icebergs.

[Sky]

Really gunning for the good old days, those christian fundamentalists or whatever you want to call them as to not upset the delicate sensibilities of other believers in that particular strain of invisible superbeings.

By good old days, I mean the good old days of christianity, aka the Dark Ages.

[stray]

or whatever you want to call them as to not upset the delicate sensibilities of other believers in that particular strain of invisible superbeings.

Bah! Be nice  I hate them too. I'm just a guitar player when it comes down to it  :mrgreen:

I'm just not going to take any shit when some people equate the whole thing with those other assholes. That's all. That's not having "delicate sensibilities" imo. That's telling people to be a little more openminded and to get their head out of their asses.

[jpark]

I have this nagging feeling our society is getting dumbed down and this while anecdotal is an example.

TIME magazine articles 30 years ago assumed much more knowledge of politics than the same articles from the same magazine today.  This is what I have been told - I have no corroborating evidence.

The South screens out evolution - and then people with aspirations in science have a wee problem understanding immune regulation, embryological development and neural networks theory because they have never really been exposed to the tenents of Darwinism.

Darwinism, while it discusses a historical event - invokes processes that are active parts of our current understanding of basic physiology today.  In other words, arguments about Darwin is not just about the history of life, but also about the essential processes that shape and maintain our bodies (in this case the differential selection of certain cell lines within the "environment"of our bodies).

bah.

[Strazos]

By good old days, I mean the good old days of christianity, aka the Dark Ages.

The "good ole days" would more-properly be either the Medieval or late-Roman periods. Christianty certainly existed after the dissolution of the western Empire, but with that dissolution came an almost complete end to church power.

But anywa, to get this train back on the rails....

It's really sad that people would stoop to these measures to protect their fragile psyches. Isn't the best way to uphold your beliefs the ability to successfully defend them, at least in your mind, from competing systems? Competition is your friend.

[voodoolily]

If their god is so omnipotent, why do they think he needs their help? I mean, is god really threatened by any of this? Why are they? If your entire belief system gets rattled so easily, shouldn't you question its foundation?

[stray]

If your entire belief system gets rattled so easily, shouldn't you question its foundation?

No, they should just question their "faith".

edit: Or maybe I should rephrase that -- They should question their ability to have faith. I think many of them will find that they don't believe so much in God as they do in power and control.

They have no faith at all if they feel the need to silence opposing views.

[Murgos]

They believe because most of them are afraid that if they don't the big inviso-daddy will spank.

You get told something often enough and forcefully enough as a child with huge absolutely horrible threats hanging over it (You will burn in a lake of fire anyone?) by people everyone you know treats with respect and it tends to be hard to to reestablish critical thought.

[SirBruce]

See, the problem I have with this attitude is not so much the creationism vs. evolutionism debate itself; rather, it's people who are closeminded and have no interest in hearing another point of view.

So when are you going to be watching the "left behind" movies?

Bruce

[MaceVanHoffen]

So when are you going to be watching the "left behind" movies?

I've never heard of those movies, but I read stuff on both sides of the fence.  Intelligent Design, Fractal Evolution ... I've got fringe books from both extremes.  Probably for the same reason that, despite not having any desire to seek a life of heavy drug use, I read HST and Phillip K. Dick.  I like knowing what makes people tick, I guess.

[SirBruce]

Well, it doesn't directly relate to creationism, but "Left Behind" is a series of popular Christian novels about the apocolyptic end times and the people who get "left behind" on Earth after The Rapture.  It's also being made into a series of movies.

I believe you're trying to analogize that, since these creationists don't want to see a movie that includes evolution in it, that they are shutting themselve out of being exposed to evolution entirely.  You counter that you, on the other hand, have read books about creationism.

However, I would argue that's not analogous, as I'm sure many creationists have read books that include evolution in them.  The issue is whether or not they will go see a movie with such themes in it, and what is financially a smart move for theatre owners and the like.  Thus, I would say for your position to truly be reciprocal, you must be willing to go see movies with creationism in them.  I was being a bit comical about the "Left Behind" series, but there aren't a lot of biblical epics produced in mainstream Hollywood today.  I suppose you've seen The Passion of the Christ, as well as classics such as The Ten Commandments and The Greatest Story Ever Told.

Bruce

[AOFanboi]

Here's what you say when an apparent religious "salesman" want to tell you about creationism:

"Oh, I know all about that. Eru Illuvatar created the Ainur from his thoughts. They are the powerful Valar and the less powerful Maiar, who were sheperds for the Children of Illuvatar. The Ainur then sang the world into existence."

Remember to stare fixedly at a point above their left shoulder as you speak.

If this causes them to yell something about Satan to you, that is a cue for you to lecture them about Melkor/Morgoth and his lieutenant Sauron. If they don't flee then, start talking about the roles and powers belonging to each of the Ainur. In detail.

[Tebonas]

The seventeenth century called. Giving clergy the power to decide over science doesn't work. I heard Galileo Galilei is spinning in his grave right now.

[Paelos]

The seventeenth century called. Giving clergy the power to decide over science doesn't work. I heard Galileo Galilei is spinning in his grave right now.

Present day called, the clergy ain't deciding diddly-shit. This is the people collective and their weird viewpoints about science in general.

[Sky]

You will burn in a lake of fire anyone?

