Review of "Cosmic Origins" DVD
(Ignatius Press)
(Ignatius Press)
Got atheists? Atheist friends or family, that is? The
“stellar” new DVD “Cosmic Origins” might help! Today’s top scientists (many
award-winning) weigh in on the mysterious origins of our universe (and a
possible beyond). Old and new cosmological theories are presented, leading up to
the possibility of an “intelligent Designer.” But the film—being mostly a
scientific exploration/explanation--doesn’t harp on “intelligent design,”
which, as Cardinal George tells us, belongs more to the realm of philosophy rather
than either science or religion. Physics is juxtaposed with a brief
consideration of metaphysics. One does not feel bamboozled or railroaded by a
sudden “attack” of “religious thought” at the end, where Jesuit priest Robert
Spitzer (Magis Institute for Faith & Reason) introduces the concept of a harmonious
relationship between science and belief.
The tone is one of informative scientific updating (for the
layperson, but without talking down to us). Definitely not an “apologetics”
tone. I try to keep up with the latest scientific findings (especially
regarding cosmology), but I learned a lot from this film.
The format is diverse: footage of the universe, graphics,
interviews, more than one live host, “man-in-the-street” opinions, etc. “Cosmic
Origins” never lags. There is a conspicuous presence of young adults
(especially the “man-in-the-street” insets, but although it personalizes all
the information, I will eat my veil if these AREN’T scripted actors which
smacks of inauthenticity. Too bad the filmmakers couldn’t have gotten REAL
reactions). Atheism is the fastest growing “religion” among young adults and
the “New Atheism” movement is eagerly proselytizing these young minds and
hearts. “Unaffiliated” is becoming the preferred category for young adults
under “Religion” when filling out forms.
Carl Sagan wanted the average person to be informed about
science and was frustrated by what he deemed Americans’ “celebration of
ignorance!” Famous “new atheist,” Richard Dawkins, held the position of
Oxford’s “Professor of Public Understanding of Science” from 1995 to 2008,
which is a lovely-sounding title that I’m all for. However, scientists also need to
understand that not everyone is interested in understanding how things work or
even the scientific explanation of the origins of the universe. And it can be
argued that the average person does not even NEED to know these things to
flourish. It could be argued that the average person WOULD benefit much more
from knowing what, say, another type of scientist, that is, a medical doctor,
knows! Also, we all have our own specialties. Does Dawkins know what a mechanic
knows? Can he fix his own car? Sometimes, scientists have a kind of hubris,
demanding that everyone bow down to their discipline/field as THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING ON EARTH.
The universal longing for love, meaning, fulfillment,
self-understanding, connection with others, etc., trumps the desire for and
acquisition of practical/functional knowledge every time. But this is still not
an excuse to be a willful ignoramus. At least be curious about God’s astounding
Creation, OK, believers? This might be the first bridge towards reaching
atheistic scientists and their followers who ONLY have science (many eschew
philosophy along with theology).
One scientist in the film sums it all up by stating that
science MUST be open to ALL possibilities, so why not the possibility of a
Designer? OR , as Scott Hahn says, at a certain point, a Creator/Designer IS
the most logical answer, but because the atheistic-scientific bias and agenda
is pre-set, we get the “anything but God” answers, theories, etc.
FEATURED SCIENTISTS: Lisa Randall, Jennifer Wiseman, John
Polkinghorne, Owen Gingerich, Stephen Barr, Arno Penzias, Michael Heller
For more information and fancy screening packages: www.CosmicOriginsFilm.com (distributed by Ignatius Press).
Full disclosure: This film is a production of Barbara Nicolosi’s (my good friend) production company, “Origins Entertainment.” But do you think she even told me about this project?
Full disclosure: This film is a production of Barbara Nicolosi’s (my good friend) production company, “Origins Entertainment.” But do you think she even told me about this project?
MORE RESOURCES:
FILMS:
Two other (flawed) films that I highly recommend for those
interested in the atheism/evolutionism/
creationism debates:
--“Expelled” documentary (Ben Stein’s sheer propaganda for the “creationist” position) My review: http://hellburns.blogspot.com/2008/04/movies-expelled-no-intelligence-allowed_07.html#.UD6OvsFlQWM
--“Religulous” documentary (Bill Maher’s sheer propaganda to support his position which is that he really, really, really hopes there’s no God) My review: http://hellburns.blogspot.com/2008/10/movies-religulous.html#.UD6QYsFlQWM
creationism debates:
--“Expelled” documentary (Ben Stein’s sheer propaganda for the “creationist” position) My review: http://hellburns.blogspot.com/2008/04/movies-expelled-no-intelligence-allowed_07.html#.UD6OvsFlQWM
--“Religulous” documentary (Bill Maher’s sheer propaganda to support his position which is that he really, really, really hopes there’s no God) My review: http://hellburns.blogspot.com/2008/10/movies-religulous.html#.UD6QYsFlQWM
And here are two very UNflawed DVDs:
--“Creation or Evolution?” VISION VIDEO Explains general theory of evolution, various particular theories of evolution, macro/micro- evolution. Protestant but consonant with Catholic understandings.
--“Theology of the Body and Evolution” Dr. Richard Sternberg www.theologyofthebody.net
--“Creation or Evolution?” VISION VIDEO Explains general theory of evolution, various particular theories of evolution, macro/micro- evolution. Protestant but consonant with Catholic understandings.
