Veritas Forum to explore Christian faith

By Shauna Mecartea
Daily Bruin Contributor

The Veritas Forum will bring local faculty, students and artists
together to discuss Christianity and its relation to all
disciplines of life beginning today in the Ackerman Grand
Ballroom.

“The ethos of the forum is to explore, not defend, the
faith,” said Kyle Gladden, UCLA Veritas Forum chair and
fourth-year English student.

Having a diverse panel of speakers and events to stimulate
dialogue about faith, especially in modern times, is the goal of
the Veritas Forum.

The forum began at Harvard University in 1992 and has since
spread to more than 50 colleges and universities nationwide.

Each forum is encouraged to reflect the university where it is
organized, Gladden said.

This year will be keynote speaker Os Guinness’ second time
at UCLA. On Monday night, he will address the effects postmodernist
thought has had on the Christian faith.

Guinness founded the Trinity Forum, which encourages cultural,
economic and political leaders to discuss social issues and faith,
and he is the author of 12 books.

Following Guinness’ speech, “Time for Truth: Living
Free in a World of Lies, Hype and Spin,” the Veritas Art
Exhibit will open with a graffiti art battle between two local
artists.

The art exhibit, named “The Already and the Not
Yet,” will display artwork by local artists and students from
UCLA and Biola University, a Christian college located in La
Mirada.

Mike Dowdell, a Biola graduate with a degree in art, will
showcase his oil paintings, which depict the Stations of the Cross
in contemporary settings.

The Stations of the Cross portray the series of events leading
up to the crucifixion of Jesus.

“It’s a great opportunity to show what Christians
are doing in the visual arts,” Dowdell said.

Organizers of the Veritas Forum also plan to explore the the
role Christianity can play in music.

Brian Schrag, a doctoral candidate in the department of
ethnomusicology, will speak about “Music, Ecstasy and
Truth” on Tuesday.

David Hill, a physicist developing nuclear fusion power plants
at a national laboratory that is part of the UC, will also speak
Tuesday and will address the controversy of the relationship
between Christianity and science.

Physics Professor Alfred Wong said he plans to share his
understanding of the biblical account of creation through science
in an open discussion.

Steve Monsma, a political science professor at Pepperdine
University and chair of the social science department, will
conclude the Veritas Forum on Wednesday afternoon after discussing
the compatibility of Christianity with religious pluralism.

Other speakers include UCLA medical school Professor Matthew
Conolly, and Greg Koukl, founder of the “Stand to
Reason” radio talk show.

For a complete schedule of events, visit the Web site at
www.laveritas.cjb.net.