The "Intelligent Design" anti-evolution movement distances itself from traditional creationism, and insists it's not based on religion. For example, Mark Edwards, a spokesman for the Discovery Institute (the leading "Intelligent Design" think tank), said of the 2001 PBS Evolution series, "The final episode paints a picture that the only critics of Darwinian theory are these guitar-strumming hillbillies in Kentucky who are creationists, and that's just not true. We're glad we're not part of that stereotype." [link] Author Louis Freedberg writes "he [Phillip Johnson, Discovery Institute Advisor] avoids answering pointed questions, including his views on just who the intelligent designer is. 'It certainly could be God, a supernatural creature, but in principle it could be space aliens of high intelligence who did the designing,' he says. ... He won't say whether he is or isn't a creationist. 'I won't answer that. That's like asking me if I was ever a member of the Communist Party.' ..." [link]

Please consider then, if you will, the following information about two media companies, Illustra Media and Discovery Media. One of the companies has produced a slick new video featuring the leading lights of the intelligent design movement, carefully crafted to appear scientific, non-religious and suitable for public schools and PBS. The other company produces overtly religious videos, and makes no bones about its evangelistic Christian mission. Are these companies, perhaps, related?  Read on...

Home Page:  http://www.illustramedia.com/	Home Page: http://www.discoverymedia.org/index.htm
Illustra Media is the producer of the video "Unlocking the Mystery of Life."	Discovery Media is the producer of several religious videos, including The End Times Heaven & Hell The Miracle and Power of Prayer
Illustra Media's "Unlocking the Mystery of Life" features many of the leaders of the Intelligent Design movement, including Phillip Johnson, Jonathan Wells, Paul Nelson, Steve Meyer (who helped write the script) and William Dembski. It is advertised from the home page of the Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture, and also has its own Discovery Institute page, where we are told "The story begins with a landmark meeting of design theorists assembled by UC Berkeley Law Professor Phillip Johnson in Pajaro Dunes California in 1993. The documentary then follows the development of the intelligent design movement through insightful interviews with key design scientists Paul Nelson, Stephen Meyer, Dean Kenyon, Michael Behe, William Dembski, Jonathan Wells, Jed Macosko and Scott Minnich. " Phillip Johnson has also issued a strong endorsement of the video. The video is also promoted by ID stalwarts Access Research Network, where PBS is encouraged to air the video.	The Discovery Media videos are unabashedly religious in content. For example, the ad for "The End Times" says "The End Times is a compelling presentation of the major events that will immediately precede and unfold during the Tribulation including The Rapture of the Church, a time when Jesus Christ will appear and take the faithful to heaven instantly. The Rise of the Antichrist, a world leader empowered by Satan. The outpouring of God's wrath and the Final Judgement upon the earth. The Triumphant Return of Jesus Christ. This video considers the prophecies foretelling the end of human history as delivered from the lips of history's most credible authority - Jesus Christ. His warnings are terrifying yet filled with hope."
Here is the Contact information from the Illustra Media Home Page:  Wholesale inquires please call (800) 394-2413 or e-mail info@illustramedia.com.	Here is the information from the now-defunct Discovery Media Contact Page (formerly at http://www.discoverymedia.org/contact.htm): Mailing Address: Discovery Media Productions Post Office Box 2711, La Habra, CA 90632-2711 Phone and FAX: (800) 394-2413 E-mail Address: info@discoverymedia.org
This is from a WHOIS Search at Network Solutions, for illustramedia.com. Registrant: Discovery Media Productions (ILLUSTRAMEDIA-DOM) Address:  PO Box 2711 La Habra, CA 90632-2711 US Administrative & Technical Contact: Discovery Media Productions (20335406O) j.harned@GTE.NET Phone/FAX:  562-943-0914 fax: 562-943-0914 Domain servers in listed order: 64.226.28.40, 66.111.73.180	This is from a WHOIS Search at Network Solutions, for DiscoveryMedia.org Registrant: Discovery Media Productions (DISCOVERYMEDIA3-DOM) Address:  PO Box 2711 La Habra, CA 90632-2711 US Administrative& Technical Contact: Discovery Media Productions (20335406O) j.harned@GTE.NET Phone/FAX:  562-943-0914 fax: 562-943-0914 Domain servers in listed order: 64.226.28.40, 66.111.73.180, 64.77.127.49

Finally, to tie it all together in black and white, here is a comment from Whittier Christian Schools, from their December 2001 "Wonders of Science" newsletter.

"Using sophisticated satellite imagery and deep-sea underwater cameras, the Discovery Media team traveled to Egypt and produced one of the finest documentaries [The Exodus Revealed] I’ve ever seen! It sets the stage of not only the crossing, but of an Israelite occupation in the Land of Goshen, a subsequent departure and a later invasion of Canaan. ... This video is an absolute must have! The other video we’ve seen totally disappear from the book table is also produced by the Discovery team. Under the “Illustra Media” banner for educational films, award winning computer graphics of DNA replication inside the nucleus clearly depict the amazing workings of the inner cell. ... Order today: 'Unlocking the Mysteries of Life' - $25.00; 'The Exodus Revealed' - $25.00 ..."

What is the conclusion? It's obvious we're not talking about two companies here. We're talking about one company, IllustraDiscoveryMedia.com. It's obvious that "Intelligent Design" and religious creationism are joined at the hip.

Editor's Note: This pairing of ID-friendly Illustra Media and religion-based Discovery Media does not in and of itself prove that ALL Intelligent Design advocates are religious. Perhaps, some day, a video on Intelligent Design will discuss bonafide scientific principles, as opposed to religious-based pseudoscience. Until that day, however, the situation is this: the Number One Intelligent Design video, Unlocking the Mystery of Life, endorsed by ID advocates all the way from the tippy-top (Discovery Institute) to the grass-roots bottom (New Mexico IDNet*), was produced by a religious-film maker, for a religious audience. When all is said and done, Phillip Johnson, William Dembski, and Jonathan Wells, and the rest of the ID "usual Suspects" have assumed a new starring role: they have become Intelligent Design Evangelists.

* From New Mexico IDNet : "Unlocking the Mystery of Life: The Scientific Case for Intelligent Design Produced by Illustra Media, this recently released video features Michael Behe, Ph.D., William Dembski, Ph.D., Jonathan Wells, Ph.D., Stephen Meyer, Ph.D. and Scott Minnich, Ph.D. This item is available in VHS, PAL, or DVD Formats. (DVD is multi-regional). Order here. ..."