# A Matter of Faith

A Matter of Faith is a 2014 American Christian drama film directed by Rich Christiano and starring Harry Anderson (in his final role), Jordan Trovillion, Jay Pickett, and Clarence Gilyard. The film was shot in the summer of 2013 in Michigan, and was released into theaters on October 17, 2014, by Five & Two Pictures. The fictional story follows a Christian student (played by Trovillion) and her father (Pickett) who are challenged by a biology professor (Anderson) who teaches evolution.

## Plot

In 2013 Michigan, Rachel Whitaker, who has been raised as an evangelical Christian, celebrates a going-away party with her friends and family, as she is all set to go to college. There, her atheist biology professor, Dr. Kaman, teaches the theory of evolution, rather than the biblical concept of creationism. She begins to question her own faith.
Rachel's father Stephen is concerned by the change in her personality and beliefs, and confronts the professor, finding himself challenged to a debate on religion much to the embarrassment of his daughter. While preparing, Stephen is approached by Evan, a student who tells him to go see Portland, a biology professor who was fired years before at Kaman's behest for teaching creationism and for arguing to his students that the theory of evolution was untrue. Portland initially refuses efforts to "get him back in the game" and tells Stephen to leave him alone.
Rachel is in the campus library studying evolution, when another student approaches and tells her that Stephen is an idiot for attempting to debunk the theory of evolution. Evan shows up, insults the student, and says that evolution is not possible because the student's parents and grandparents do not look like apes. Evan says that all humans only "evolved" from other humans, and that they all come from Adam and Eve. The student leaves. Rachel lashes out at Evan, claiming that he embarrassed her. He says that he was defending Jesus, God, and Christianity, not Rachel.
Evan later overhears two students talking about Rachel. Rachel's newfound romantic interest, Tyler, plans to invite her to a Saturday night party to get her drunk and have sex with her. Evan calls Rachel, but she refuses to talk to him. He visits her dorm and accuses Rachel of rejecting Christianity, being brainwashed, and disrespecting God. Rachel storms off. Evan shouts out that Tyler is using her, and that he is only dating her to steal her virginity and push her further away from God. Shocked, Rachel thanks Evan for alerting her. Rachel later dumps Tyler.
During the night of the debate, Dr. Kaman makes arguments against creationism, religion, and the afterlife. He is about to finish off Stephen when Portland comes onto the stage and says that everything Dr. Kaman said is wrong. Portland argues that life cannot come from non-life, that the Bible is God's word, that evolution is not actually proven, and that Earth is not billions of years old or even millions of years old. He then says that he hated Dr. Kaman for years after he got him fired, but that he realizes now that he was wrong doing that, as hating solves nothing. He says that biology classes should teach both evolution and creationism and let the students decide for themselves which one to believe. Portland asks for forgiveness and tries to convert Dr. Kaman to Christianity. Speechless, Dr. Kaman concedes the debate. The audience claps.
Later, Evan asks Rachel to be his girlfriend and she agrees. He takes her to a nature preserve, and claims that it is a special place for him. He stole a coin from a girl there, felt bad about it later and became a Christian. Rachel is that girl. Evan discovered this while talking to Stephen earlier. Rachel forgives Evan for stealing the coin and hugs him.

## Cast

* Harry Anderson as Professor Marcus Kaman
* Jordan Trovillion as Rachel Whitaker
* Jay Pickett as Stephen Whitaker
* Clarence Gilyard as Professor Joseph Portland
* Chandler Macocha as Evan Carlson
* Justin Brandt as Jason
* Barrett Carnahan as Tyler Mathis
* Stephanie Shemanski as Ally
* Sarab Kamoo as Kimberly Whitaker
* Scott Alan Smith as Phil Jamison

## Reception

A Matter of Faith was initially released to 25 movie theaters and its widest release was to 52 theaters.
Common Sense Media gave the film a one out of five rating, criticizing its "clear agenda" and "clichéd plotting".
The Young Earth creationist and Christian apologetics organization Answers in Genesis (AiG) promoted the film.
The Dove Foundation gave the film a rating of five out of five dove seals, writing that "This quality movie features solid acting including two veterans, Harry Anderson and Clarence Gilyard."