Forum offers intellectual side of faith

By Melody Wang
Daily Bruin Contributor

The Veritas Forum, an intellectual movement to explore the
possibility that Christianity holds the truth to all aspects of
life, held its first meeting Monday evening.

Veritas, which means truth in Latin, originated at Harvard in
1992. This is the first time it was organized at UCLA.

The three-day forum began with Os Guinness, a senior fellow of
the Trinity Forum in northern Virginia, speaking to an audience of
about 500 people about how life is a “journey for
truth.”

“Human beings need a sense of meaning and
belonging,” Guinness said.

The Veritas planning committee, which has been working on the
event since January 1999, said one of its goals is to integrate
Christianity into all academia. The event is being sponsored by
almost all of the Christian groups on campus.

“If we’re trying to get at the truth and understand
all of the different fields at this university, then God needs to
be relevant,” said Joanna Laird, a member of the planning
committee. “We want to make this a part of the university so
that you have the option of making it a part of your
education.”

Laird added that because Veritas is based on intellectual
studies and logic, it appeals to more people and makes Christianity
more credible.

Organizers said the event is meant to create the perception that
Christianity is a valid field of study.

“A lot of times people think that Christianity is a thing
people grow up with, but this conference shows that it’s
something you can study intellectually,” said Pauline Chu, a
member of the Veritas planning committee. “It’s the
truth and it’s important for people to know.”

Kelly Monroe, who started Veritas at Harvard said she began the
movement in search of answers to questions like “Are all
religions equal?” and “If God is living and powerful,
why do we suffer?”

The Veritas forum has taken place at numerous universities with
more than 25,000 participants, Monroe said.

Andrew Dragos, who came up with the idea to introduce Veritas to
UCLA, said that some speakers will address Christianity’s
relationship to science.

“You can have faith in a lot of things,” Dragos
said. “But if that faith isn’t based on something
reliable and trustworthy, then it’s just blind
faith.”

But Dragos said it is important to remember that the speakers
are not trying to convert non-Christians.

Instead, the Veritas Forum will provide an opportunity for
audience members to question and challenge the speakers.

“It’s an invitation for people to think. It’s
meant to be a time in which everyone can openly share and explore
different ideas and and people should feel totally safe in
expressing their opinions,” Dragos said.

“If Christianity isn’t true, we should reevaluate
our lives and if it is true, other people need to reevaluate their
lives,” he added.

Laird said that the Veritas movement is really the first event
aimed at non-Christians.

“Christians are also welcome because they need to know how
to integrate their faith with their lives,” she said.

In emphasizing the importance of spirituality in everyday life,
Guinness also discussed the stereotype that people of faith are
often thought to be unintellectual and uncultured.

“Almost all of the great American movements such as the
women’s movement and abolition movement were led by people of
faith,” Guinness said. “The misconception is terribly
absurd.”

Guinness also reminded the audience that there are many
different ways to approach faith and the search for truth is merely
one of them.

“I’m not in any way trying to give you a
demonstration for I don’t believe in proofs much
myself,” he said. “I will give you an invitation to
explore the journey.”

Laird said that Guinness’ speech provided a general
overview of Veritas.

“(Guinness) is very intellectual and understands that the
world is not black and white,” Laird said.

“He understands that it’s not science versus
religion, but that if religion is true then it needs to be
integrated with science.”

Following speakers will address more specific topics such as
whether or not God addresses the issue of race and who was the
historical Jesus.

All Veritas events will take place in Ackerman Grand
Ballroom.

For more information on the Veritas schedule, go to
http://laveritas.obj.net.