I knew a lady who came from Duluth
She got bit by a dog with a rabid tooth
She went to her grave just a little too soon
And she flew away howling on the yellow moon

[voodoolily]

However, I would argue that's not analogous, as I'm sure many creationists have read books that include evolution in them.  The issue is whether or not they will go see a movie with such themes in it, and what is financially a smart move for theatre owners and the like. 

Whether or not creationists would see a movie that includes evolutionary biology is moot. The point is that because of the power that religion has in the south, now NO ONE can see the movie.

[Paelos]

Try and remember that these people are on the fringe and they are just loud. The rest of us don't care enough about an IMAX movie to stop them.

[Strazos]

But how about a regular feature film?

[Paelos]

But how about a regular feature film?

AFAIK it's never come up. But I wouldn't imagine they could stop it because the demand would beat out any boycott.

[Strazos]

I was referring to...

The rest of us don't care enough about an IMAX movie to stop them.

[Paelos]

I was referring to...

The rest of us don't care enough about an IMAX movie to stop them.

I'm confused, did I not answer that? IMAX really isn't that huge in Atlanta, so I don't think people even know about this. I've only heard it mentioned here. I think trying to remove a feature film would make more waves, and you'd get the regular people to come and say, "WTF are you doing?"

[voodoolily]

Yeah, they only show them in science museums that are pretty kiddie-oriented. Although films like Baraka and that 'birds flying around' (whatevs) movie, however corny, are breath-taking on IMAX film. Too bad they don't shoot more films on it.

[Strazos]

I was referring to...

The rest of us don't care enough about an IMAX movie to stop them.

I'm confused, did I not answer that? IMAX really isn't that huge in Atlanta, so I don't think people even know about this. I've only heard it mentioned here. I think trying to remove a feature film would make more waves, and you'd get the regular people to come and say, "WTF are you doing?"

I was asking for your personal opinion...

I think.

[Paelos]

I don't go to the theatres much, but if they tried to ban something like Harry Potter because HE'S TEACHING OUR KIDS TO WORSHIP THE DEVIL, I'd see it 10 times.

[SirBruce]

However, I would argue that's not analogous, as I'm sure many creationists have read books that include evolution in them.  The issue is whether or not they will go see a movie with such themes in it, and what is financially a smart move for theatre owners and the like. 

Whether or not creationists would see a movie that includes evolutionary biology is moot. The point is that because of the power that religion has in the south, now NO ONE can see the movie.

Yes, and the power of taste is so strong where I live, I can't see Bob's Student Film in my local theatre, either.  What's your point?  The religious types didn't protest and get this movie "removed" that people wanted to see.  This movie isn't being shown because not enough people will want to see it to make it worth the theatre owner's time.  It's called Capitalism.

Bruce

[voodoolily]

However, I would argue that's not analogous, as I'm sure many creationists have read books that include evolution in them.  The issue is whether or not they will go see a movie with such themes in it, and what is financially a smart move for theatre owners and the like. 

Whether or not creationists would see a movie that includes evolutionary biology is moot. The point is that because of the power that religion has in the south, now NO ONE can see the movie.

Yes, and the power of taste is so strong where I live, I can't see Bob's Student Film in my local theatre, either.  What's your point?  The religious types didn't protest and get this movie "removed" that people wanted to see.  This movie isn't being shown because not enough people will want to see it to make it worth the theatre owner's time.  It's called Capitalism.

Bruce

My point is that enterprises can and do fail on their own all the time without the help of fanatics getting a wild hair up their ass to put a stop to something with which they don't agree. In this case, the theaters just saved them the time. If it were not for the tendency for fundies to have a fucking seizure anytime some non-Christian idea is presented, the theaters (or thinking people) wouldn't have this quandary to begin with.

[Furiously]

See, the problem I have with this attitude is not so much the creationism vs. evolutionism debate itself; rather, it's people who are closeminded and have no interest in hearing another point of view.

So when are you going to be watching the "left behind" movies?

Bruce

I plan on living them!

[Fargull]

Hmm.. I was living in the 'South' when Jurassic Park was released, and wouldn't you know that has Dinosaurs and actually dialogue revolving around evolution.  Course, this was before the fundimental movement in the current positions of power.

[Mesozoic]

Christians who fixate on evolution are like kids who play with the box their Christmas gift came in.  Earth is  - more or less  - simply the setting for the gift of salvation.  How we got here is trivial compared to what we do with our time. 

[voodoolily]

Earth is  - more or less  - simply the setting for the gift of salvation. 

Whaaaa.....?

Yeah, hopefully salvation from god's followers.

[Sky]

I plan on living them!

Although I don't pray...I do make an exception and pray to the jewish/christian god for one thing, and that's the friggin' rapture.

I'll be dancing in the streets thinking about stem cell research, open minded national discussions, peace in the middle east, buying beer on sunday morning, and more things than I can possibly think of and list.

Please, hurry that shit along. Sorry we'll miss some of you more normal folks. You can always give up your silly ways and stay behind with us, we won't cast you out because of your beliefs ;)

Hmm.. I was living in the 'South' when Jurassic Park was released, and wouldn't you know that has Dinosaurs and actually dialogue revolving around evolution.  Course, this was before the fundimental movement in the current positions of power.

Didn't I hear once that some fundy wackos claim dinosaur bones are a hoax perpetrated by scientists?

They should have more vision and claim it's the bones of gay reptiles or something.