Privileged Planet to be shown in Canada at the University of Toronto June 23

The controversial film, Privileged Planet, will be shown at the University of Toronto on June 23, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Privileged Planet will also be shown at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington at 6:00 p.m. that same night but, due to the uproar, is no longer co-sponsored by the Institution.

News of the film first surfaced on this blog, the Post-Darwinist, and was then picked up by the New York Times and the Washington Post.

Service note: If you are looking for my extended review of Privileged Planet, go here. If you are looking for information on the showing of Privileged Planet at the Smithsonian, go here and here to start, and then this one will bring you up to date.

The film argues - using generally accepted science evidence only - that Carl Sagan was wrong.

Far from being a "pale blue dot", as Sagan believed, Earth occupies a highly favourable position in the galaxy, not only for life but for scientific discovery.

The proposed US showing attracted outrage because people who heard a rumour that the film opposes evolution (it doesn't address the topic) launched a barrage of complaints.

As a result, the Smithsonian withdrew its cosponsorship - but the showing will proceed at the Institution as planned, as will the Toronto showing.

O’Leary is the author of By Design or by Chance? (Augsburg Fortress, 2004), an overview of the growing intelligent design controversy. She will be at the Smithsonian showing in Washington.

Media may contact Dr. Michael Pare (michaelpare@rogers.com) for more information.

If you like this blog, check out my book on the intelligent design controversy, By Design or by Chance?. You can read excerpts as well.