The Veritas Conflict (75 page)

• All elements of the spiritual realm scenes are purely educated guesses, and I ask for readers’ grace in recognizing that fact. No human can know what goes on behind the veil, and I am thankful that those answers are left in God’s hands. All I can do is try to keep those scenes consistent with the Word of God and humbly acknowledge that I have probably gotten some elements wrong. (For example, do angels have wings? The Bible is silent, except where it depicts the cherubim and seraphim with wings. With no clear answer, I used them as a default and gave the angels wings.) Furthermore, I absolutely do not want to imply that people are somehow puppets of spirit beings, which is why I
included scenes showing several different kinds of spiritual influence: for example, angels as messengers, demons as tempters,
and
people (such as Sherry) making terrible choices with no other influence except their own sin. One thing that writing this book has taught me is that it is very difficult to put on paper that which is inherently unknowable.

• Based on many years of research done by others, my story includes a fictional account of the very real Christian grants and endowments at Harvard. That is, although the grants and endowments are true, this book is a work of imagination based on historical fact. The grants issue continues to be researched and new information uncovered, most notably by Kelly Monroe, a Harvard chaplain who wrote
Finding God at Harvard: Spiritual Journeys of Thinking Christians
. (If readers want to research the current disposition of Christian endowments at their own school, a good place to start is the library reference desk or the archives; ask for any books outlining the school’s endowments, grants, or bequests.)

• Furthermore, I have tried to portray the historical facts of Harvard’s Christian background as accurately as possible in a fiction setting, using research by Kelly Monroe and Harvard Law School graduate Victor Jih, whose legal analysis of the endowments issue was invaluable, as well as others. This includes the simplified but real issue of the changed motto and shield, the quotes from Harvard donor Thomas Hollis and pastor Phillips Brooks, as well as the true story of Reverend Brooks’s funeral procession.

On a final note, as with many secular universities (including those originally founded for Christ), Harvard’s environment is quite challenging for people with strong biblical convictions. Although my experience was limited to the graduate school arena, my understanding is that these difficulties extend throughout the undergraduate and graduate levels, including the divinity school. One reason I wrote this book is that when I was at Harvard, I had no idea how to defend what I believed, and I got hammered in my classes, as did many of my friends. My prayer is that the “relationship apologetics” in this book will help others learn how to defend their faith in a winsome and effective manner, while still building relationships with those they actively disagree with.

It is important to emphasize that although Harvard’s environment can be challenging, it is also filled with well-meaning, intelligent, nice people who are making many great contributions to our world and simply do not understand how difficult it can be for people of faith. As in every school, every business, every corner of these shadowlands, they do not have “eyes to see.”

I’ll bet most of us have met people like that—whether in a classroom or around the workplace watercooler—but many don’t really know how to build bridges to them, how
to pray for them, how to present an effective apologetic that can break through that blindness. Many people think that learning how to defend their beliefs is too hard, unattainable, or boring a pastime. None of those fears are true. In my case, I learned fascinating, effective apologetics simply by listening to the Sunday sermons of my New York pastor, Tim Keller of Redeemer Presbyterian Church. For those of you without the benefit of Tim’s weekly teaching, I would highly recommend that you glance through one or more of the books I list below.

Just give it a chance, and you will find that learning basic apologetics is not only attainable; it is a relief! It’s a relief to be able to respond well rather than stammering and stuttering and later avoiding such conversations at all. Just be sure to pray as you engage in these newly informed conversations so God can speak through you. And ask the Lord for wisdom as to which individuals are truly open to the discussion, who might have been given eyes to see. If an individual is still blinded, continue to build a grace-filled relationship with him, as Jesus would, and ask the Lord to open his eyes.

May God equip you for His work, that the body of Christ may reach such mature unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son that we will all measure up to the full stature of Christ (Ephesians 4:12–13).

Grace and Peace
,

Shaunri Feldhahn

O
THER
R
EADING

I found several resources particularly helpful as I wrote this novel.

Monroe, Kelly.
Finding God at Harvard: Spiritual Journeys of Thinking Christians
. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 1997.

