Veritas Forum Kicks Off

The Veritas Forum, a five-day conference about Christianity, kicks off today with a lecture by philosopher and author Paul Copan and a student debate about the existence of God.

The forum is being sponsored by Christian groups from both the College and various graduate schools and will feature speakers, panels and workshops on intellectual and secular issues that relate to Christianity.

"My main goal is to get people thinking about these issues of whether it's reasonable to be a Christian and whether it's relevant to our lives as students in the 21st century," said Richard A. Halvorson `03, one of the organizers of the forum.

Peter J. Gomes, the minister of Memorial Church and plummer professor of Christian morals, will participate in a workshop about homosexuality and Christianity.

The forum will feature panels and workshops on issues ranging from eating disorders and the role of women in faith to how to get into graduate school.

"For Christians, we hope that they'll come to see their faith in a broader way, that their faith is more dynamic and can do more in their life," said Benjamin D. Grizzle `03, chair of the event and also a Crimson editor.

Grizzle said he hopes Christians will leave the speeches asking, "Is [this] intellectually consistent? Does it jive with my world view?"

The organizers said the forum is for non-Christians as well.

"Our hope is that people won't dismiss these new ideas simply because they come from a Christian perspective, but will actually be open to them and willing to revise their beliefs..." Halvorson said.

The forum features Christian speakers such as Alvin Plantinga, former president of the American Philosophical Association, David Barton, the founder of Wallbuilders, a Christian political organization, and people in secular fields such as Fritz Schaeffer, professor of chemistry at the University of Georgia and Lee Rouson, a two-time Superbowl champion.

Stanford and Boston University students, as well as Boston residents, have already bought tickets to Forum events, Grizzle said.

--Staff Writer Anne K. Kofol can be reached at kofol@fas.harvard.edu