Updated 11:59 pm.EST, Fri November 20, 2009

Entertainment > Movie|Sun, Sep. 20 2009 11:29 PM EDT

'Creation' Producer Called Out for 'Too Controversial for Religious America' Claim

By Josh Kimball|Christian Post Reporter

A prominent young earth creationist said recent claims by the producer of the movie ”Creation” are “nonsense” and simply part of an effort to create controversy and garner publicity.

In an interview with the London-based Telegraph ahead of last week’s European premiere of “Creation,” producer Jeremy Thomas had suggested that the debate over creation and evolution in America was what kept potential U.S. distributors of the Charles Darwin movie at bay.

“It has got a deal everywhere else in the world but in the U.S., and it's because of what the film is about,” Thomas had said.

“People have been saying this is the best film they've seen all year, yet nobody in the U.S. has picked it up,” he added. "It is unbelievable to us that this is still a really hot potato in America.”

“Creation,” which opened the Toronto Film Festival earlier this month and made its European premiere last Sunday, tells the story of Darwin and how the 19th-century naturalist’s landmark work, “The Origin of Species,” came to light.

It also reveals the world-renowned scientist as a dedicated family man struggling to accept his daughter’s death and torn between his love for his deeply religious wife and his own “growing belief in a world where God has no place,” according to the film’s synopsis.

“You’ve got a film that is a very intimate biographical portrait of a man and that’s a rich and beautiful and informing celebration of his life,” said actor Benedict Cumberbatch, who stars in the movie as Joseph Dalton Hooker, one of the founders of geographical botany and Darwin's closest friend.

Despite the “very universal” storyline, the film’s producer said “Creation” is apparently “too controversial for religious America.”

“There's still a great belief that He (God) made the world in six days,” Thomas told the Telegraph. “It's quite difficult for we (sic) in the U.K. to imagine religion in America. We live in a country which is no longer so religious. But in the U.S., outside of New York and LA, religion rules.”

Ken Ham, founder of Answers in Genesis and the Creation museum, however, believes Thomas’ claim is “nonsense.”

“If a movie is controversial, I’m sure it would be shown - as it would probably get good attendance and make money,” he commented Sunday. “And if the movie was anti-creation/anti-Christian, would that stop the movie industry taking it up? Not at all-to the contrary.”

To make his point, Ham noted anti-Christian and anti-creationism movies such as Bill Maher’s “Religulous” and “Inherit the Wind,” which were shown in theaters nationwide.

“In fact, it seems to me that if a film attacks Christianity and is well produced, the movie industry in America would jump at the opportunity to show it to the public,” he stated.

But that is if it would make money.

Ham suggested the reason why “Creation” has not picked up a U.S. distributor is because a film about the life of Charles Darwin may not do well in American theaters, though it might do well as a “docu-drama” on a television station such as the History Channel. Continue »

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  • Thu Oct 29, 2009 6:59 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    gem_of_tki »Mon Sep 21, 2009 7:52 am Agree: 2 Disagree: 10 Flag

    "Ken might have a point maybe the movie is to intellectual compared to Expelled for American audiences"

    What do you expect from someone whose museum is a joke and a bad one at that? Hydroplate theory? LOL.

  • MGT2 »
    Mon Sep 28, 2009 6:59 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 0

    Criterion, you posted:

    'Scientist: "Comparative molecular genetics. It is a remarkable fact that all living creatures that have ever been looked at have the same genetic code. The machine code of life is the same, wherever we look. And when we look at particular genes in any one animal, we can find the same genes in other animals—almost the same, but with a few differences, which we can actually count."'

    I do not know what the point is. The Bible tells us that all living things, including man, come from the same source - the earth. So it is of no surprise, and in fact very much expected, that on a molecular level we are quite similar. So your quote actually strengthens the Creationists point.

    Additionally, that very quote conflicts with your popular evolutionist's panspermia view, "the theory that life exists and is distributed throughout the universe in the form of germs or spores that develop in the right environment." - Dictionary.com

    But I guess your bible, "Why Evolution is True" and your god, Jerry Coyne, did not 'educate' you on that.

  • Sun Sep 27, 2009 8:14 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 0

    "Here's about 500 reasons to disdain the museum"

    For quite some time people believed the earth was flat...even religion. That didn't make it so. My guess is there are going to be quite a few shocked and amazed people (on all sides) when we all stand before God and understand how He created the earth.

