I've always sort of liked Ben Stein. When I first took note of him, I'd pass by a show where he was playing a teacher and think, "Wow, he really reminds me of my seventh grade science teacher, only less greasy." I played along with Win Ben Stein's Money. I don't pay attention to a lot of commercials, but I was amused by his dry voice and demeanor as he hawked eye drops.

But suddenly, Ben has become an unwelcomed addition to my household. Mostly, it's not his fault. My husband reads something, or is introduced to a new argument in The Great Conversation that he shares (loudly) with his best friend, and it all leads around to creationism, which, in the last few weeks, has always lead to Ben Stein.

In case anyone isn't aware, creationism is defined as "a doctrine or theory holding that matter, the various forms of life, and the world were created by God out of nothing and usually in the way described in Genesis..." That's a dictionary definition and it isn't *quite* correct. It allows for differences, by stating "usually", but that isn't clear enough in explaining that not all creationists are Christians or Jews. Hindu creationists, for instance, will have their own views.

There is nothing wrong with that. The problem comes when proponents try to force "intelligent design" and "creation science" into the classroom as scientific alternatives to Evolution and the Big Bang Theory.

Creationism isn't science. You can change the name to creation science, but it still isn't science. And further, those who do try to introduce these ideas in the classroom like to say that they are just offering an alternative to the "theory" of evolution, when what they're trying to do is promote religion. It's a two-for! They could undermine actual science and get around that pesky separation of church and state at the same time!

Enter Ben Stein-attorney, economist, author, and actor. He has denounced evolution and written/narrated the documentaryExpelled: No Intelligence Allowed. As with any movie, there are promos and interviews. For me, this means a loud bark of laughter or an angry growl from my husband followed by a lengthy explanation of what Mr. Stein said to cause his reaction. I live with it. It's an unwritten part of the marriage contract and, again, not Stein's fault.

My irritation grew to a need to express myself when my husband declared, "He said, ‘The last time any of my relatives saw scientists telling them what to do they were telling them to go to the showers to get gassed.'"

I won't even try to describe the anger that overcame me at those words. I mean, really? No vaccine has been helpful for his family, no bit of scientific theory turned into a useful technology be it TiVo or a toilet, not even the simple knowledge of how viruses are passed and the suggestions to cover your mouth when you cough and wash your hands frequently-none of that has been of use. It all boils down to science equaling the Holocaust. Seriously?

Not being able to believe that he said that, I turned to the internet and have the exact quote. Paul Crouch, the co-founder of the world's largest Christian broadcast network, interviewed Stein about Exprelled.

Stein: When we just saw that man, I think it was Mr. Myers, talking about how great scientists were, I was thinking to myself the last time any of my relatives saw scientists telling them what to do they were telling them to go to the showers to get gassed ... that was horrifying beyond words, and that's where science - in my opinion, this is just an opinion - that's where science leads you.

Crouch: That's right.

Stein: ...Love of God and compassion and empathy leads you to a very glorious place, and science leads you to killing people.

Because the Crusades, the Inquisition, Jihad, Pogroms, the Troubles were all...what? Historical illusions that could not have actually happened since it's science that leads people to kill one another, not religion? Shame on you, Ben Stein.

Shame on the whole movement. And understand that I say this as a theist and someone who, while not subscribing to their brand of religion, does believe in intelligent design. The difference between me and them is that I don't expect anyone else to believe it and I don't think it negates evolution.

Heading back to the dictionary, science is defined as "a branch of knowledge or study dealing with a body of facts or truths systematically arranged and showing the operation of general lows; systematic knowledge of the physical or material world gained through observation and experimentation." Basically, science tells us how. Why is up to us. Stein and others like him insist that we aren't even able to have the conversation, that they're being oppressed by the scientific community (and the Supreme Court, no less), but that isn't true.

There is nothing to stop me from reading Genesis and saying, "He created all this in six days? Well, how long is a day to Him?" Or I can look at creation stories from around the world and notice, "Hey there were a lot of similar elements from Asia, though African, on to North America. So many different groups with, supposedly no contact, with the world being nothing but vast water until God/Sky Father/Great Mother made dry land and fashioned people from clay." And how is that different from the primordial ooze that scientists say life began in?

We can even say, "I don't believe in that evolution stuff at all." Amazing that you really can think what you want. Granted, you'll still need to pass your high school biology tests, but studying the text and accepting it as truth are two different things.

You can believe what you want. You can preach creationism in church or teach in the home. What you cannot do is turn "God did it" into a viable scientific theory.