That Time A Star Trek Captain And A Physicist Got Tricked Into Doing A Documentary On Geocentrism
from the all-hail-the-earth dept
What with the democratization of filmmaking technology, we've seen a relative explosion in films, as production has been opened to a whole population that would otherwise be unable to produce their wares. This, by and large, is a good thing. The barriers to entry have been lowered, streaming sites like YouTube provide an avenue for distribution, and we all get as many cute puppy videos as we can possibly handle. The flipside is that there are some jackasses out there who put out terrible crap. The whole Innocence Of Muslims fiasco is but one example, with actors reportedly being duped, controversial producers who remained in the shadows, and a finished product that would be most at home in the nearest dumpster. The technology is a great thing, but that doesn't mean there aren't pitfalls, and those lending their names to films and shows need to be careful about what they're getting into.
Like Kate Mulgrew, for instance. The former Star Trek captain apparently did some voiceover work for a film that pushes the theory of geocentrism (Earth as the center of the universe).
Kate Mulgrew—best known as that show’s Captain Janeway—has lent her familiar voice to The Principle, an upcoming documentary about the belief that the Earth is the center of the universe. The film has been in the works for a while, though it’s mostly been as ignored as those who have propagated the theory of Geocentrism past the 17th century. In a post on her Facebook page, the actress addressed that discussion, denying any involvement beyond being a hired gun who maybe should have asked a few more questions:Lawrence Krauss, should you not know, is a famous physicist that would push the idea of geocentrism as much as he'd claim the moon was made of cheese (it's not by the way...). He published an article in Slate stating that he's unaware of how he ended up in the film, but it probably resulted from filmmakers pulling clips of him from around the internet and editing them in such a way as to make it sound like he supported the theory. Krauss, being smart, refuses to dignify the film with any legal action.
"I understand there has been some controversy about my participation in a documentary called THE PRINCIPLE. Let me assure everyone that I completely agree with the eminent physicist Lawrence Krauss, who was himself misrepresented in the film, and who has written a succinct rebuttal in SLATE. I am not a geocentrist, nor am I in any way a proponent of geocentrism. More importantly, I do not subscribe to anything Robert Sungenis has written regarding science and history and, had I known of his involvement, would most certainly have avoided this documentary. I was a voice for hire, and a misinformed one, at that. I apologize for any confusion that my voice on this trailer may have caused."
The man behind the film is Robert Sungenis, who has dedicated his life to arguing for geocentrism, among other crackpot nonsense.
Sungenis—who has a Ph.D. in religious studies from “a private distance-learning institution in Republic of Vanuatu”—has used those credentials to establish a career as a leading proponent of Geocentrism, based on an understanding of astrophysics drawn from that most esteemed of scientific manuals, the Bible. In addition to denying anyone can prove the Earth revolves around the sun, he’s also well known for denying anyone can prove 6 million Jews died during the Holocaust. He’s also claimed that Jews are in league with Satan to take over the planet.Delightful. In any case, it would be very easy and understandable for Mulgrew and Krauss to be royally pissed over this and pursue legal action. In fact, in light of the recent ruling in favor of Cindy Garcia, Mulgrew may even have a copyright claim to make, as ridiculous as that is. What a wonderful world of litigation Judge Kozinski has opened for us all, despite his proclamation on how rarely his ruling could be enforced. We're mere weeks away, yet here's another situation in which an actress who should have done her homework can point to Cindy Garcia's victory and claim copyright. Fortunately, Mulgrew seems to understand what Kozinski did not: that she was a "voice for hire" and that a good deal of the responsibility for knowing what she was lending her voice (and thus credibility) to is her own.
I'd argue that a little public refuting without any legal action, which would only serve to put The Principle in the headlines, and a more proactive approach to vetting the material before committing to a project is all that's required. After all, it's not like any substantial number of people will take this film seriously. As long as the public knows some of those involved were duped, that should be the end of it.
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Filed Under: copyright, geocentrism, kate mulgrew, lawrence krauss, robert sungenis, the principle, tricked
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Doctor of Astrodiscombobulation
I bet this guy is a real gas to talk to. Just don't forget the tinfoil (for the conspiracies) and a pancho (for the BS).
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Re: Doctor of Astrodiscombobulation
The winner of that season was Chris Daugherty who was elected Ruler of Vanuatu for life. He is not to be confused with Chris Daughtry who is a soloist for the Vanuatu Bald Men's Choir.