  • Sun Sep 27, 2009 7:20 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    "Notice gem never gives a single reason for his disdain for the museum. He doesn't give an example of why the museum is a "joke". He never gives one scientific rebuttal to the museum's exhibitions."

    Here's about 500 reasons to disdain the museum, for your edification and enjoyment and for the amusement of others. Scientific rebuttals are provided for most, if not all, creationist claims. This "Index to Creationist Claims" list includes hydroplate theory. LOL.

    http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/list.html

  • Sun Sep 27, 2009 6:48 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 0

    "The holy fear of reverence and respect is our calling as believers."

    You can have fear of the Lord in reverence and respect now or you will have it later. So many in our society do not understand the results of their actions until it's just too late....

  • Sun Sep 27, 2009 6:46 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    Yep...someone didn't take their meds again!!!

    Still, I click show because I want to know what people posted. It's a bit more work but...how can we address your statements if we don't....

  • Sun Sep 27, 2009 5:42 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    Every single comment I have ever made just got flagged.

  • Sun Sep 27, 2009 2:22 am Agree: 3   Disagree: 0

    Is America truly afraid of controversy? Perhaps we fear God and that is as it should be. The holy fear of reverence and respect is our calling as believers.

    Isaiah 66:1 "Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me?
    And where is the place of My rest? 2For all those things My hand has made, And all those things exist," Says the LORD.

    "But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word.

  • Sat Sep 26, 2009 10:35 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    "Bedknobs and Broomsticks"....

  • Sat Sep 26, 2009 3:24 am Agree: 0   Disagree: 1

    Its that horses head at the end of the bed...

  • Sat Sep 26, 2009 1:19 am Agree: 1   Disagree: 0

    "Darwin will have to wait till another day, I've been made an offer I can't refuse... "

    You keep trying to get out and they keep dragging you back in....

  • Fri Sep 25, 2009 4:46 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 1

    Dp et al...

    Sorry, but my local multiplex this weekend is showing Creation "and" a digital showing of the Godfather (one of the greatest movies made, apart from Godfather 2), its a no brainer, Darwin will have to wait till another day, I've been made an offer I can't refuse...

  • Fri Sep 25, 2009 1:35 pm Agree: 3   Disagree: 1

    "Seriously, who do you think had the better time and enjoyed themselves more?"

    Everyone I spoke with who went on the bus tour (all believers, along with one non-Christian who went along because he said he was curious) had a very enjoyable time of worship as they viewed exhibits that celebrated the Creation story -- and then "worshipped at full volume" as they sang a hymn afterward.

    The neat thing was, the non-Christian who went along on the bus tour this past summer was at the Bible study the other night!

  • Fri Sep 25, 2009 11:13 am Agree: 3   Disagree: 2

    My experience of life slacks is that a great many people of, faith or none, care for those around them, maybe you hang out with the wrong crowd?

  • Fri Sep 25, 2009 11:06 am Agree: 1   Disagree: 2

    It appears that the film is not controversial enough as it now seems that the rights have been bought for release in December...

    http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118009136.html?categoryId=13&cs=1

    If the article is correct Newmarket Films released(that torture porn movie) The Passion Of The Christ, quite ironic really.

  • Fri Sep 25, 2009 10:14 am Agree: 4   Disagree: 1

    Flagged as inappropriate. show "Seriously, who do you think had the better time and enjoyed themselves more?" It sounds as tho the close minded athesist did because they went thru the entire museum belittling those they didn't agree with. I would suggest that people be abit more caring and understanding of those around them, oh wait they were atheist, they don't care about anyone but themselves... hide

  • Thu Sep 24, 2009 9:43 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 3

    weekenderman: "They said a large group of atheists went through the museum that same day, belittling and mocking Christians the entire time..."

    You make it sound as if the atheists were belittling and mocking other patrons at the museum. I doubt this was the case. Belittling and mocking young earth creationism isn't the same as belittling and mocking Christians or Christianity.

    An additional complication to your story is that you didn't mention how many atheists were forced to leave because of "belittling and mocking Christians the entire time". This makes your story seem a reality bending fabrication.

    weekenderman: "... and then holding a blasphemous "mock communion service" outside in the parking lot when it was over."

    Was the communion service blasphemous because wafer transubstantiation was involved? Or did the wafer transubstantiation not work because blasphemy was involved? What made the communion service blasphemous?

    weekenderman: "The group from my church gathered around them and sang four verses of "How Great Thou Art" when the blasphemers did that, and many other people joined in with them."

