Today, most scientists and philosophers claim that Earth is an ordinary speck of dust adrift, without purpose or significance, in a vast cosmic sea. This idea (popularized by the late astronomer, Carl Sagan) is an outgrowth of the naturalistic philosophy that has dominated science for the past 150 years. Yet, remarkable evidence--unveiled by contemporary astronomy and physics-may now tell a very different story. Building upon the overwhelming success of Unlocking the Mystery of Life (widely acclaimed as the most effective refutation of Darwinian theory, ever produced), Illustra Media presents The Privileged Planet. This hour-long documentary explores the scientific evidence for intelligent design and purpose in the universe. In the process, Earth is revealed as far more than the product of time, chance, and random natural processes. We now know that a rare and finely tuned array of factors makes Earth suitable for complex life. We depend on our planet's oxygen-rich atmosphere, its large moon, its planetary neighbors, and its precise location within the solar system and Milky Way galaxy. But the story does not end here. For, the same factors that make a planet like Earth hospitable to life also provide the best conditions for scientific discovery. Is this correlation merely a coincidence? Or does it point to a deeper truth about the purpose of the cosmos and the reality of a transcendent designer? The answer could dramatically affect 21st century science. Through stunning computer animation, interviews with leading scientists, and spectacular images of Earth and the cosmos, The Privileged Planet explores a startling connection between our capacity to survive and our ability to observe and understand the universe. A connection that points directly to the work of a creative mind and plan. This extraordinary documentary will be a focal point in the escalating debate between evolution and design.
"The universe demonstrates; "conspiracy not coincidence""
Written By: Gordon Tatro
This DVD (and its book) will change lives...I've seen it happen. Over the past 4 years, I've purchased over 40 of these DVDs and passed them out (hopefully, to get them back) but anyway: Randolph Products: [...] offers a ten pack of sleeve folders (as a ministry give-away).
One of the best things I like about this is its easy layman like approach to the problem of Intelligent Design--is there Deity; that is, does God exists! They never really ask this question but regardless the implication is there but it is left to the reader to determine--for all intents-and-purposes this could be a secular Discovery Channel (or National Geographic) Science presentation. The words: Bible, Christ, Jesus, or Christianity are never said and "God" only in passing...from those who were historically quoted. The movie is produced by Illustra Media [...] (see their other DVDs!)
I have watched the DVD many times and frankly, my only complaint is that I want more and more and more...and so I search and seek and ask and reason and test (look at Jeremiah 33:3, and Isaiah 1:18, and 1 Thessalonians 5:21) now that's interesting but it clearly shows that we're not the first to ask such deep questions (except that they were just sheepherders, wore sandals, were surprised by everyone from the Egyptians to the Romans; and where did they get such ideas to write (wastefully?) onto valuable papyrus?). Einstein is purported to have said that it is; "amazing that we can comprehend the incomprehensible." If we are just meat robots (with no internal eternal "I") then why do we spend such exorbitant sums of money and materials and time and risk our lives to go out there into space to explore--it does nothing to support Darwinian reasoning?
I have also come across books by Hugh Ross ([...]) who also digs into this in a similar way but will not shy away from direct Biblical relationship (which is fine with me...I have over 300 books in my library). And so I see that we have been wrong to exclude (to separate out) science from theology and those from philosophy (it would seem that Nickolas Copernicus had the better idea that in doing science we can find and understand the mind of God). We truly are a strange creature and this DVD paints the universe as if it knew we were coming...as if the grand cosmic soup `bowl' was being stirred and seasoned for the past 13.7 billion years just so that it would be "just right" for us to come onto the scene and then `make' us desire to figure it all out. C.S. Lewis has a quote which goes something like this: "if there exists in me a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy then most likely I was made for another world." And too, all abstract desires: fairness, perfection, changelessness/security, love, relationship, beauty etc seem to be desired and we have a sense for what they `should' be but we are frequently left dismayed and hurt that they are never satisfied. Meat robots would just be cold-rocks and get on with taking what they want--we, though have a conscience.
Richards and Davies have a quick discussion on Darwinism whereby they both hint to the point (and I extrapolate here) that none of the large scale discoveries: landing on the moon, Mars exploration, the Large Hadron Collider, even too music, art, and poetry etc, have any Darwinistic survival value. We did not need any of these in order to live a survival-of-the-fittest existence; but we do them with relish; why?
Are we placed in some big cosmic book in which the Author seeded His plot with time, space, matter, energy, information, and relationship-ability/(desires) and then caused us to want to figure it all out (to be curious)? I've been told that we are conscious observers and moral agents who know intuitively the difference between right & wrong as if we were hard-wired from conception; that we have a spirit that is sensitive to the guilt of a troubled conscience just as the body reacts to pain; and that we all too frequently give value to material objects using abstract terms--"see my beautiful car."
This DVD will cause one to search for the meaning of life and their purpose in it. It will be revealed to those who do seek with an open mind and a soft heart and a curious spirit.
"Amazing!"
Written By: Avid reader
This is a very easy to understand explanation of all of the things that have to be in place to have life on earth. It is awe inspiring. I highly recommend it.
"Be prepared to be in Awe"
Written By: Nellie Belle
This is not a popcorn and soda DVD, this is an awesome opportunity to observe through the eyes of scientists the majesty and beauty of our privileged planet. Sit back and enjoy the fantastic images of the earth and the surrounding universe. Any doubting Thomas' will have to ask themselves why it is that the earth is in the best position to sustain life? Was it coincidence or was it design?
"You'll feel privileged living on this Planet."
Written By: Dennis Yenn
This program will inspire any human by presenting the visual vastness of our universe in perspective to our Planet Earth. It does a great job of showing the relative scale in time and distance from the nearest star, to the furthest reaching galaxies, billions far out. Note: this segment is actually presented in the extra/bonus menu video called "Journey to the Edge of the Universe."
The speakers are scientists who have devoted their lifetime researching scientific answers to our existence, only to astoundingly return 180 degrees that their data show some grandeurness since our earth has been fine tuned to such mathematical exponential degree, that an engineering designer may have fabricated his involvement to it. The scientists call it the anthropic principle.
Produced by Christians, I hardly saw any religious overtone in this. That was my biggest surprise. This program is purely a secular science presenting the audience w/ the scientific observations in an easy to understand laymen terminology. We're given the facts. From there, we examine the findings, with freedom to formulate our own thoughts, and ponder deeply, the way it always should be, in any spiritual presentation. It shows that our existence may have some a majestic meaningful purpose behind it. Great job, powerful, leaving you in a state of awe, and a must have for every human being on this Privileged Planet.
"YOU WILL BE AMAZED"
Written By: David Altman
VERY POWERFUL,THERE ARE MANY THINGS TO HELP US SEE THE AMAZING UNIVERSE THAT WE HAVE NOT SEEN BEFORE TO REMIND US THAT THERE IS INTELLEGENCE WAY BEYOND OURS THAT HAS CREATED THESE .
"The universe demonstrates; "conspiracy not coincidence""
