Apparently, the worldwide scientific community is in a civil war.

Having just watched the sci-fi series "V" on TV this weekend, I was shocked at the similarities the "Visitors" used against scientists of Earth visa vie the civil war now being waged in real-time against fellow scientists by the National Academy of Sciences and by other Science organizations in the USA and elsewhere.

I would not have believed such could be the case, notwithstanding the fact I viewed the movie "Expelled" narrated and investigated by Ben Stein, which alleges the most respected Science foundations are abandoning the premise of scientific inquiry to vilify, terminate, defund, and destroy the reputations of any renowned scientist, journalist, or other person who dares question the supremacy of mainstream science on the validity of Darwinism or neo-Darwinism theory.

However, attending "The Legacy of Darwin" conference this weekend here in Castle Rock, Colorado to learn more about this controversy, it was not the scientific position taken by its speakers which so alarmed me. After all, Darwin's theories have been a controversy for more than a 100 years.

No,what so alarms me, is the intentional vilification of such renowned scientists as Dr.'s David Berlinski, Steven Meyer, Michael Behe and John West which apparently are the vanguard and the mere tip of the iceberg among world scientists who are seriously and scientifically challenging the alleged "consensus" of evolution science. Apparently, most of the scientists who question the validity of Darwin's hypothesis are in the "closet" so to speak because of the very real fear of being destroyed, literally. Kudos to these scientists named here for their willingness to challenge the establishment, an attribute Darwin held most dear.

The mainstream scientific community, which tightly controls funding and what is considered permissible research, is actively engaged on a path of a "final solution" for any person who questions or proposes alternative theory to the Darwinian proponents.

These alternative theories include a study of the cell-level origin of life which is now known to be highly developed, intricately complex living machines including the DNA enigma to which mainstream Darwinists allege no evidence of intelligent design. Other, equally renowned scientists, many of whom do not espouse religious beliefs or whom see their beliefs no less prejudicial to their research than that of Darwinian proponents advocating Atheism, see the empirical evidence clearly pointing to Intelligent Design.

The DNA enigma merely states the origin of life began in a single cell (which scientists agree upon) and is now known to contain such complex data and information directing its existence via a multitude of living machines, all encoded with instructions (which both sides also agree upon), leaves open the source of such data. Even the Darwinian, Dr. Richard Dawkins concedes the origin is unknown and alludes to the possibility of an intelligent source of the cell's design, albeit in the film, "Expelled" he advocates the source is likely extraterrestrials who evolved from some lower state. Talk about a leap of faith!

Oddly, and most alarming of the positions taken by the establishment, is the total restriction upon freedom of research and scientific inquiry being imposed by them. So much so, the aforementioned renowned scientist, Richard Dawkins, has written a book called The God Delusion which claims there is no God, citing a lack of proof to the contrary. What a strange position for a scientist to take, citing a conclusion for which he has no valid research. Talk about stepping outside the accepted methodologies! Yet, the very same establishment scientists, sounding and acting like those midevalists whom imposed the Spanish Inquisition, are taking equally commensurate steps to silence all dissent.

The coup de gras is the vitriolic condemnation of other scientists, as equally renowned or more so, to the point of suggesting such scientists who disagree with the so-called consensus are tantamount to "intellectual terrorists" and should be tried, convicted, and imprisoned. While the person making the suggestion and the quote is public information, I'll avoid the same characterization of that scientist and embarrassment it would no doubt further promote. The purpose of the scientific community should be neutrality, not to promote the implications of competing theories at the expense of its illustrious members.

While scientists can certainly speak to the implications of their discoveries and possible applications of the facts, all should be allowed to do so equally and freely, without the orchestrated demeaning of their colleagues. Ad hominem attacks may be an unfortunate standard of politics, but they have no place in the halls of scientific endeavor. The scientific community must unite to reprimand such offenders, regardless of which theories to which they personally ascribe.

Otherwise, citizens, no matter their personal worldview, will take on the distrust and condemnation of all scientists, making the movie series "V" a stark reality of a controlled society.

The sites to which folks may go to find out more about this past weekend's Legacy of Darwin Conference are http://www.discovery.org and www.shepherdproject.com, the last being that of the Conference sponsor and organizer. Dr. Craig Smith, author of The Search, is Executive Director of Shepherd Project.