    Seriously, who do you think had the better time and enjoyed themselves more?

  • Thu Sep 24, 2009 7:21 pm Agree: 5   Disagree: 2

    "Creationist: "You're going to hell." Creationists are pathetic and dumber than dogs."

    Actually, a dog has no concern about eternal things. It's only interested in the here and now. Since man is more than to not care about eternity is being dumber than a dog....

  • Thu Sep 24, 2009 7:18 pm Agree: 2   Disagree: 1

    "The movie is released over here on Friday, when I see it I'll let you know what I think"

    Good deal.

    I had the real deal fish and chips in Richmond, VA. It's a nice trip but a bit far to drive for good food....

  • Thu Sep 24, 2009 6:08 pm Agree: 3   Disagree: 0

    How about this? Maybe, just maybe, the movie stinks out loud. No one wants to take a chance on a "marginal" movie in this economy. Hollywood is totally about the money. If it would make some, they would show it.

  • Thu Sep 24, 2009 5:37 pm Agree: 2   Disagree: 2

    Last night I attended a home Bible study, and a number of the members of this group traveled to the Creation Museum on a bus tour last summer. They said a large group of atheists went through the museum that same day, belittling and mocking Christians the entire time, and then holding a blasphemous "mock communion service" outside in the parking lot when it was over.

    The group from my church gathered around them and sang four verses of "How Great Thou Art" when the blasphemers did that, and many other people joined in with them.

  • Wed Sep 23, 2009 10:44 am Agree: 8   Disagree: 0

    Flagged as inappropriate. show I would be ashamed to side with someone like criterion, all of his posts show his anger, hatred and discust for his fellow man. I he is trying to further evolution, I will rather serve the lord then deal with the hopeless anger that comes with evolution "theory". hide

  • Wed Sep 23, 2009 10:05 am Agree: 7   Disagree: 0

    Crit
    Typical ... Name calling and demeaning remarks when you feel threatened... I have Raised 8 children and at least they grew out of that type immaturity by the time they were 8 yrs old

    I have read Coynes works ... I actually prefer the Writers of Star Trek for my mindless fantasies.

  • Tue Sep 22, 2009 3:38 pm Agree: 5   Disagree: 9

    Flagged as inappropriate. show Scientist: "Comparative molecular genetics. It is a remarkable fact that all living creatures that have ever been looked at have the same genetic code. The machine code of life is the same, wherever we look. And when we look at particular genes in any one animal, we can find the same genes in other animals—almost the same, but with a few differences, which we can actually count." Creationist: "You're going to hell." Creationists are pathetic and dumber than dogs. hide

  • Tue Sep 22, 2009 3:34 pm Agree: 3   Disagree: 9

    Flagged as inappropriate. show "I can assure you that all people in hell know that there is a God and theres not a thing that they can do about now." More threats from uneducated hicks. Your threats mean nothing when compared to scientific evidence, evidence you're too lazy to study, and too dumb to understand. Why Evolution is True, by Jerry Coyne, published in 2009. Read it or SHUT UP. hide

  • Tue Sep 22, 2009 3:31 pm Agree: 3   Disagree: 11

    Flagged as inappropriate. show "every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord." What does this threat have to do with evolutionary biology? What a bunch of uneducated hicks. hide

  • Tue Sep 22, 2009 3:29 pm Agree: 4   Disagree: 9

    Flagged as inappropriate. show "Why Evolution is True" by Jerry Coyne. Read it or SHUT UP. hide

  • Tue Sep 22, 2009 2:32 pm Agree: 2   Disagree: 0

    The movie is released over here on Friday, when I see it I'll let you know what I think.

  • Tue Sep 22, 2009 1:42 pm Agree: 4   Disagree: 0

    "We have as many religious nuts as the Middle East."

    LOLOL. So is that why they have suicide bombings in the name of their religion over in the Middle East, while the only suicide bombings in the United States (9/11) were performed by followers of the Middle Eastern religion known as Islam?

  • MGT2 »
    Tue Sep 22, 2009 1:34 pm Agree: 6   Disagree: 3

    "Only 14 percent believe man has developed over millions of years from less advanced forms of life and that God had no part in the process."

    "This is an educational disgrace. This means 86% of the American population is scientifically illiterate."

