Cambrian Explosion Caught on Film
| August 26, 2009 | Posted by David Coppedge under Darwinism, Evolution, Intelligent Design, Media, Video |
An explosion is coming: a devastating blast against Darwinism in the form of a dynamite new film from Illustra Media: Darwin’s Dilemma: The Mystery of the Cambrian Fossil Record. The Cambrian explosion, which Darwin admitted was the greatest challenge to his theory, has not been solved in the 150 years since The Origin. In fact, it has gotten much worse. This film does more than demolish a defunct idea. It offers the only alternative that does explain the sudden appearance of all the animal phyla: intelligent design.
The content and delivery are both outstanding–the interviews with Paul Nelson, Jonathan Wells, Steve Meyer, Doug Axe, Paul Chien and Richard Sternberg all deliver an irrefutable case for ID. Cambrian experts Simon Conway Morris and James Valentine are treated respectfully. The case builds and accelerates toward the end with so many independent arguments, poor Darwin is just left mumbling at the end, “I can give no satisfactory answer.” (This is not exactly the party he wanted on his 200th birthday, but history and the facts of science have more important work to do. )
The film is also visually beautiful (watch the trailer). Majestic scenes of the Canadian Rockies alternate with vivid new animations of Cambrian animals. This film has more original animations than any previous Illustra project, all detailed and credible. The entire production is edited with Illustra’s trademark finesse, and powerfully enhanced by another original score by Mark Lewis, one of the most creative musicians in film. It’s a work of art as much as a documentary.
The film is due for release on Sept. 15 (see order page). Once in distribution, it completes a very powerful trilogy by Illustra on the case for intelligent design and the demise of Darwinism, coming from three independent directions. Unlocking the Mystery of Life delivered the left hook from biology. The Privileged Planet delivered the right punch from astronomy. And now, Darwin’s Dilemma is the pile driver from paleontology, leaving Darwin’s legacy buried in the rocks, where it will fossilize for the museums of a more enlightened age.
47 Responses to Cambrian Explosion Caught on Film
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Does anybody remember Illustra Media’s previous video, “Unlocking the Mystery of Life” and how it was received?
Many creationist/ID videos on the Cambrian explosions mention how many forms of animals were first seen in the Cambrian, yet fail to define what a ‘form’ is.
Since this video is marketed to non-scientists, does it actually mention that
tunicates (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wi.....obgood.jpg),jpg
lancelets (http://content5.eol.org/conten....._large.jpg),
hagfish(http://www.itsnature.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/hagfish.jpg ),
lampreys, fish, amphibians, reptile, birds and humans all have the same ‘form’ by this definition.
Also, does the video mention that there are no “grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth”, even though there are plenty of creatures,such as jawless fish, in the sea.
Messed up the urls, oh well here is the tunicate, which is of the same ‘form’ as humans.
Tunicates
.
“hdx” (#32) commented: “Many creationist/ID videos on the Cambrian explosions mention how many forms of animals were first seen in the Cambrian, yet fail to define what a ‘form’ is.”
A “form” is like a “kind” – there’s one “kind” of bacteria, one “kind” of beetle, and so on. See http://creationwiki.org/Baraminology
“This not universally accepted”
Of course it cannot be accepted. Otherwise it would destroy their world view. So they have to speculate and try to order things as best the can.
The question is do they have a progression in the fossil record leading up to the appearance of each phyla, And They don’t. If the process was Darwinian then there would be a wide variety of options leading up to the various body plans. But it is just the opposite.
Quote as many as you want. But show the evidence of the progression or the predecessors of the Cambrian phyla. As far as I know, no one has done that. Why don’t you read the Meyers article in the Smithsonian journal that caused all the commotion in order to help you on this.
@34 PaulBurnett
A “form” is like a “kind” – there’s one “kind” of bacteria, one “kind” of beetle, and so on.
This clearly contradicts what Jonathon Wells says- During the Cambrian explosion “most of the major forms of animals appear” (See Cambrian explosion vs evolution by HighFlyingDutchman on YouTube)
By this definition it is not the same kind (since most current kinds were not around during the Cambrian).
I’m pretty sure that YECs have, in principle, little use for the Cambrian explosion. In the YEC timeline, all forms appeared within a single week, shortly after which death entered the world. If the Cambrian explosion were valid evidence for YEC, it would include representatives from every known baramin. For a bunch of weird now-extinct sea-going creatures to appear, followed by further variety only much, much later (Saturday?) doesn’t fit very well with Genesis.
Good shot Lenoxus. When all else fails enter the world of religion. Yes the Cambrian is a problem for YEC’s as it is a problem for Darwinists. But now that it is so obviously embarrassing for Darwinists, let’s divert the discussion to a religious one.
SOP
I’m pretty sure Wells equates ‘form’ with ‘phylum’.
jerry: Yes, my bad. I didn’t think I was bringing up something new, because I was thrown off by the discussion of “kinds”. I now see that the person mentioning it is by no means a YEC. Whoops!
Anyway, getting back to the Cambrian… hmm, so the problem is mainly the lack of intermediates? Or would the appearances of all those phyla still be a problem if enough intermediates were found?
“Or would the appearances of all those phyla still be a problem if enough intermediates were found?”
Of course not. Just one hint at a possible mechanism or a shadow of a possible intermediary would be enough to change all the textbooks and curriculum to say that the Cambrian is completely explained and for them to say “Next.” Amazing science, evolutionary biology.
Of course you would have the occasional skeptic but they could be dealt with in the usual ways.
OP,
“Unlocking the Mystery of Life delivered the left hook from biology. The Privileged Planet delivered the right punch from astronomy. And now, Darwin’s Dilemma is the pile driver from paleontology…”
Don’t we all love trilogies? I know I do! Especially comedies!
MeaganC, watching Shrek too much has muddled your mind.
Arn’t most species from the precambrian layers extinct?
Just playing devils advocate here, but why make something “intelligently” that pretty much completly dies out a few years latter?
Seems pretty random and fickle, not intelligent. Can we more on to more moving arguments?
Qrewtix,
This is just a version of “God wouldn’t of done it that way” type argument.
It is an argument from fallacy.
http://triablogue.blogspot.com.....llacy.html
Also see Appeal to Consequences of a Belief
http://www.nizkor.org/features.....ences.html
But your right, your attempt at playing devils advocate was not exactly thinking clearly. So lets move on to more moving arguments.
Qrewtix:
At this point, in the modern ID synthesis, I’m pretty sure the designer has been explicitly defined as incapable of foreseeing extinction-causing disasters. (That and its inability to foresee and prevent disease-causing mutations.)
“At this point, in the modern ID synthesis, I’m pretty sure the designer has been explicitly defined as incapable of foreseeing extinction-causing disasters.”
Interesting. Where has that been ‘explicitly defined’? I just assume the designer could do with the design as He/she/it desired. Maybe I’m wrong and ID has shown the designer incapable of dealing with what was designed. Show me teh money!