--“Theology of the Body and Evolution” Dr. Richard Sternberg www.theologyofthebody.net
BOOKS:
--“There Is a God: How the World’s Most Notorious Atheist
Changed His Mind” Anthony Flew
--“The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief” Francis S. Collins
--“Atheist to Catholic: How Scientists and Philosophers Led Me to the Catholic Church” by Kevin Vost
--“Answering the New Atheism” by Scott Hahn and Benjamin Wiker (written by Hahn and Wiker for 4 Franciscan Univ. Steubenville students led astray by Dawkins’ “The God Delusion.” It brought ‘em back.)
--“Mere Christianity” by C.S. Lewis (a very small book that has been giving atheists pause for decades!)
--“Atheist Delusions” by David Hart (Orthodox) goes deeply into the atheist mindset and assumptions
--“Can a Smart Person Believe in God?” by Michael Guillen, award-winning Harvard physics prof
--“Faith of the Fatherless—the Psychology of Atheism” by Dr. Paul Vitz
--“The Drama of Atheist Humanism” by Henri de Lubac. What has been atheism’s historical track record? (atheist regimes)
--“Philosophers Who Believe—the Spiritual Journeys of 11 Leading Thinkers”
--"God and Evolution--Science Meets Faith" by Dr. Gerard Verschuuren
--“The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief” Francis S. Collins
--“Atheist to Catholic: How Scientists and Philosophers Led Me to the Catholic Church” by Kevin Vost
--“Answering the New Atheism” by Scott Hahn and Benjamin Wiker (written by Hahn and Wiker for 4 Franciscan Univ. Steubenville students led astray by Dawkins’ “The God Delusion.” It brought ‘em back.)
--“Mere Christianity” by C.S. Lewis (a very small book that has been giving atheists pause for decades!)
--“Atheist Delusions” by David Hart (Orthodox) goes deeply into the atheist mindset and assumptions
--“Can a Smart Person Believe in God?” by Michael Guillen, award-winning Harvard physics prof
--“Faith of the Fatherless—the Psychology of Atheism” by Dr. Paul Vitz
--“The Drama of Atheist Humanism” by Henri de Lubac. What has been atheism’s historical track record? (atheist regimes)
--“Philosophers Who Believe—the Spiritual Journeys of 11 Leading Thinkers”
--"God and Evolution--Science Meets Faith" by Dr. Gerard Verschuuren
SCIENCE AND FAITH AUTHORS:
Nancy Pearcey, John Polkinghorne, Stanley Jaki, Eric Cornell, Robert Augros, Lorenzo Albacete, Francis Collins
Nancy Pearcey, John Polkinghorne, Stanley Jaki, Eric Cornell, Robert Augros, Lorenzo Albacete, Francis Collins
YOUTUBES:
--“God Is Dead” Fr. Pontifex debunks certain atheism claims (with stats of millions killed by atheistic governments) http://hellburns.blogspot.com/2012/06/god-is-dead.html#.UD7PoMFlQWM
--Fr. Barron on the New Atheism: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe5kVw9JsYI
--“God Is Dead” Fr. Pontifex debunks certain atheism claims (with stats of millions killed by atheistic governments) http://hellburns.blogspot.com/2012/06/god-is-dead.html#.UD7PoMFlQWM
--Fr. Barron on the New Atheism: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe5kVw9JsYI
NOTABLE ATHEISTS WHO BECAME CHRISTIANS:
--C.S. Lewis--British author, Oxford English professor
--Jacques & Raissa Maritain--French philosophers
--Alisdair MacIntyre—Scottish philosopher
--Anthony Flew—British philosopher (edits philosophical encyclopediae)
--Francis S. Collins—American physician-geneticist, head of the Human Genome Project, present head of National Institutes of Health (NIH)
--Sally Read—famous young British poet
--Leah Libresco--famous young American atheist blogger
--C.S. Lewis--British author, Oxford English professor
--Jacques & Raissa Maritain--French philosophers
--Alisdair MacIntyre—Scottish philosopher
--Anthony Flew—British philosopher (edits philosophical encyclopediae)
--Francis S. Collins—American physician-geneticist, head of the Human Genome Project, present head of National Institutes of Health (NIH)
--Sally Read—famous young British poet
--Leah Libresco--famous young American atheist blogger
OTHER STUFF:
--www.STOQinternational.org
=Vatican’s dialogue among science/faith/philosophy (The Pontifical Academy of
Sciences, to which Galileo belonged, also has atheists in its ranks like
Stephen Hawking.)
--“Light becomes matter”? Whaaa--? If I heard correctly, the
Big Bang was, like, this, like, explosion of light photons which, like, BECAME
matter? Whaaaa---? I need professional scientific help. My brain is melting.
--Noted Atheist Philosopher Thomas Nagel: "Defenders of Intelligent Design Deserve Our Gratitude"
In September, Oxford University Press officially releases the hardcover version of a new book by renowned philosopher Thomas Nagel at New York University. It's a bombshell.
Already available on Kindle, Nagel's book carries the provocative title Mind and Cosmos: Why the Materialist Neo-Darwinian Conception of Nature Is Almost Certainly False. You read that right: The book's subtitle declares that "the Materialist Neo-Darwinian Conception of Nature Is Almost Certainly False." Nagel is an atheist who is not convinced by the positive case for intelligent design. But he clearly finds the evidence for modern Darwinian theory wanting. Moreover, he is keenly appreciative of the "iconoclasts" of the intelligent design movement for raising a significant challenge to the current scientific orthodoxy. http://www.evolutionnews.org/2012/08/noted_atheist_p063451.html