    No.
    It means that the falsehood of Darwinian evolution will never suppress the faith of the people.
    It means that the evolutionists have already lost the debate but do not know it.
    It means that the Bible is right and God is true; that knowledge of Him will increase.
    It means that the writing is on the wall and in the end, "every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord."

    That is what it means.

  • Tue Sep 22, 2009 12:02 pm Agree: 7   Disagree: 2

    Flagged as inappropriate. show "By the way, I agree that Darwin killed the god invention. Darwin's brilliant and simple Natural Selection idea, for which evidence has been growing for 150 years, has left Mr. God with nothing to do. A useless god is probably a god that doesn't exist. " No God is alive and well, Darwin hasn't done anything to God, just because you don't believe he is there doesn't make him not there. Remember to pull your head out of the sand to breathe... hide

  • Tue Sep 22, 2009 12:00 pm Agree: 6   Disagree: 1

    Flagged as inappropriate. show ""Only 14 percent believe man has developed over millions of years from less advanced forms of life and that God had no part in the process." This is an educational disgrace. This means 86% of the American population is scientifically illiterate. " No it shows that 86% don't believe what they are fed from Man. Just because they dont' believe doesn't mean they wern't educated about it. Being taught and agreeing with what is being taught are two different things... hide

  • Tue Sep 22, 2009 11:47 am Agree: 5   Disagree: 2

    God will send strong delussion to those who choose not to believe and trust in Him. I can assure you that all people in hell know that there is a God and theres not a thing that they can do about now. It takes more faith to believe that something came out of nothing than to believe that there is a creator. His name is Jesus

  • Tue Sep 22, 2009 10:58 am Agree: 3   Disagree: 2

    The Torah, God
    The Holy Bible, God
    Creation and time, Dr. Hugh Ross
    Creator and the cosmos, Dr. Hugh Ross
    Case for a creator, Lee Strobel
    Case for Christ, Lee Strobel

    Good books to read

  • Tue Sep 22, 2009 10:50 am Agree: 5   Disagree: 0

    crit
    nope it means that only 14% are stupid enough to believe in fairy tales as reality.
    I Guess thats why people from other countries still brave hardship and even possible death to come to this country for a better life and Education.

  • Tue Sep 22, 2009 10:02 am Agree: 2   Disagree: 4

    "Only 14 percent believe man has developed over millions of years from less advanced forms of life and that God had no part in the process."

    This is an educational disgrace. This means 86% of the American population is scientifically illiterate.

  • Tue Sep 22, 2009 9:57 am Agree: 1   Disagree: 4

    “People have been saying this is the best film they've seen all year, yet nobody in the U.S. has picked it up,” he added. "It is unbelievable to us that this is still a really hot potato in America.”

    In the movie somebody tells Darwin "You killed God."

    In America that would be controversial because America is the most religious country in the Western world. We have as many religious nuts as the Middle East.

    By the way, I agree that Darwin killed the god invention. Darwin's brilliant and simple Natural Selection idea, for which evidence has been growing for 150 years, has left Mr. God with nothing to do. A useless god is probably a god that doesn't exist.

  • Tue Sep 22, 2009 9:51 am Agree: 1   Disagree: 3

    From a previous comment: "Why are you so sure that the evolutionists are right since they have so little data to back them up? It's a nice fairy tale (evolution), but it seems silly when evaluated on the evidence."

    Read "Why Evolution is True" by Jerry Coyne.

    That's called "educating yourself".

    An alternative to educating yourself is you could continue disgracing yourself, your religion, and your country.

  • Tue Sep 22, 2009 9:38 am Agree: 2   Disagree: 1

    correction Broke Back mountain is about the promotion of sins of homosexuality and adultry. Choices which destroy the family and seperate us from the love of God through willfully acting in ways that God himself specificaly says the he (God) says he hates.
    Second accepting the Myth of Evolution.. which is a science that at every aspect either cannot be proven or is disproven on a constant basis.
    When you accept what the world (Satan) says over the word of the living God which never changes and has never been proven to be in error .. Well it just shows where your love is and who you really love

  • Tue Sep 22, 2009 7:08 am Agree: 2   Disagree: 4

    Two corrections : Brokeback Mountain was about the love between two people that is as genuine as any love between any people. Secondly : As has been pointed out ad nauseum ; accepting the mountains of evidence for evolution doen't mean one is an atheist.