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Re: Re: Doctor of Astrodiscombobulation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Vanuatu
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Yet the article mentions drawing his scientific source from the bible. If he is a believer of Christianity, then one of it's tenets is about lying if I remember correctly.
I would like to think that Mr. Sungenis is not really religiously oriented; at least not sanely. For which religion would want to claim him as one of their own?
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As for Islam, you are claiming a moral inferiority, much like Sungenis is claiming a moral superiority in denouncing jews and understanding earth as gods center-piece.
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Response to: Anonymous Coward on Apr 12th, 2014 @ 1:30am
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Sungenis is Catholic
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Re: Sungenis is Catholic
Thing is, he went off the rails years ago. The local Catholic bishop some time ago ordered him to stop publishing his junk as 'Catholic'. Such public denunciations are exceedingly rare. But Sungenis is a terrific fruitcake.
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Sounds more like a case of crazy than lying.
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Uh, Geocentrism isn't in the Bible, it's an old, abandoned Roman Catholic doctrine.
In addition to denying anyone can prove the Earth revolves around the sun
I presume he has a degree in "La la la, I can't hear yoooouuuu!"
he’s also well known for denying anyone can prove 6 million Jews died during the Holocaust. He’s also claimed that Jews are in league with Satan to take over the planet.
Potential tagline for "THE PRINCIPLE": See no stupid, hear no stupid, speak no stupid.
Mind you, that applies to anything Sungenis says.
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It's one of the most classic quotes found on various atheist sites showing the evils of abrahamic religions.
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Re: your comment
christian religion lies too and probably even more than most others.
you white people like you are so hateful.
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Re: Re: your comment
Racist much? And what makes you think he's white?
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What celebrity would ever accept this stupid theory? Of course they all know that THEY are the absolute center of the universe.
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But if there are people who think it is literally, then I would punch them in the face.
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Just kidding, Kate. It wasn't that bad.
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Yes, it was.
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That said, this is just a tempest in a teacup for Kate.
(There's nothing to see folks... Move along.)
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By Their Choices Shall Ye Know Them
Cindy Lee Garcia Lawrence Krauss
100
Once again demonstrating the statistical truth that half the people you encounter have a below-average IQ.
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What he's proposing is that the universe was created specifically for us to be.
This can't be proved or disproved.
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell%27s_teapot
Those making a claim have the burden of proof on them, they can't just say 'Well you can't prove it didn't happen that way!' and expect to be taken seriously.
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Metaphysical references are great for meditation but they will not be of use when calculating ephemeris.
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- Buckaroo Banzai
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If something can't be proved or disproved, then it falls outside the realm of science. It's more properly in the field of religion or perhaps philosophy.
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Ephesians 5:11
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Re: Ephesians 5:11
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It's a scam.
It's a scam, Mann:
http://s6.postimg.org/jb6qe15rl/Marcott_2013_Eye_Candy.jpg
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Comment, what else...?
They probably said the same thing about Al Gore's and his global warming "documentary"...
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Re: Comment, what else...?
The idea that everything in the universe, or even just the solar system revolves around the earth, rather than the sun? That has the exact opposite of scientific backing, to the point that any reputable scientist or person that knows anything about the field, and isn't getting their 'scientific knowledge' from a couple thousand years old book, will point out how arrogant, egotistical and laughable such an idea is, with pretty much no actual real science behind it.
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Re: Re: Comment, what else...?
Even the deniers have given up claiming it's not happening. They've shifted to arguing about the cause.
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Re: Comment, what else...?
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Mulgrew is presumably enough of a professional that if she were doing a job like this for pay, there would have been some sort of contract spelling this out explicitly. And while one could say that actors should think about these things more carefully, clearly the producers are counting on the fact that often they do not. I mean, Mulgrew claims she was duped; what was Jonathan Frakes' excuse for the alien autopsy TV special, or Mitch Pileggi for the moon hoax Fox special?
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Airheads Incorporated
At least some nitwit politician didn't try to put her on the board of NASA or the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.
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The First Duty
"The first duty of every Starfleet officer is to the truth, whether it's scientific truth or historical truth or personal truth! It is the guiding principle on which Starfleet is based!"
- Capt. Jean-Luc Picard, "The First Duty"
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