Budziszewski, J.
How to Stay Christian in College
. Colorado Springs, Colo.: Nav-Press, 1999.

Noebel, Dr. David A
Understanding the Times
. Eugene, Ore.: Harvest House, 1994.

Noebel, Dr. David A., J. F. Baldwin, and Kevin Bywater.
Clergy in the Classroom: The Religion of Secular Humanism
. Manitou Springs, Colo.: Summit Press, 1995.

Lewis, C. S.
Mere Christianity
. San Francisco: Harper San Francisco, 2001.

Budziszewski, J. “Office Hours.”
Boundless
. Webzine distributed by Focus on the Family,
www.family.org
or
www.boundless.org/2000/regulars/office_hours/
.

There are many other resources that readers might find helpful, depending on their personal style. While this is by no means an exhaustive list (and I haven’t read some of these cover-to-cover), other new or classic books include:

McDowell, Josh.
More than a Carpenter
. Wheaton, I11.: Tyndale, 1987. (This little book was the first “defense of the faith” book I read as a Christian, and I highly recommend it for believers or seekers.)

McDowell, Josh.
Evidence That Demands a Verdict
. Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson, 1999.

Copan, Paul.
True for You, But Not for Me: Deflating the Slogans that Leave Christians Speechless
. Minneapolis, Minn.: Bethany House, 1998.

Zacharias, Ravi.
Can Man Live Without Godi
Dallas, Tex.: Word, 1996. (As well as his other books, his works are highly valuable for those willing to spend the time to work through them.)

Noebel, Dr. David A. and Chuck Edwards
Worldviews in Focus
(Book and journal for students. Summit Ministries, which teaches students classroom apologetics, is very helpful. See
www.summit.org
.)

Sire, James.
Chris Chrisman Goes to College
Downers Grove, 111.: Intervarsity, 1993.

Geisler, Norman and Peter Bocchino.
Unshakable Foundations
. Minneapolis, Minn.: Bethany House, 2001.

Chamberlain, Paul.
Can We Be Good Without God?
Downers Grove, I11.: Intervarsity, 1996. (Tim Keller recommended this to me.)

Murray, Michael J.
Reason for the Hope Within
. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1998. (Also recommended by Tim Keller.)

Kreeft, Peter and Ronald Tacelli.
Handbook of Christian Apologetics
. Downers Grove, I11.: Intervarsity, 1994.

Monroe, Kelly. Upcoming book
Veritas Forum
(working tide). Downers Grove, I11.: Intervarsity, not yet published.

French, David. Upcoming book
Fighting the Good Fight
(working title) Nashville, Tenn.: Broadman & Holman, not yet published. (This book includes a description of David’s fight to help the beleaguered Tufts University Christian Fellowship group that was kicked off campus for sticking with their biblical convictions.)

Zacharias, Ravi. Upcoming book series Conversations with Jesus. Sisters, Ore.: Multnomah, not yet published.

A
CKNOWLEDGMENTS

This book comes to you courtesy of the prayer and hard work of dozens of people, and this space is too limited to properly thank them all. However, I would like readers to know of several whose contributions helped shape the final product. Also, in a work of fiction that incorporates elements of truth, a number of publications and people must be acknowledged. (If I have inadvertently left anyone out of this list, I ask in advance for your grace and understanding.)

C
ITATIONS
:

Information on Harvard’s Christian heritage and Phillips Brooks quotes were taken from
Finding God at Harvard
by Kelly K. Monroe (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 1996).

Other information on Harvard’s history, the excerpt from the college laws, and a legal and historical analysis of Harvard’s religiously-restricted grants and endowments is taken from Victor Jih’s white paper: “In Harvard We Trust: The Legal Issues Concerning Religiously-Restricted Endowment Funds” Harvard Law School third-year paper, April 12, 1996.

The letter by Harvard donor Thomas Hollis can be found in the Jedidiah Morse book
The True Reasons on Which the Election of a Hollis Professor of Divinity in Harvard College Was Opposed at the Board of Overseers
(Charlestown, 1805), 5. Cited in Jih, 11.

The Dorothy L. Sayers quote is drawn from her speech “The Other Six Deadly Sins,” (pamphlet edition, London: Methuen, 1943, 23).