  • Mon Sep 21, 2009 11:20 pm Agree: 3   Disagree: 1

    Thanks, Paul - we'll add that to tpique1's post:

    If opinion polls and wiki say it, it must really be true.

    B-)

  • Mon Sep 21, 2009 10:57 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 2

    Ken Ham's Creation Anti-Museum is a monument to scientific illiteracy. Yet "tpique1" criticized "gem of tki's" criticism of it as an Ad Hominum tactic.

    Here are a few examples of the many inaccuracies in Ham's anti-museum: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creation_Museum#Controversy_and_criticism

  • Mon Sep 21, 2009 4:28 pm Agree: 7   Disagree: 1

    "This is a common tactic of atheists. They often have no basis for their reasoning, so they resort to name calling and insults."

    I thought it ironic that he says the museum's a joke and I bet he's never even visited it.

  • Mon Sep 21, 2009 4:23 pm Agree: 8   Disagree: 1

    Why are you so sure that the evolutionists are right since they have so little data to back them up? It's a nice fairy tale (evolution), but it seems silly when evaluated on the evidence.

  • Mon Sep 21, 2009 12:56 pm Agree: 10   Disagree: 15

    Flagged as inappropriate. show Ham's museum is a joke because it attempts to say the modern man and dinosaurs existed at the same time. You might want to study anthropology at Disneyland if you believe the paleontology of Ham's amusement park. hide

  • Mon Sep 21, 2009 12:37 pm Agree: 12   Disagree: 5

    gem says:

    "What do you expect from someone whose museum is a joke and a bad one at that? Hydroplate theory? LOL."

    This is a typical Ad Hominum tactic used by atheists. Notice gem never gives a single reason for his disdain for the museum. He doesn't give an example of why the museum is a "joke". He never gives one scientific rebuttal to the museum's exhibitions. He only uses an ad hominim attack meant to belittle and disparage something he doesn't agree with.

    This is a common tactic of atheists. They often have no basis for their reasoning, so they resort to name calling and insults.

  • Mon Sep 21, 2009 12:31 pm Agree: 5   Disagree: 3

    "According to the Gallup organization...44 percent of Americans surveyed last year said they believe God created man pretty much in his present form at one time within the last 10,000 years."

    Welllll..if Americans believe it, it must be true! After all, opinion rules in America.

    Why in the world do we insist on using Gallop OPINION polls to test the veracity of something?

    Everything in America is determined by opinion polls.

    God is not swayed by opinion polls. In the beginning God created...whether 1% of the population believes that or 99% of the population believes that doesn't matter.

    Our "belief" or "unbelief" in a thing does NOT make it a reality. I will go a step further and say that this idea of "belief" is a heresy!

    "Belief" in the New Testament does not refer to "the existence of something" it refers to the "faith one puts in something".

    When the heathen say that they don't "believe in God" - what they are saying is that they don't believe in His EXISTENCE.

    When the Christian says they "believe in God", what they are saying is that they have put their TRUST in God".

    In John 3:16: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever BELIEVETH in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

    The word "believeth" here does NOT refer to someone who accepts God's existence; it refers to someone who "PUTS THEIR CONFIDENCE IN" Jesus Christ. IN other words, a person who puts their faith in the person of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

    This crazy idea that God only exists if I "choose" to "believe" in Him, is absurd and should never, ever be preached again.

    Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are CLEARLY SEEN, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

    Of COURSE God exists! It's CLEARLY SEEN!

  • Mon Sep 21, 2009 10:22 am Agree: 4   Disagree: 0

    I think the producer might be looking for some publicity, too. I mean, I'm sorry, but this really isn't as controversial a film as the producer would like to make it out to be. Maybe it isn't controversial enough, just a straightforward retelling of Darwin's life and the studios don't think it'll be a money maker.

    Hey, you can always make it up on DVD sales.

  • Mon Sep 21, 2009 9:17 am Agree: 7   Disagree: 3

    When Hollywood makes movies that promote and glorify the ungodliness like Broke Back mountain and with the same breath marginalize The Passion of The Christ.. I would say that it is obviously intelectually dishonest to blame Christians in America for a movie that no one wants to pay (after popcorn)$25.00 per person to see.

  • Mon Sep 21, 2009 7:52 am Agree: 2   Disagree: 10

    Flagged as inappropriate. show "Ken might have a point maybe the movie is to intellectual compared to Expelled for American audiences" What do you expect from someone whose museum is a joke and a bad one at that? Hydroplate theory? LOL. hide

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