A Matter of Faith Page #5

and then like some

self-righteous fundamentalist

gets into a discussion about

creation and evolution.

I'm sorry you're so upset.

I mean, do you have any idea

how embarrassing this

is going to be for me'?

Rachel, I wouldn't be looking

at it like that.

How would you like it

if your parent

was going to debate the most

popular Professor on campus?

Put yourself in my shoes.

I understand,

but I don't necessarily think

it's a bad thing.

It's not like

Professor Kaman's preaching

some son of gospel truth here.

I've gotta stop this.

[Chair movement]

[Phone ringing]

It's Rachel.

[Phone ringing]

Rachel.

RACHEL:
Hi Dad.

I'm calling to ask you

to please stop this debate.

Rachel we were

just talking about you.

I am glad you called.

This is going to ruin me

on campus Dad.

STEPHEN:
I am not trying

to hurt you.

But you are.

Rachel, this is

an important issue.

You're not going to change

Professor Kaman's mind.

Then how does he believe

the universe was created?

What does he teach you in class?

That there was a big bang

or something.

Dad, if you love me,

you will stop this debate.

Please don't say that.

You must stop this debate.

Rachel please.

You must stop it!

[Music]

She hung up.

[sigh]

You can't leave it like that.

You gotta call her back.

[Music]

[Phone ringing]

RACHEL:
Hi,

this is Rachel Whitaker,

I'm not here right now...

Voicemail.

[Music]

Hey.

Hey.

I set up a meeting

with Professor Kaman

to do that interview.

Did you talk to

that father yet'?

Oh no, I was getting

ready to call him.

Before you do,

I think you should

check this out.

What'?

Professor Kaman was

in the news yesterday.

Front page story.

We didn't run a story

on Kaman yesterday.

Yeah, well we did

twelve years ago.

It appears our dear Professor

got one of his colleagues

fired over this same issue.

What'?

Yeah, some instructor

named Portland

refused to teach evolution

in his biology class

and Kaman got him ousted.

It's all there.

[Music]

Oh and by the way,

when you talk to that Dad,

tell him I said good luck.

[Music]

STEPHEN:
Listen to what it says

in this high school textbook.

I picked up at the library.

"Humans came

from apelike ancestors.

"There is nothing supernatural

about the origins

of human beings."

How can they say that

and get away with it'?

I don't know but they are.

[The phone rings]

Stephen Whitaker.

EVAN:
Mr. Whitaker.

This is Evan Carlson,

calling from the University.

I am a student on staff

at the campus paper here

and our editor wants to do

a preliminary story

about the upcoming debate.

Would you be able

to meet up sir'?

Meet'?

Well I live about

three hours from there.

Yes, I know.

I was thinking we could

meet halfway.

Can't we just take care of this

over the phone'?

I know Rachel sir

and I'm aware of the situation.

I'm a Christian,

and I'm on your side.

I've got some information that

may prove to be helpful to you

but I'd rather talk to you

about it in person.

[Birds chirping]

EVAN:
Kaman is smart

and clever.

EVAN:
Kaman is smart

and clever.

He'll take what you say

twist it around,

question you, corner you.

I've seen him debate before

and he is good at it.

STEPHEN:
And I've never debated

anyone before in my fife.

Sounds like a mismatch to me.

How many people have

come to these events?

EVAN:
Normally not many

twenty five, thirty

but there will be

more at this one

especially since

Kaman's doing it.

He'll probably make all

his classes attend as well.

STEPHEN:
Much to Rachel's

delight I'm sure.

EVAN:
Plus the editor is running

this story before the debate

which isn't normal,

and he is planning to contact

the local media,

could get a pretty

good audience.

STEPHEN:
Great. More pressure.

EVAN:
Look, I got some material

in the car with good information

on science from a

Biblical perspective,

I'll give it to you.

Thanks. Appreciate it.

We can sit here.

You seem pretty serious

about this.

Maybe you should be

the one debating Kaman.

God didn't give me

the opportunity sir.

He gave it to you and I think

what you're doing is great.

Rachel sure doesn't.

I found out something

interesting.

Twelve years ago at the

University there was an incident

involving Kaman and another

Professor on the same subject.

Joseph G. Portland.

Portland used to teach

Kaman's class,

except for he taught creation.

Kaman joined the

university staff that year,

didn't like it

and got him fired.

That's Portland's contact info.

He lives nearby.

Maybe you could

give him a call.

Or even try to go see him.

He could offer

some good insight.

I'll keep this in mind.

And now I do have

several questions

I'd need to ask you

for the article.

Sure.

I think it's interesting

you chose to meet here.

I figured it was about halfway.

This place is very

special to me.

What do you mean'?

Let me show you something.

[Music]

This is about the spot.

When Rachel was ten years old,

we were spending

the day here together

and she was over

by this river playing.

I remember she was

looking for stones

that she could throw

in the river.

Suddenly though,

she found a fifty cent piece

lying on the ground

and just after she reached down

and picked it up,

a boy grabbed her hand

and took it from her.

I saw this from over there

and noticed how he taunted her

as he walked away and went

back towards his father.

Rachel of course was

upset over losing the coin

because she found it first and

came over to complain to me.

[Music continues]

I then tried to use that

incident as an example.

I told her it was wrong for the

boy to take that coin from her

and that stealing was a sin.

But, I also pointed out

to her how all of us

have sinned against God

in our own lives.

In essence, we've stolen

many coins from Him.

And the only one who can forgive

us for our sins is Jesus.

Rachel seemed

to understand this,

we prayed to the Lord together

and I believe that day

she became a Christian.

[Music continues]

That's great.

[Music continues]

Hard for me to believe someone

is now causing my little girl

to drift away from

what she's been taught.

[Music]

Let's go over

to that picnic table

and I'll answer those

questions for you.

[Music]

[Kimberly chopping veggies]

Oh hey, how'd it go?

It went well.

Evan's a committed believer

and was very helpful.

I need to make

a quick phone call

and then I'll tell you

more about it.

Okay-

[Footsteps]

[dialing]

[phone ringing]

Hello.

STEPHEN:
Professor Portland?

This is he.

Hi, my name is Stephen Whitaker

and I have an unusual situation

I'd like to speak

to about for a moment.

What is this pertaining to'?

Well, first, lam a Christian

and my daughter goes to the

university you used to teach at.

That's right I don't

teach anymore.

STEPHEN:
Yes sir, I know.

The reason I am calling is

because she's taking a class

from a Professor Kaman and

I'd like to ask you about him.

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