Samuel Eliot Morison’s quote about “faith in the divinity of human nature” is drawn from
Three Centuries of Harvard
(1963,) 86–7. Cited in Jih, 7–8.

The quote from Francis Frangipane is taken from his book
The Stronghold of God
(Creation House Press) 112–3.

Information on humanism is partially drawn from
Understanding the Times
by Dr. David A Noebel (Eugene, Ore.: Harvest House, 1991,) 114, 194–214.

The initiatives and recommendations of the National Education Association regarding diversity of sexual orientation can be found in several places, including NEA 2000–2001 Resolution B-9. “Racism, Sexism, and Sexual Orientation Discrimination” (
www.nea.org/resolutions/00/00b-9.html
), and the article “Understanding Gay and Lesbian Students through Diversity” on the NEA’s 2000–2001 New Member CD (
www.nea.org/bt/l-students/gayles.pdf
). It is helpful to read through both of these resources in order to understand the NEA’s position.

Information on Stephen Jay Gould’s philosophy is drawn from his book
Rocks of Ages: Science and Religion in the Fullness of Life
(New York: Random House, 1999).

The words to the song “Holy Ground” by Geron David are copyright 1983, Meadowgreen Music Company/Songchannel Music Company (ASCAP). All rights administered by EMI Christian Music Publishing.

The “people seeds” and “world-class violinist” hypothetical used in the abortion debate are drawn from Judith Jarvis Thomson’s article “A Defense of Abortion”
The Rights and Wrongs of Abortion: a Philosophy & Public Affairs Reader
, Cohen, Nagel, and Scanlon, eds. (Princeton University Press, 1974).

Information on Peter Singers views, as outlined in the abortion debate, was drawn from several sources, including his book
Practical Ethics
(Cambridge University Press, 1979). See addendum for several pertinent quotes.

Information on Margaret Sanger’s views and eugenics background, as outlined in the abortion debate, was drawn from several sources, including her books
The Pivot of Civilization
(New York: Division of Maxwell Scientific International, Inc., 1922) and
Woman and the New Race
(New York: Truth Publishing Company, 1920), as well as from the American Life League (
www.all.org/issues/pp04a.htm
). Planned Parenthood denies Sanger’s prejudicial outlook, and we were unable to find all of the quotes that the American Life League and other prolife organizations attribute to Sanger. However, the quotes reprinted in the addendum are taken directly from her writing, and her motivations and eugenics-oriented strategy appear obvious.

The biblical concept of having “eyes to see” and the illustration of seeing an author’s works on the bookshelves for the first time is drawn from a Lynn Buzzard article in the devotional
What Does the Lord Require of You?
(ed. Lynn R Buzzard, Geneva School of Law, 1997. Current publisher, Advocates International). Used by permission.

The idea of tragedy in a collapsed tent was partially sparked by the Dick Francis novel
Proof
(New York: Ballentine Books, 1985).

The words to the hymn “Jesus, Lover of My Soul” are by Charles Wesley (1707–1788).

The idea that Jesus’ ministry was not about right versus wrong, but about life instead of death, is partially drawn from a presentation by Chris Blake of
Charisma Life
magazine.

P
ERSONAL AND
P
ROFESSIONAL
A
CKNOWLEDGMENTS
:

My heartfelt thanks goes out to all those whose strong shoulders helped carry this book, including:

• The faithful members of my book prayer team: Alison Lambert Darrell, Kristen Lambert, Margaret Treadwell, Betty Dunkum, Lara Johnson Grant, Martha Carter, Nancy French, D. J. Snell, Natt Gantt, Tade and Ruth Okediji, Andy
Stross, Steve Blum, Kathryn Lindstrom, Scott and Tammy Beck, Connie and Chris Stover, Judy Hitson, Lisa and John Nagle, Lon and Katherine Waitman, Lisa and Eric Rice, Debra Goldstone, Kate and Greg Allen, Barbara Hoffman, Roger Scarlett, Allan Beeber, Barb Bowlby, Betsy Beinhocker, and especially my prayer partner Lilliana Colgate.